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| Inception and The King's Speech were the big winners of the night, each taking home 4 Oscars. |
Last nights Oscars dragged out in such an agonizing way that it reminded me of the 2004 ALCS for New York Yankees fans. After a great opening montage (games 1-3) in which the years nominated films and movies of years past were spoofed by the two co hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, the rest of the night was like watching games 4-7. You knew that things were going south, that something bad was about to happen, yet foolishly hung on to hope that somehow things would right themselves. In the end, who was really surprised that the show was a disaster? Not me, not after everything I have seen and read about Franco.
I don't blame Hathaway a single bit for the disaster that occurred in Hollywood last night. She, nor Franco for that matter, is a comedian. Hell either of them really are that well known to people who don't have a slight passion for movies. Her youthful exuberance, in an attempt to resurrect the corpse that was standing next to her, should not be misinterpreted. One could only wonder what Hathaway could have done had she been paired with someone like Hugh Jackman, a master showman, or even someone in Hollywood who has comedic talent (Franco's co star in the hit Pineapple Express, Seth Rogen, would have been better suited). Instead for the near future (at least until The Dark Knight Rises is released), she'll be remembered and labeled as the girl who co hosted the worst Oscars ever.
Having seen much of Franco's film work, and reading a few articles in magazines like GQ and Esquire, it didn't surprise me one bit that he mailed in his hosting duties. Franco, who from what it sounds like had to be pleaded with to do 127 Hours, due to the fact that he was enrolled in film school (currently he is attending Yale), didn't seem to invest any energy in trying to figure out a way to entertain the audience. Franco at this stage in his career seems to be more invested in school work than in making great movies (I believe he sees himself as more of a writer/director who acts to pay the bills). He did not have Danny Boyle directing him in this endeavor, and after that awful performance, the question needs to be asked. Did James Franco make 127 Hours what it was, or was it Danny Boyle? I'd have to say Boyle.
Franco was out of his element and whoever had the idea to make him co host has no idea what the audience for this type of show is looking for. For everyone directing their ire at Franco, it should instead be directed at the people who thought it was smart to put a college student who happens to be a decent actor at the helm of Hollywood's biggest event. Someone attending school, albeit at Yale, and parading around on a soap opera like General Hospital, has no business hosting a prestigious award show. The idea was young and loose, to draw in more viewers, but young and loose backfired in a huge way. Young and loose that could hit home is having someone like Niel Patrick Harris host, not two movie stars who half of America doesn't know.
I happen to like James Franco. He is a talent, and before his time is up he may very well win an Oscar, but right now I would compare him to a beautiful, fast stallion wandering the open west. He does whatever he pleases and when corralled in, bucks and fights and does it his way.
He was corralled into hosting the Oscars by people around him, thought to himself, "Ah what the hell if it goes well then great! If it's bad it's an experience I can learn from." Once he got out on stage, in the bright lights, he acted like himself. He didn't change to appease anyone, just remained clam, cool, oblivious James Franco. This is why so many people find him fascinating and are drawn to him as a talent.
Observations
Twitter: If you happen to follow @jamesfranco you will have noticed he was tweeting during the entire show. For what purpose I have no idea. Maybe some sort of advertisement, but I am sure someone backstage knew the show was bombing. Couldn't they have had him cut out the tweeting and focus on bringing some energy to the show? Again Franco should get some grief, but the big blame is the producers and writers.
You know where James Franco's priorities are when you saw his tweets from on board a plane flying back to the east coast to attend school. No after parties, no cocktails with Hollywood's elite, back to a classroom at NYU. Hopefully his professors can teach him how to bring energy to a hosting job.
Kirk Douglas: Great job by Kirk, who loosened the mood by hitting on Hathaway, and kept us all smiling as he joked, and joked, before he read one of the many locks of the night in Actress in a Supporting Role winner Melissa Leo's name.
Billy Crystal: When Crystal came out to pay tribute to Bob Hope everyone was praying he would just hijack the show and do what he does best. Crystal generated the first natural laughs of the night.
Sandra Bullock: While introducing the Actor in a Leading Role nominees, Sandra took slight jabs at each, getting decent pops from the audience. She could be a sleeper host in the making, one who would no doubt be able to pull in ratings for the show.
Celine Dion: Everyone slamming Dion needs to put a sock in it. Honoring the actors and actresses who passed over the year is not something that should be ridiculed no matter who or what is doing the segment. The woman has a beautiful voice, and she is one of the great performers of our time. Lay off it.
For a list of all the winners and nominees, here is a link to IMDb
Franco was out of his element and whoever had the idea to make him co host has no idea what the audience for this type of show is looking for. For everyone directing their ire at Franco, it should instead be directed at the people who thought it was smart to put a college student who happens to be a decent actor at the helm of Hollywood's biggest event. Someone attending school, albeit at Yale, and parading around on a soap opera like General Hospital, has no business hosting a prestigious award show. The idea was young and loose, to draw in more viewers, but young and loose backfired in a huge way. Young and loose that could hit home is having someone like Niel Patrick Harris host, not two movie stars who half of America doesn't know.
I happen to like James Franco. He is a talent, and before his time is up he may very well win an Oscar, but right now I would compare him to a beautiful, fast stallion wandering the open west. He does whatever he pleases and when corralled in, bucks and fights and does it his way.
He was corralled into hosting the Oscars by people around him, thought to himself, "Ah what the hell if it goes well then great! If it's bad it's an experience I can learn from." Once he got out on stage, in the bright lights, he acted like himself. He didn't change to appease anyone, just remained clam, cool, oblivious James Franco. This is why so many people find him fascinating and are drawn to him as a talent.
Observations
Twitter: If you happen to follow @jamesfranco you will have noticed he was tweeting during the entire show. For what purpose I have no idea. Maybe some sort of advertisement, but I am sure someone backstage knew the show was bombing. Couldn't they have had him cut out the tweeting and focus on bringing some energy to the show? Again Franco should get some grief, but the big blame is the producers and writers.
You know where James Franco's priorities are when you saw his tweets from on board a plane flying back to the east coast to attend school. No after parties, no cocktails with Hollywood's elite, back to a classroom at NYU. Hopefully his professors can teach him how to bring energy to a hosting job.
Kirk Douglas: Great job by Kirk, who loosened the mood by hitting on Hathaway, and kept us all smiling as he joked, and joked, before he read one of the many locks of the night in Actress in a Supporting Role winner Melissa Leo's name.
Billy Crystal: When Crystal came out to pay tribute to Bob Hope everyone was praying he would just hijack the show and do what he does best. Crystal generated the first natural laughs of the night.
Sandra Bullock: While introducing the Actor in a Leading Role nominees, Sandra took slight jabs at each, getting decent pops from the audience. She could be a sleeper host in the making, one who would no doubt be able to pull in ratings for the show.
Celine Dion: Everyone slamming Dion needs to put a sock in it. Honoring the actors and actresses who passed over the year is not something that should be ridiculed no matter who or what is doing the segment. The woman has a beautiful voice, and she is one of the great performers of our time. Lay off it.
For a list of all the winners and nominees, here is a link to IMDb