94th Academy Awards

WHY WILL? WHY!?! I’m sure that’s what Will Packer, black producer of this year’s Oscars Broadcast, was screaming as now the 94th Academy Awards will forever be remembered as the time a black male actor physically assaulted another black male presenter, on stage, during a live segment, and then used loud, strong, foul language. So unexpected overall, but horribly out of character for Will Smith, who’s known for being a consummate professional.

I suppose on some level, it’s kinda romantic that after over 20 odd years of marriage, he feels that strongly about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith to risk being stripped of his well-earned Oscar. And more importantly the damage to Black Hollywood! We got some victories from #OscarsSoWhite, now we have to hear #OscarsTooBlack. But of course, his tearful acceptance speech did pull at my heartstrings, obviously the stress of the last few months personally and professionally had gotten to him, everyone has a breaking point. But then again, all this over a joke! I know Will’s since apologized to Chris Rock, but he needed to that on stage. Kudos to Rock for taking the high road and not fighting back or pressing charges.

At the time, did Rock know about Jada’s struggle with alopecia? Cause I didn’t. And why did Will first laugh off Rock’s GI Jane joke and then decide to defend his woman? What did she say to set him marching up on stage to deliver the slap seen round the world? Very The Last Duel-like. Which, if anyone should be hurt by humor it should be Ridley Scott (not present) the bit done by co-host Regina Hall trying to giveaway a DVD of a movie “no one’s ever seen, not even the director” was mean. I rather liked The Last Duel, it’s a sure shot more Oscar-worthy than CODA.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s go back to the way I usually start these round ups, with what I was eating!

RED CARPET PICNIC

A bottle of Prosecco is tradition, but first time trying Freixenet, beautiful bottle, but a little sweet. Trader Joe’s is my standby when I haven’t planned anything else for the menu. They have great frozen appetizers and variety of dips and chips and other delicious party eats. Their Alsace Tart has been my absolute fav for years!

I also got the Parmesan Pastry Puffs, fancier than regular pigs in a blanket, the filo dough is super flaky and there’s no nitrates in the dogs. I also enjoy their chocolate covered pretzels, addicted to the cheese crunchies, first time trying the Three Layer Humus, but I always get the Raisin Rosemary Crisps, these slightly sweet, savory, crisp but chewy crackers go with everything. Added the beets, cause you gotta have some kinda veggie. Dessert – Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, not nearly as sweet as they sound- So Good! And they go perfectly with an end of the night cup of tea, which after these Oscars, a cup of camomile was on point.

HOSTS

In principal, I’m so supportive of having all female hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. But is three the magic number for Oscar host duties? Maybe it was decided because last time it was two – Anne Hathaway & James Franco, only one pulled their weight?

I’m happy Regina Hall is being recognized this way, she’s an actress with a large range, yet after all this time, she’s still mainly known to black audiences. I encourage people to see her in MASTER , the beats of the film are off, but her performance is good.

That being said, she didn’t fit with Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. And I didn’t like that they wrote her thirsty and super single, those bits about personally testing Bradley Cooper, Tyler Perry, Timothee Chalamet and Simu Liu for COVID with her tongue and the long pat downs of James Brolin and Jason Momoa were out of order, it’s not the climate to flip the script on #Metoo. I’m sure she didn’t write the skit, but all 3 women should have vetoed it. It was nice to see a token white for a change; but I think if you go with three hosts, one should have been male, maybe of another race, like Kumail Nanjiani would have been perfect!

Oscars 2022 RED CARPET

For those of us who love the Red Carpet, we expect to see a trend pretty early on and we’re never disappointed. Whether it happens by collective unconscious or a stylist’s union, it always happens. This year Cherry Red!

My Favorite Cherry Red Looks

Oscar Winner Ariana DeBose is not only my favorite winner and acceptance speech of the night, but also my favorite look of the night! A modern two-piece Custom Gown/Tux Hybrid by Valentino
Photo: Kevin MazurGetty

Best Supporting Actress#Oscar #Oscars2022 #AcademyAwards #WestSideStory pic.twitter.com/Fw5CJTiaJe
— Tinsel & Tine – OSCARS March 27th (@tinseltine) March 28, 2022

Simu Liu killed it in this Donatella Versace suit for his 1st Oscars.
Photo: Momodu Mansaray

Rosie Perez exudes sexy elegance in this Christian Siriano
Photo: Momodu Mansaray

Runners Up Cherry Red Looks

Tracee Ellis Ross is rather daring in this Carolina Herrera
Photo: Jeff Kravitz

Oscar Nominated Kirsten Dunst went with a Lacroix gown that symbolized her character’s name in Power of the Dog – Rose.
Photo: Anela Weiss

Marlee Matlin looks rich in this Monique Lhuillier gown. She may not have won a 2nd Oscar, but is in another Best Picture Oscar winning film – CODA
Photo: Jeff KravitzGetty

Other Red Carpet Highlights:

Oscar Winner Jessica Chastain in Custom Gucci. I called this Floozy Glam. I think I like it; but I’m sure Tammy Faye Baker was looking down in approval.

