Oscars So Black?

Every year I offer my take on the Academy Awards, and this year was just WOW! As the title implies, this might have been the blackest Oscar ceremony yet, and yes, I am using the word black to describe how much of a complete 180-degree turn this year was after two straight years of being so white. Here is my (belated) top ten list of great Oscar moments:

1. Jimmy Kimmel: Hands down, one of the funniest hosts of the ceremony in many years. I know how much people love Billy Crystal, Whoopie Goldberg, Ellen DeGeneris, and Steve Martin and I love them all as well. But given how entertaining this new crop of late night talent is, we should never have to sit through another boring four-hour Oscar telecast ever again...

2. Mahershala Ali: Well, I expected this, so my hope is that his moment and enormous talent will not end up wasted like so many other best supporting actors, especially those of color. Hollywood tends to get it right when it comes to this category, with rarely any controversy or undeserved accolades, but then there is the dilemma of how best to showcase that talent beyond that particular film. Here's to hoping for better opportunities for non A-listers who consistently perform on A-list level.

3. The Documentary Film Category: This caught me completely by surprise. I was familiar with a couple of the films that had been nominated, but it did not register that four of the five had African American directors. Perhaps this recognition will offer more opportunities for directing bigger studio projects, which brings me to the significance of...

4. Moonlight: I saw this film on a whim one afternoon and I am so glad that I did. I knew about the film from the heavy promotion it received locally, especially on public radio and ironically, on Facebook. I left the film believing it to be somewhat over-hyped because of its subtlety, but I never felt that it was undeserving of the critical attention it received. Then as the momentum built towards awards season, I watched several interviews with the stars, the screenwriter and the director which offered me the chance to reconsider whether I had missed something. I had. I had completely missed how Moonlight was one of the few films about African American life that was not placed in a historical framework. It was not one of the typical important films, just a really good one that told a story that allowed audiences to discover its merit.

I know that there are various conspiracy theories about the evening's cliffhanger regarding the best picture announcement. I am not all that concerned that Faye Dunaway got it wrong (on purpose or accidentally on purpose)...nor do I feel all that bad about the "lost" moment for the Moonlight cast and crew to bask in the glory of the win. For me, all that matters is that this year a black director got to take home the statuette, and every time that happens, it makes the odds so much more favorable for the next black (brown, Asian, female, gay, etc.) director.

Finally, the Moonlight adapted screenplay win is also very important for future projects. As much as I enjoy historical pieces, it is equally necessary for there to be a variety of options for black directors when it comes to the types of films they get to contribute. If we only hand out statues for so called "important" films that only present black life through struggle and triumph, then we never really move beyond the two-dimensional limits that bring only certain films to wider audiences. I am happy to see a film like Hidden Figures in the mix, but I also want more opportunities to see other films like...

5. Fences: And I will count myself in the minority by arguing that it would have been way too black if Denzel had won (not that I would have objected)...but it is more fitting that Viola Davis finally won for best supporting actress, even if we all know it was a cheat. Denzel probably won't get another Oscar any time soon, but perhaps he can get out-streep Meryl and get nominated for everything he touches, even perhaps earning an Emmy nod for marrying that couple during that bit from the ceremony.

Seriously, I am glad that August Wilson's work will finally be more accessible to audiences beyond the theatre. It is fitting for Viola Davis to finally win an Oscar for Fences since she is one of the many actresses who have brought Wilson's work to life. Denzel now has a stronger platform from which he can help launch some up and coming or undiscovered talent, which is ultimately more important than winning an Academy Award this year.

6. Lin-Manuel Miranda: He is my boo...and as much as I LOVE the Hamilton soundtrack, his song "How Far I'll Go" for Moana sounded a lot like every other song on the Hamilton soundtrack. He is a tremendous talent, though, so he can be forgiven for relying on what works best for him (since it seems to work well for everyone else in the music categories). I am looking forward to watching his career continue to explode.

7. Foreign Language Film: That moment was absolutely the most defiant act of the night! Too bad I never bother to see the foreign language films...of course now, I might have to make an effort. By boycotting the ceremony, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi made the blackest statement ever since Chris Rock's opening monologue last year. Given the injunction against the travel ban, Farhadi could have gotten a visa to come. But it is obvious from his statement that he was far more interested in highlighting how the travel ban had far-reaching implications for various types of visitors to the States. And if protest against injustice is not the epitome of blackness, then I don't know what else is.

