No slip ups, no trip ups, a few surprises and a jet ski. That's the way #Oscars2018 played out.
As host, Jimmy Kimmel kept the opening monologue short in his sophomore outing. He did the conventional shoutout to the nominated actors and filmmakers, and made pleas to support the Parkland teenagers' march and the #MeToo movement. His funny request was to keep the speeches short and the evening moving along. The reward for the shortest speech: A jet ski and a weekend at Lake Havasu went to the Costume Design winner for his 36-second speech.
Kimmel was good. He veered away from politics for the most part, and a few of his in-between bits were funny. The celeb-filled trip to the movie screening to thank paying film fans was a good idea that seemed to fall flat on arrival. Fortunately, ABC cut back live to presenters Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph and the show continued on.
I'm thinking that it would been more fitting to have a female host of Oscars 90th – perhaps there were no takers.
Oscar love was spread around though there were few surprises. The predictable program even came in at under four hours!
The Highpoints
Presenters for Production Design, Lupita Nygon'o and Kumail Nanjiani, both immigrants, read a wonderfully written lead-in in support of DACA (The Dreamers).
Jordan Peele for Get Out and getting it done – the first African American to win the award for Best Original Screenplay.
Frances McDormand, upon winning the award for Best Actress, for calling out all the women artists in the room to stand up, singing their praises, and letting the world know that we've got stories to tell too.
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway giving the Best Picture Award another shot. Successfully.
The Fashion Report
Shoutout to these women and men who wore it well. The beautifully best-dressed women included Helen Mirren in basic blue; Saoirse Ronan and Viola Davis pretty in pink; Greta Gerwig shimmering in orange; and Rita Moreno, still stunning, and wearing the same gown she wore to the 1962 Oscars. The handsome men included Jordan Peele in a traditionally-cut tuxedo with a white jacket; Common in slimline, classic black; and Tom Holland in a double-breasted black tux.
A few who missed: Nicole Kidman and Emily Blunt who usually knock it out of the park wore an electric blue, big-bowed sweetheart gown and a puffy-shoulder, high collar pale blue gown respectively; and Salma Hayek in too-tiered and too much Gucci. Armie Hammer was over the top in a crimson velvet tuxedo.
For my prediction power – a respectable 18 correct guesses out of 24 categories. Until next year – see you at the movies.
Animation: © 2018 Janet Giampietro.
