First off, I regret to admit that I missed the red carpet
opening procession.
This year I was looking forward to seeing Chris Rock host the
Oscars more than I’ve anticipated a host for the Oscars in my life thus
far. Of course, this was due to the
black man “having rewritten” his act in response to all the controversy about
systemic and silent racism in the movie industry. I was wondering whether he would be a
flag-raising, bridge-burning wildman denouncer, or would he graciously walk a
fine line and bring much needed levity to the topic.
As it turned out, my hopes were realized as he definitely
called the industry out on its problems but lightened the mood with
self-mockery, an art-form that African-descended peoples have seemed to
master.
Personally, I think the controversy is kind of overblown, and
not
because I don’t care. For one thing,
Chris Rock expressed the notion that black people simply wanted more
opportunities for roles, but the Oscars are awards and not opportunities. That being said, awards can lead to more work. Yet, I have a deeper misgiving about the
controversy.
The Oscars are being made an issue because black people hold
it in such high esteem. But why? Why hold this white-driven, shyster-dream of
a business in such esteem? Why not be
better than, in both production and ceremony?
If you already respect and admire the Hollywood legacy then one has to
buy into the culture to some extent.
Chris Rock raised a compelling solution: add black categories
(like those that already exist for the sexes).
In the Grammy’s, a much more diverse awards show for a more diverse
industry, there are separate categories for Latin Jazz and Rap (mostly black). This is a viable solution that breeds less inherent
competition between races. Contrary to
popular sentiment, a white man can’t do what a black man does, and vice-versa;
has a white man ever looked in the mirror and seen black? Didn’t think so; a black man sees black every
time in the mirror (unless they’re hallucinating). Can a white woman donate her hair for a frizzy
black-haired wig? No, a black woman
can. The list goes ever on. Rocks deftly rocked the controversy.
Needless to say, it was my favorite opening ceremonies so far
in my lifetime.
As to the awards themselves: I was happy that Spotlight was the upset winner. It reminded me of All the President’s Men but with a topic that cuts even deeper to
the core.
In many ways, The
Revenant was just a glorified revenge picture although it only grabs at
some transcendence with its sense of enlightened humility, yet in some ways the
film has to be survived as the characters must survive the harsh winter and
indigenous attacks. Nevertheless, I
thought Alejandro González Iñárritu made sense for best director. I love that a Mexican finally got mainstream
recognition by putting white faces in his films; white faces sell really well
worldwide for some reason.
DiCaprio’s win for The
Revenant was well deserved, certainly.
Shame on me, I didn’t see Room,
and I may never.
I was remiss that Sylvester Stallone didn’t get the Oscar, but
the actor who won (ummm, Mark Rylance!) did stir my soul with his quiet
performance.
I’m happy for Tarantino that his stated favorite Mad Max: Fury Road won so many technical
awards. I’m also happy for George Miller
and Australia, even though he cheated Australia for cheapness in Namibia!
The award win that I was most passionate about was Ennio
Morricon’s score for The Hateful Eight. I love that he won a regular Oscars after the lifetime achievement Oscar! This score shows that classic spine-tingling
spaghetti western music is still possible in this era of flaccid, atrophied
screen slush that so often pervades.
Morricone is Mr. Universe in his artistic discipline.
Lastly, I really loved Dave Grohl’s low-key in memoriam segment
rendition of “Blackbird.” For many years
I thought the music during these segments were too weepy and overwrought, in
the past few years the segments have gotten more mellow, hence, more optimistic
(or at least less bitter). This year’s
in memoriam was my favorite yet.
In the end, the awards themselves were mostly a wash to me,
but I loved the host and the in memoriam.
