ThirdAge decided to blog the Oscars so everyone would get our impressions moment-by-moment and because ThirdAge knows we’ll be ready to crawl into bed the minute the endless show is over.
First reactions during the Red Carpet Preview: So glad to know Tim Gunn wears shapewear. He shared that with 'The Bridesmaids'" Maya Rudolph, who also gave a shout out to shapewear (it helped her stuff herself into her Red Carpet dress). Tim was accompanied by Nina Garcia, who looked elegant in a black strapless dress, except her hairdo reminded us, to tell the truth, of an afghan hound. Another weird hairdo: Tina Fey, in a peplum and an upsweep, who looked like she was channeling Evita. Penelope Cruz, Michelle Willams, George Clooney and Clooney’s current girlfriend, all looked nice. And the Red Carpet hosts gushed so consistently over Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer it began to make it clear that they were most likely the actresses going home with the Oscars. We’ll see.
Nice beginning, Billy Crystal, both the filmed sequence and his little musical toast to the best film nominees.Only trouble: Most people watching haven’t seen most of the movies he was singing about, so the jokes were a little flat.
Well, the show is moving fairly briskly and the expected winners are winning—the makeup artist for “The Iron Lady” and Octavia Spencer. But a lot more wins for “Hugo” then one would assume. ThirdAge saw that movie just the night before in a CD screener. Maybe it is more impressive in 3-D on a movie screen. Christopher Plummer, another expected winner, gave the most gracious and elegant speech so far.
General impressions: The jokes -- sorry, Billy -- are growing lame. The patter between the presenters was even lamer. The little visual interludes aren’t bad and at least the thank-you speeches are mercifully short. And Third Age thinks the JC Penney ads with Ellen DeGeneres deserve an award.
Well, as the night rolls on “The Artist” is starting to clean up. Best Director, Best Actor. No shot of George Clooney looking sulky. Personally we think he should be. But, hey, Meryl Streep did get what she deserved, winning for her remarkable portrait as “The Iron Lady.” And her speech, which started by thanking her very private husband, was sincere and touching. ThirdAge thought sitting through this dull, half-hearted commercial for movies was worth it in order to see Meryl Streep get what she certainly deserved.
The final winner “The Artist” as best picture. ThirdAge's review: It was cute, creative and entertaining. Go and see it, if it gets to a theater near you or rent it, which is probably what you will do, and see what you think.
Today everyone will dissect the dresses, criticize the show, and start forgetting the winners and the losers. Be honest: Did you really remember Melissa Leo won an Oscar last year? And can you remember what the heck she won for?
