Maybe it was the effects of the alcohol I had throughout watching the show this year, or maybe it was the skillful hosting of Billy Crystal that made the relatively short (at least in terms of Oscar telecasts) program seem to enjoyably speed along.
This year's telecast length of 3 hours, 14 minutes was the shortest it's been since 2005 and although it was only shorter than last year's program by one minute, it seemed much more quicker and succinct in the hands of a talented and experienced host such as Crystal, compared to last year's desperate debacle to appeal to a younger audience by having James Franco and Anne Hathaway share hosting duties.
Still, much like my blog posts, the telecast could have been shortened by cutting out some useless filler, such as the talking head interviews with other Hollywood stars reminiscing on their personal movie memories, or the absolutely pointless Cirque du Soleil's supposed "tribute" to film.
Also, what was with that annoying metallic/digital feedback sound in the background throughout the entire Oscar telecast? It obviously had something to do with the microphone and audio setup of the show, for it was only apparent when people on stage were speaking and many others on the Internet have express experiencing the same effect while watching the show.
I found it strange that there wasn't the traditional orchestra down in front of the stage to play award winners off, but instead there was only a handful of people playing various instruments up in one of the balconies. Was the orchestra for the Academy Awards normally financed by Kodak or something, since the show takes/took place in the Kodak Theater? Kodak, who recently filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was humorously referenced many times during the telecast, probably couldn't afford to provide a full orchestra this year.
In general, all those who won awards were pretty much expected to. There were no huge upsets or disappointments, with maybe the exception of Meryl Streep for Best Actress. It was hardly her best role or the best performance by an actress last year. However, since the Academy had already fulfilled their "at least one winner must be African-American" quota with Octavia Spencer for The Help, that pretty much cemented the fact that the more deserving Viola Davis wouldn't win over Streep.
The top awards were dominated by the French, thanks to the golden era Hollywood homage that is The Artist. The French haven't been this successful since...well, since forever. I can't remember a time when they haven't retreated or surrendered from something.
Other highlights of the night: Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) from the TV show Community winning an Oscar for being part of the screenwriting team for The Descendants, Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell's cymbal wielding routine, the adorable Emma Stone's over-excited presentation, anything that had Melissa McCarthy in it and the cast of Bridesmaids, and Angelina Jolie looking like an anorexic sack of bones, proudly displaying through the slit in her dress the only part of her left that has any meat on it, her right leg.
And of course, there was the banned Sacha Baron Cohen in his dictator character on the red carpet, greatly upsetting the pompous douchebag that is Ryan Seacrest.
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