Monday, February 23, 2015

On Oscar and Lady Mary



It dawned blue sky and puffy clouds after last night's downpours, and even now the clouds are skittering across the sky, the air washed clean and cool. I watched the Oscar ceremonies last night and was grateful that my favorite movie of 2014, Ida, won for best foreign picture. The Polish director was utterly charming and went on too long, but I loved him anyway. I was glad, too, that Patricia Arquette won an award for her performance in Boyhood, and her acceptance speech was one of the few that didn't make me squirm in either boredom or embarrassment at the pretension of it all. I'm not a big fan of the host, and all that song and dance makes me even more squirmy than the sanctimonious stump speeches. The worst and most distasteful joke of the night had something to do with the horrible movie American Sniper, and if I sound all righteous and pretentious, it's because I just can't wrap my brain around anyone joking about a ridiculous war, started on lies, that's destabilized an entire region of the world, unleashed some of the worst terror man has ever known, ruined hundreds of thousands of young men and women's brains and killed even more people across the globe. That a bazillion dollars was paid to a hunk of an actor to portray a guy whose modus operandi is to kill as many people in as efficient a way as possible and then be glorified as a hero -- well -- I can't bear it. And before I end this rant, let me say that I really didn't like the movie Birdman, despite the wonderful acting of Michael Keaton and Emma Stone, that I found it pretentious and slick and soul-less, so when it was announced by one of my least favorite Hit You Over the Head With My Acting actors -- well -- I was off to looking for redemption for poor Lady Edith and some sort of lightning to hit Lady Maaaaahhhhry at Downton Abbey. Whether rich and tittering at the plight of those at the other end of an American Sniper's sights, or at one's unmarried, sour spinster sister, I'm sick of them all.

Reader, how are you?

16 comments:

  1. I'm beyond sick of Lady Mary! She ain't no lady in my opinion! I do tip my hat to the Earl for not going ballistic over Marigold. You have just told me about Ida and I'm thrilled. We enjoyed that movie very much. Andrew liked hearing his native tongue and I had to settle for the English subtitles. Worked for me. We didn't watch the Oscars for the umpteenth year in a row.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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    Replies
    1. Bonnie -- Don't you just love the name "Marigold?"

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    2. Yes, I do. I keep bandying it about just in case one of our boys decide to have children.

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  2. I started watching last night and realized I did not have one fuck to give for any of it.
    I went to bed.

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    1. Ms. Moon -- You might be the brightest bulb on this block.

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  3. I usually love awards shows but I think NPH slaughtered this one. I was glad to see Wes Anderson in the audience looking like a delighted child. Bad jokes bad movies no joy. I am currently traumatized by a wedding.
    xo

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    1. Radish King -- Oh, I agree. I forgot to mention how much I love Wes Anderson and how glad I was that his movie won some awards, even if he didn't -- what a doll he is.

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  4. There was Julie Andrews. The bright spot for me. Everything else was meh. And Birdman? Really? What I really wanted was for an actress to step on her hem and have a wardrobe malfunction. Something besides the self-congratulatory glittery in-crowd.

    Bleh.

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    Replies
    1. beth coyote -- Why do we keep torturing ourselves and even watching?

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  5. The best part for me was John Legend and Common singing Glory.

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    Replies
    1. lily cedar -- Beautiful song, but I just hate all the pomp and circumstance!

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  6. I started watching last night but I don't have cable and the antenna was so glitchy that at first I thought the winners were dropping numerous f-bombs and getting censored (I was folding laundry in the bedroom off and on) and so I finally turned it off as Patricia Arquette was winning. I didn't enjoy Birdman either although I thought Emma Stone was quite good. I did enjoy Ida which I rented on your recommendation. Also I'm half-Polish so good for the Poles!

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  7. I only watch best and supporting - the rest is just boring to me. I was crestfallen that my crush Ben Cumberbatch didn't win. ( how sweet that he called his new wife "my dearest and nearest") But am comforted by the fact that my other crush, Matthew Goode (so dreamy!) is going to be the new love interest of the divine Lady Maaaaarhhhhy - whom I only like because she, MD, can go from her slightly cockney and giggly voice in real life to her oh-so posh-uptight-low-toned-snooty-voice on camera. Now THAWT takes talent!

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  8. I can't watch any of it. I conned my husband and youngest into playing a game with me instead and occasionally noted that my Facebook feed was blowing up with love for Patricia Arquette and John Legend's bold statements on feminism and incarceration. Turns out I'm not much of a TV person, anyway, but I am dying to see Boyhood and wondering if my 12-year old daughter would enjoy it - did Oliver see it?

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  9. hmmmm...different strokes for different folks. I though NPH did a fine job, and Lady Gaga's performance blew me away. I usually watch, and cringe at the glitter, and then there are great impassioned pleas for justice (thank you, Patricia) and more people of color presenting (no doubt to make up for their getting zip in nominations) and a review of the movies I watched over the year. It's Hollywood, so I expect excess, and they never disappoint. It helps to have a good stiff drink to get into the spirit of the thing.

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