Ryan, for all of your dedication and hard work and brilliant writing.
The readers of AD for all of your inventive, lively discussion – you really make this site what it is.
Fellow bloggers for all of the tips, lengthy phone calls, and analysis: Ryan Adams, David Carr, Kris Tapley, Tom O’Neil, Scott Feinberg and Jeff Wells.
Most of all, to my daughter, for enduring this nonsense for another year.
Here are some Best and Worsts:
Best Speech of the Night: Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Best Moment of the Night: Man on Wire’s magic trick
Best dance number: The opening
Best dress: Taraji P. Henson
Best Loser: Mickey Rourke
Most Gracious Winner: Sean Penn
Weirdest moment: Ben Stiller’s imitation of Joaquin Phoenix – kinda sorta didn’t work
Other weirdest moment: Judd Apatow’s movie, which didn’t work
Best film montage: romance movies
Best unpredictable thing: Kate Winslet’s dad whistling
Cutest reaction shot: Anne Hathaway tearing up
And some quick observations about the show itself: speed doesn’t necessarily allow for emotional moments. It was quick and lovely, and no one was played off stage. I thought the nominees being named by previous actors didn’t work. Hugh Jackman DID work.¬† I would have to declare it a winning show, I hope the ratings back that up.
But the predictable results were, overall, kind of a reminder of how sheep-like the Academy can be at times, and how un-daring they are about their choices. The Waltz with Bashir upset may be the one looked upon as the worst of this year in terms of winners. It proved, more than ever, that there really is a “their kind of movie.”
