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February 29, 2004

Oscars 2004 III

Looks like the early good commercials were a fluke, though the Target ad with various corporate symbols walking in was cute. No great surprise, I suppose, and besides, it gives me a chance to hit the bathroom.

Costume design marks good news/bad news for me, as I had hoped to see "Return of the King" walk away with the award, but I second-guessed myself and picked "The Last Samurai" instead. Worse, Amanda picked "Return," so now she's up on me by one in the race for bragging rights. Another classy acceptance speech

A cute touch from Crystal with films celebrities might like, like Hilary's favorite, "Kill Bill."

For the last two years, Renee Zellweger has sat in her seat and heard another woman's name called out for Best Actress. But it appears that the third time truly is the charm if your name isn't Susan Lucci. And she remembers to thank the man who wrote the novel Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier, in an emotional acceptance speech.

It's easy to get on Hollywood for their frequently harsh antiwar stances, which are often portrayed as anti-American, but Crystal's recognition of the Americans serving overseas and the impressive ovation the crowd gave reminds us that they, too, care about America in their own way.

The Oscars are when we say our last farewells to those in film we lost in the past year. First among those, in many ways, was Bob Hope, and the reminder of his 18 times hosting the Oscars was very classy. Thanks for the memories, indeed.