This was truly original! Eva von Bahr Swedish make-up artist nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for DUNE. I’d never wear it, but love that she did.

I’ve been on the fence about Lupita Nyong’o’s Prada gown. The confetti is too busy with all else going on and don’t like the sleeve length. At first, I felt hairstyle was too messy, but on closer inspection it’s beautifully weaved (I wonder how heavy it feels). On the whole, because it’s Lupita, she pulled off her entire look, but it’s not my favorite of her red carpets by far.

These looks are flawless:

Lily James in Versace

Oscar Nominated Aunjanue Ellis in Donatella Versace

Oscar Nominated Nicole Kidman in Armani Privé

NO’s!

I just can’t believe Oscar Nominated Kristen Stewart actually felt good in this. It may be Custom Chanel but this is Grammy attire not Oscars.

Was Billie Eilish trying to channel Kay Ballard from the beyond. Why would a young girl think this was glamours, chic, hip, edgy, it’s nothing but awful.

Wesley Snipes also went with more dignified shorts on the red carpet, this was almost okay, as monochromatic was trending, and it’s nearly a kilt, but I can’t sanction it.

OSCAR MUSIC MOMENTS

Strong start to the show with Queen Bey and her princess Blue Ivy Carter singing her Oscar nominated song from the movie King Richard “Be Alive” via satellite from the Compton tennis courts where the Williams family practiced, creating the phenoms Venus and Serena. That iridescent green was good on the costumes, but I think our eyes needed a contrasting color on the tennis courts.

Despite my love Reba McEntire performing Diane Warren‘s Oscar Nominated song “Somehow You Do” from Four Good Days Warren remains a 13 times loser at the Oscars 😥 I also felt a little bad for Mila Kunis, who I’m sure thought this movie was going to earn her an Oscar nom.

John Leguizamo seemed to have the smoothest, most polished moment introducing the performance of ENCANTO’s “We don’t Talk About Bruno”. Didn’t know the Oscar was modeled after a Latino. Liked when he said, Oscar winners are taking home 13 inches of Mexican 😆

Nice that Wanda Skyes got to give a moment to the black Music Director Adam Blackstone, black Orchestra Leader Dante Winslow and music arranger Derek Hodge.

OSCAR SPECIAL MOMENTS

The Cast Reunions presenting was a good idea. The Academy should keep this as a tradition:

THE GODFATHER 50 years – Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, and Robert DeNiro

WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP 30 years – Rosie Perez, Wesley Snipes & Woody Harrelson

PULP FICTION 28 years – Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Travolta

JUNO 15 years – Elliot Page, Jennifer Garner, and J.K. Simmon

The 60 YEARS OF BOND TRIBUTE felt a little lackluster. I think they gave it to an intern to cut the package. This should have been a more significant moment.

OSCAR WINNER HIGHLIGHTS

I got 9 outta 19 correct on my OSCAR Predictions post. I don’t do the shorts or sound categories

**Ahmir “QuestLove” Thompson (From Philly’s The Roots) Best Documentary Summer of Soul**

**Jenny Beavan Best Costumes for Disney’s CRUELLA**

**Jane Campion THE POWER OF THE DOG only woman to be nominated for best director twice**. She’s won for Best Screenplay for THE PIANO, but this is her first Best Director Win!

The Academy introduced an audience voted category of “Cheer-worthy moments,” below is a hilarious meme mocking the winning moment – The Flash enters the speed force, Zack Synder’s Justice League. Obviously some fanboys got a campaign going to make sure all the other fanboys voted and it tipped the scale. On the one hand, good for them for being organized, on the other hand, let’s not do this again next year.

BEST PICTURE WINNER | CODA | AppleTV+ | Writer/Director Sian Heder | Based on La Famille Bélier

I didn’t cover Sundance 2021, where CODA premiered. But I do remember getting a screening invite during its theatrical run, at that time, with COVID in mind, I was only going to the movies for things that I thought I’d have to vote on as a Member of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, never imagined CODA would be on that list. But hey, I was wrong, as we got closer to making nominations, CODA started getting awards buzz. I sought out a screener. After watching it, I thought that was really cute – Writer/Director Sian Heder has created a very watchable humorous, light, coming of age movie. And yes, appreciated that the deaf community was smartly represented. Plus, I learned a new term – Child of Deaf Adult. But then I didn’t think anything more about CODA.

From Oct. – Dec. I have to see about 30-40 films in order to nominate and vote. I rarely have time during those weeks to write reviews unless it’s going to make my end of the year Top 10 List. CODA is number 54 of the 150 movies I watched. Basically, I say all this to remark that CODA in my opinion, is far from an Oscar-worthy film. Okay, you can throw it into the nominations, since it resonated with audiences, but it should never have won. But then did I think last year’s NOMADLAND deserved to win. No. Chloé Zhao is also a talented director, glad she won, but Nomadland is basically a documentary, not a fully cinematic film. PARASITE did deserve to win, I loved it; but I can’t help but wonder did the Academy voters base the film on its merits or did they like the idea of making a foreign film, best picture and setting a new chapter in Oscar history?

I don’t think the voting Academy sees half of what Film Critics Association members around the country see. I think we should be the voting members of the Academy.