Selfies For All!*

 

As Oscar predictions go, this was my best year yet–I correctly guessed 20 out of 24, only failing on two of the shorts categories (thanks a lot, Goldderby.com), Best Documentary (though what won was no surprise) and Best Picture (ditto). Unfortunately, such predictably and lack of at least one single major upset made for a dull, dull ceremony, despite Ellen’s selfies (quite amusing, actually) and pizza-ordering stunt (padding which had nothing on Andy Kaufman’s infamous treating-the-audience-to-milk-and-cookies stunt, ingenuous when he did it 35 years ago). And don’t even mention the many montages–they’ve already taken up too much time I’ll never get back (time I would’ve preferred to see Angela Lansbury and Steve Martin receiving their honorary Oscars in person).

On the brighter side, the acceptance speeches generally rocked, especially the ladies (Blanchett and Nyong’o), although the best came from Best Original Song winners Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez–snappy and well-rehearsed yet sincere and affecting. Regarding presenters, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emma Watson were effortlessly charming, while Kim Novak and Harrison Ford made us laugh (albeit unintentionally). As for John “Adele Razim” Travolta, Zach Efron and other line flubbers, perhaps someone out there will string together a montage half as entertaining as this. Pink gave the night’s best musical performance (better her than Lea Michele doing that song, amirite?), with Darlene Love’s acceptance speech a close second (despite her slightly off final note). Very happy for the Best Original Screenplay win for HER, wish NEBRASKA hadn’t been shut out, but I really can’t complain–for once, none of the winners were abominations. The complete list of them is here.

*unless you’re Liza Minnelli.