8. Emma Stone and Casey Affleck: The two major awardees who aren't hardly black...starring in films that weren't hardly black...but they deserve an honorable mention for being the minorities this year. Congratulations!

9. Gary from Chicago: I mean, yeah. On the tour bus with his boo of 20 years. Grabbing Mahershala's Oscar during a selfie. Getting married by Denzel. Becoming a Twitter sensation and a FB meme. Then being dragged for being a returning citizen. Yep.

10. Halle Barry's Afro: I am absolutely in the minority, but I LOVED her hair! And I think all of the criticism of her choice is a reflection of our need to be more open to unconventional expressions of beauty. On the one hand, we argue that natural hair is mainstream and beautiful, but then we spend half the night dissing Halle for wearing a big fluffy Afro! In the very year that the Oscars were this black, someone needed to rock a fro and why not Halle?

And those are just my initial thoughts on this year's ceremony. I have a little more to offer, so stay tuned.

*Yawn* the Oscars are Coming

I'm going to start off by saying yes, I am about to gripe about the Oscars again...but not for the reasons why I typically take issue with the longest televised (and least entertaining awards) show in recorded history.

In fact, after decrying the declaration by movie critics a few years ago (conveniently after Halle Berry won her Oscar), I have come to the conclusion that the Oscars are irrelevant.  Not because it is a bloated self-congratulatory kiss-ass fest...but because all of the build up to the show and the fall off afterwards. 

My revelation about the Oscars came when the nominees for this year were announced and I noted that half of the films had only been released in New York or LA, and that no one of color was named.  Not that this was a big surprise since no Oscar-worthy films featuring people of color were released in 2010 (and yes, that includes "For Colored Girls").  But beyond that fact, I got to thinking about how Academy Award nominations and wins notwithstanding, Oscars do very little, if anything, to advance the film careers of those lucky few who receive them. 

Think about it...what did Halle Berry do after she won her Oscar in 2002?  And then ask the same question about the careers of Cuba Gooding Jr., Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson and Monique.  Halle Berry went on to star in one of the worst films ever made, and then she got knocked up and is now more famous now for her tabloid life than her movie roles.  All I have to say about Cuba is "Snow Dogs"...  Jamie Foxx decided to become an R&B artist, and I guess that is working out for him.  Jennifer Hudson's next major film role was in the "Sex and the City" movie.  And it was so unnecessary that I honestly believe that they only cast her because the movie was already very lame and the writers said, "what the hell, let's call that chick from 'Dreamgirls', the one who is not Beyonce."  As for Monique, I keep thinking that they did not mean it since she is still hosting a late night talk show on BET, which is only one step slightly above her sitcom role on "The Parkers".

And black actors are not the only ones to get neglected once the statuettes have been distributed: 

• Kim Bassinger (best supporting actress) has not been in anything significant since "8 Mile" and her most recent claim to fame is perhaps surviving her marriage to Alec Baldwin
• Helen Hunt (best actress) has been relatively quiet since starring in the awful "What Women Want" with Mel Gibson
• Timothy Hutton (best supporting actor) is on a crappy basic cable re-tread of "The A-Team"
• Renee Zellwegger (best supporting actress) needs to do another Bridget Jones movie
• Heath Ledger (best supporting actor) is dead
• Nicolas Cage (best actor) whose career choices have been so disappointing, it is easy to forget that he ever did anything Oscar-worthy

And the list could go on...

So what is the point?  With all the emphasis on what people wear, I have come to the conclusion that the real purpose of the Oscars is to serve as an advertising vehicle for fashion designers, which is probably cheaper than taking out ads in magazines these days.  Thus, the Oscars are a televised version of the Beverly Hills High School prom.

And that explains why most of the real stars skip the ceremony--they have "graduated" to more important pursuits (like George Clooney trying to cure malaria and Leonardo DiCaprio trying to save the planet with Al Gore.)  The only people who regularly attend are the actual nominees who are probably contractually obligated to do so and the wannabees who use the constant media scrutiny of their wardrobes to help advance their careers.  And I am starting to wonder if the nominations themselves represent a cynical calculation by the Academy to ensure a TV audience (three or four solid performances and a couple of wildcards thrown in to create suspense).  That certainly challenges the notion that the Oscars reward talent... 

