by Nathaniel R
Yes, I'm trying to stave off the annual Post Oscar Depression. It's a real thing even if the medical community doesn't yet recognize it. So herewith some random final screengrabs from Oscar night and accompanying thoughts on topics we haven't totally covered yet over the past 3 days of Oscar reactions, recapping, post-mortem. (I promise we'll quit with Oscar 2016 by tonight and move on to other topics for those of you who've already moved on)
Did you gasp with how flowy Scarlett Johansson's gown was as she presented. I mean, did they have a wind machine on her or does she just walk really fast?
Speaking of Scarjo, she seemed unfazed when Jungle Book won Visual FX and the camera was on her but she was far more animated while Denzel Washington was being chatted up from the stage. When it it going to be Scarlett's turn to win some damn prizes? She's such a major talent and getting better all the time. Perhaps the right combo of role and film and year just hasn't presented itself yet.
I'm glad that someone (by which I mean Isabelle Huppert) enjoyed the joke about no one seeing Elle because I did not (we bitched about this on the podcast). This screengrab made me wonder though what Terrence Howard (love him checking Huppert's reaction out, here) and Brie Larson (also giggly about the joke) thought of Elle. Nothing would make me happier than to know which acting branch members gave Huppert the nomination via their #1 placements on ballots. (I mean Jessica Chastain obviously but who else worships Huppert?)
Keith Urban is low maintenance obedient. Jimmy Kimmel tells him to close his eyes and imagine treats and he totally does. Nicole pretends to close her eyes and then just flicks them right back open. Does she also shake her Christmas gifts to determine contents? Maybe she doesn't like surprises?
Leslie Mann and John Cho, who were such good funny presenters when they shared the Sci-Tech winners, were very excited about the candy coming down. As was I. I don't know why since I wasn't eating it. This is the moment I realized that Dominic Cooper had shown up (even if he's not sitting with his girlfriend -- why are they so shy about publicity together?) and that Rosemarie De Witt, who has a small part in La La Land, was also in attendance.
But back to Leslie Mann & John Cho. Rewatching the show I can safely say they were the funniest presenters (Kate McKinnon's comedy a runner up) -- so charming and funny that we need them co-starring in a comedy real soon, okay, Hollywood?
And I think Viola & Denzel & their spouses will totally back me up on this as they were here for that presentation.
The candy falling from the sky followed by donuts and cookies paid unexpectedly great dividends with reaction shots. May we also have a reteaming of the Hidden Figures cast with a Nicole Kidman cameo? Loved that seating arrangement.
Speaking of Candy, this was the most clever dish at my Oscar party. Jason brought in gummy brains on a pink pillbox hat in honor of Jackie? In poor taste, purposefully, but poor taste in that John Waters kind of fun way perfect for Oscar parties that made everyone giggle.
More tales from my party. I can't remember if I told you - I probably did, at least on instagram? -- but when Lin-Manuel Miranda came out to do his new Moana rap, Christopher (my furry house guest) sat on the remote and abruptly changed the channel to screams from the room.
A minute later into the song he did it again after which we had to hide the remote.
Christopher very much enjoyed the party but not the Oscars. He is still pissed that Lion, his favorite, lost. His favorite hiding spot (though he doesn't hide much as an attention hogging non-shy cat) is behind or on top of the DVD right by the screeners.
Remember that moment when Matt Damon "tripped" Jimmy Kimmel and they glared at each other? On second viewing, the audience cackling is much funnier -- they are really into it. Especially seat mates and copresenters Shirley Maclaine and Charlize Theron who are all but screaming with laughter.
Guess you had to be there?
In Sunday Night's performance the role of Everyone Around the World Watching Viola Davis Win the Oscar will be played by Russell Hornsby.
Admit it you teared up, at least inside, too!
How cute was it when Meryl tried to hide from the cameras behind her ever patient hubby Don Gummer (think of how often he's had to sit for hours in uncomfortable suits while his wife was celebrated. We're talking thousands of hours! If anyone would like to do a montage of Meryl & Don from the 1980s through now sitting in their Oscar seats I bet it would provoke just buckets of tears from their stability... and also the realization of how much older we all are every time Meryl is given a trophy.
We also learned that Don feeds his wife. She wiggled her fingers in anticipation as he handed her Junior Mints to nibble.
We considered doing a whole piece on star reactions to their clips but there weren't enough really amusing ones this year to make it worth the time. But consider these three screen caps, post performance clip:
It's safe to say that the number one most effective and most endearing way to deal with awards show nerves, and the anxiety that comes from sitting in a room in which you're being lauded and forced to watch your own work in bite-sized often oddly chosen form in front of all of your peers, is to have a really grounding loved one right next to you. After your clip you can turn to and share a warm conspiratorial smile. They know you. They probably know how you really felt on set that week or about that whole performance. They love you off screen, too.
I know not everyone was happy about Casey Affleck winning but as someone who firmly believes in separating art from artists (I mean, I can't keep up with all their personal lives, can you?, plus I don't even want to in most cases) and someone who thinks the performance is pretty great (not Best of the year, but almost) I was okay with the win, even though I would have far preferred Viggo's first or Denzel's third. But this hug moved me.
There aren't that many sets of Oscar winning siblings in the world and most of them aren't as close as the Brothers Affleck (with their lifelong friend Matt Damon, captured applauding them accidentally off to the side -- scratch that. There's no way the Oscar directors/cameraman didn't position themselves to not have Damon in the shot). There's Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland (who were famously not fond of each other), there's Warren & Shirley (who aren't that connected in pop culture to the point where people are often surprised to learn they're brother and sister -- yes, even now that they're ancient. Every time I mention it, as with this tweet
In hubbub over EnvelopeGate, let us not forget the cuteness of Shirley MacLaine waving to her little brother from the audience! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/ox5kSXWZPn
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) February 27, 2017
I can safely expect someone to explain:
They're brother and sister ?!?!?"
as its happened every time I've ever mentioned it whether it's the 80s, the 90s, the Aughts or this week!
One of the reasons it's great when any Oscar night spreads the wealth is that you get to see more than just one team in closeups. As a longtime fan of Denis Villeneuve, I was thrilled that he was thanked from the stage for Arrival's one win. (Look to the left: They sat the real Saroo Brierley behind him... not sure where they were seated but it seems kind of far back)
Even though the men of Moonlight got a lot of exposure and probably career boosts this year, we still didn't get to see enough of Trevante Rhodes and Andre Holland on Oscar night so here they are clapping for a Moonlight win, I forget which.
Even though it was hard to process Moonlight's win on the night of the Oscars, given the fiasco in presentation (which we've amply covered), it's settling in how beautiful and historic the choice was, isn't it? The cast was quite understandably overwhelmed. I mean look at this perfecct cap of Jharrel Jerome (who plays the teenage Kevin) hugging Alex R Hibbert (who plays the littlest Chiron)!
Finis.
Please do share all of your random leftover thoughts that you don't know quite what to do with it. Post Oscar Malaise can wait until tomorrow to arrive!