‘ MOONLIGHT’ MISHAP A NEW LOW
Leave it to Oscar to eclipse the “Moonlight.” In the nearly nine decades of the Academy Awards, Sunday night’s ceremony will go down as arguably the worst ceremony ever. What a disaster.
Shame on you, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.
Shame on you for not assuring there would be no possible doubt about the announcement for winner for best picture, or any other major category.
Shame on you for literally putting envelopes in the hands of legends— envelopes thatmight have not contained the right information, creating potentially embarrassing moments for those legends.
It’s 2017, for God’s sake. Figure out a way to make sure you don’t have a situation where “winners” have to surrender their trophies, and Jimmy Kimmel is referencing Steve Harvey, and the creators of “Moonlight” are robbed of their perfect moment and then have to accept their win in the eye of a storm.
Kudos to the “winners” from “La La Land” for reacting to the news with style and grace. Regardless of how you feel about that picture, nobody deserves to be told they’ve won on one of the biggest stages of the world— only to be told it was a mistake.
††† The energetic, talented and likable Justin Timberlake opened the Oscars with a musical number including his “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” and a snippet of BillWithers’ “Lovely Day.” He got the crowd up and dancing and singing along, and it was an upbeat way to start the evening …
But it was also kind of strange. Are we watching the Academy Awards— or the Grammys? What did that have to do with movies, exactly?
††† In his opening remarks, Jimmy Kimmel acknowledged the GOP Elephant in the room, with a sincere plea for everyone in the room to reach out to one person they disagree with— and an acknowledgment of his fantastic Fake News Feud with Matt Damon.
“We’ve known each other since I was the fat one,” quipped Kimmel.
Prior to that crack, Kimmel had a little fun with “Hacksaw Ridge” nomineeMel Gibson:
“There’s only one ‘ Braveheart’ in the room, and he’s not going to unite us either,” said Kimmel.
As for the “highly overrated” Meryl Streep, Kimmel noted she’s been “phoning it in” in movies from “The Deer Hunter” to “Sophie’s Choice.” Easy pickings, but good stuff.
††† Per ( dubious) tradition, we were nearly 20 minutes into the ceremony before the first of 24 Oscars was handed out. Mahershala Ali won best supporting actor for “Moonlight”— and deservedly so. It’s a nearly perfect performance.
In a lovely, measured, thoughtful speech, Ali thanked his teachers and his professors and mentors, who told him, “It’s not about you. It’s about these characters.” He thanked director Barry Jenkins, the cast and crew of “Moonlight” and his agent— and his wife, who gave birth to their daughter four days ago. Pure class.
††† To the surprise of no one, Viola Davis won best supporting actress for her searing, memorable performance in “Fences”— which of course was a LEAD role.
Davis delivered a passionate, well- meaning speech that brought down the house— but with all due and great respect, this is a bit much:
“I became an artist and thank God I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.”
Yes, actors celebrate what it means to live a life— and thank God for that. But let’s set aside the Oscars, and the arts, for a moment, and take a step back and put things in perspective.
How about a few other professions that celebrate what it means to live a life?
Underpaid teachers who devote their lives to educating children, often in high- risk neighborhoods, for very little money.
Journalists who risk their lives to cover wars and dictatorships and injustice the world over.
Doctors who transcend borders with their dedication to quelling epidemics and saving lives. And that’s just a start. Artists do NOT have the market cornered on professions that celebrate what it means to live a life.