So will I watch?  Maybe.  Will I have any commentary in the future about the lack of diversity in the nominations?  Probably.  Are all awards shows as useless?  Hmm...I'll have to revisit that after the NAACP Image Awards.

Obligatory Congrats and other stuff

Ok, last night I watched the Oscars to the bitter end, only it wasn't bitter at all. Kudos to the producers for making this one of the shortest shows in a long time. I got to bed before midnight (I was already in the bed, but at least the show was over by then), and although it got a bit tiring at the end, all in all it was a decent show. So, here is my take on the evening, as if anyone cares:

The Host
Chris Rock was very good! He started off a little too stiff, which I think was understandable due to the pressure he faced as a first-time host, but I think he did a great job. If I were to grade him, he'd get a B+ because of the slow start and maybe a bad joke or two, but hey, he did WAY better than David Letterman and Whoopi on her last turn as host.

This morning I read a review of his performance by Tom Shales in the Washington Post, and I just have to strongly disagree. Tom, it appears that you and Sean Penn have the same poor sense of humor. I haven't seen any other reviews of Rock's performance yet, so I don't know if there is an overall consensus. If I were to vote, I would say that he should definitely come back again as host in the future because I can't imagine that there's another guy out there willing to do it (see "The Men" below).

The Dresses
Well, as far as I could tell, no one hit a sour note. Everyone looked lovely and very glamorous, so no red carping from Joan and Melissa Rivers, which made things kind of boring. It reminded me of parties here in DC, where everyone knows the rules so no one messes up. It is much more entertaining when someone looks silly, like Bjork a few years back with the swan dress, but no such luck this year.

One good thing was that color was everywhere, because the basic black look made everything seem so somber. In terms of the best dressed...well, Halle always dazzles and Selma Hayek was definitely the bomb this year. I really liked Hilary Swank's dress, so I think she was also a fave. My least favorite was Beyonce's Phantom of the Opera attire because her makeup was too spooky, but her red carpet look was fab.

The Men
None of them bothered to show up, and I was quite surprised. Sure, there were some guys, but none of the big name stars--no Tom Hanks, no Denzel, no Tom Cruise, no Russell Crowe, no Will Smith...not even Jude Law. What gives, fellas?

The only men who came were either presenters or were nominees. I think this means that the Oscars are becoming more like a girls' night out since most of the focus is on what the women wear. Soon it will just be a stag prom.

Is it me, or did Johnny Depp look like a bad Prince imitation?

The Brothers
What can I say? I was so happy for Jamie Foxx and Morgan Freeman. Morgan Freeman has been a sentimental favorite for me ever since he was Easy Reader on Electric Company, so I couldn't be happier for him. I think his win is one of those "body of work" awards that are given to certain actors eventually. In a few years, Sam Jackson might get one too.

As for Jamie Foxx, well he has come a long way from Wanda on In Living Color. I just hope that he does the right thing, and takes this for what it is worth. No more Cuba Goodings! I loved Chris Rock's line last night about how he saw "Snow Dogs" and sent Cuba a check for $80.

As for Don Cheadle? I think he'll get another shot soon because he's been consistently good in every role I've seen. No one really talks about him because he isn't a *star* but hopefully that will change. There are other very consistent character actors who don't get recognized or honored (Laura Linney is another one), but who always pull out great performances. At some point that will change, because talent always wins in the end.

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black...
So here I am, cracking up at the skit where Chris Rock was at the Magic Johnson Theater, but truth be told, I haven't seen most of the nominated films either. I am ashamed to say that I wimped out on seeing "Hotel Rwanda" and "Million Dollar Baby" by myself, but then the hub says he wants to see them with me, so that is my excuse. We saw "Ray" a few months ago, and I saw "Sideways" on my own a few weeks ago. But I can also admit that I did not see "White Chicks" either.

Well, that's all folks. Maybe I'll tackle my race topic later this week. In the meantime, Ciao!