In a downright depressing post-Oscar piece, Mary McNamara of The Los Angeles Times posted this scathing review of the show. She writes...
"Interpreting all the best picture nominees in a way that seemed way more Broadway than Hollywood, Jackman wound up on Frank Langella's lap, which was just as weird as it sounds. Yes, Anne Hathaway acquitted herself quite well, but dancers in Sprocket-like body suits? We knew that with Jackman involved, metallic lamé was a real possibility, but to make fun of the Nazi-war-crimes/pedophilia-themed "The Reader"? A choice indeed."
First of all, Hugh Jackman was great. I loved the opening number, I loved that he almost started laughing half way through the number. I thought it was a clever and fun way to start the show.
Quick- watch it below, before AMPAS takes this down.
What's wrong with blurring the line between Broadway and Hollywood? Are they not both anchors of the entertainment industry? Are movies and theater so entirely different that they can't blend harmoniously? This show, for the first time in years, felt like a true celebration of the glitz and glamour associated with yesterday's Hollywood.
The L.A. Times author also concludes that Hugh's performance took "years off the lives of the poor folks preparing to launch publicity for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."
I'm pretty sure X-Men's target audience won't be swayed by Jackman's Oscar stint. If anything, he just convinced a whole bunch of ladies (this one included) to hit the theaters on opening weekend.
McNamara continues...
"Seth Rogen, you cannot laugh at the winner of best live-action short just because the title is in German. German, you will be stunned to learn, is an actual language."
Actually, I'm pretty sure Rogen was giggling at the fact that his co-star, James Franco, completely butchered the name of the film. And really, it was funny.
"At least Kate Winslet finally won her damned Oscar -- such a real sense of closure, isn't it?"
Yes, Kate Winslet won her damned Oscar, and she deserved it.
McNamara goes on...
"The mini-mentoring sessions that replaced the standard "and here are the nominees" for the acting categories must Never Happen Again.
Yes, it's wonderful to see all these great performers on stage together, but having Adrien Brody describe Googling Richard Jenkins (because, apparently, he had no idea who he was?) or Shirley MacLaine offer motherly support to Anne Hathaway . . . well, life is short and by the time they were done, we didn't care who actually won, we just wanted the talking to end."
Apparently, McNamara, and other critics who wrote similar reviews, would prefer the Oscar ceremony to be completely void of music, dance, tributes, speeches, and humor. Just stand there, announce the winner, take the statue and leave. In that case, is there a point in televising the event? What's the point in having it at all? Why not just mail out a statue to the winner's home? Oh right, because the whole point of the Academy Awards is to honor achievement in the film industry. An industry based entirely on the concept of "putting on a show."
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