I admit it.  I love awards shows, and the Oscars is the "Granddaddy Of Them All", per se.  This year's was relatively uneventful -- pretty much your standard affair.  I had to leave for poker club mid-way through the live viewing, so my viewing was further enhanced by being able to fast forward my least favorite parts:  the commercials and the "Best Song" performances (except when 3-6 Mafia was in the house!).

Jon Stewart is a good host, since he is funny and able to make subtle Hollywood digs, without going all out Chris Rock on 'em (which I love!).  He did a solid all-around job, and earned +4.

The story of the night was No Country For Old Men, which took home a bunch of awards.  This provided some unintentional comedy, as the Coen Brothers (directors of the movie) are just about the worst people you want up on stage to give a speech.  They've clearly spent 95% of their lives BEHIND a camera or in a room somewhere editing film.  Still, they do this in a likable way, and they earned +10 for their dominant night.

The moments I enjoy the most are the sort of unexpected or underdog winners... the unknowns.  The pure, genuine emotion they can show is fun, and makes me want to win an award!  This year, the most prestigious award to go to a person like this was the Best Actress Oscar, to Marion Cotillard.  Her acceptance speech was awesome, and so was her dress, which made her look like a mermaid, in a good way.  I think she gets the oh-so coveted "Best Dressed Female" award, from me.  All the stars are looking for that honor!  +7.



Similarly, although I think I would despise the movie, you gotta love Juno writer Diablo Cody.  The stripper-turned-Oscar-winner is just doing her own thing.  While I wouldn't recommend that leopard print dress to anyone, she definitely pulled it off.  She is who she is, and not trying to be what anyone tells her to be.  +3.

Other award-winners who acted like this included Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth, who won for their Documentary Short, Freeheld, and Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova with the Best Song -- "Falling Slowly".  +3 all-around.

Another memorable moment from this year's ceremony was 98 year-old Robert Boyle accepting an Honorary Oscar for his long career in art direction.  The speech went a little long, but it was great to see him still up there ballin'!  He seemed to be in remarkably good condition for 98.  +5.

And the rest of the story:

Forrest Whitaker +1 for his Best Actress presentation and celebrating the moment with Cotillard.

Amy Ryan +2 for revealing herself!  I knew her from The Wire, but did not know her name.  Then, in my Oscar pool, I picked her on a pure guess!  Fate.

Penelope Cruz +1 for being hot (the accent helps).  It might have been higher, but she was docked points for that frilly/feathery stuff on her dress.

+3 to the always ravishing Hillary Swank.

No points, but is Nicole Kidman actually some sort of fembot/Stepford Wife?  She creeps me out.  So actually, -2.

Did Harrison Ford morph into Tom Brokaw, at some point?  Where was the announcement?

Best Dressed Male:  The always fly Denzel Washington.  +5.

Worst moment of the night?  Jerry Seinfeld's stupid animated bee character made an appearance.  Dumb.  -6.

Second worst?  Seeing Renee Zellweger.  Those puffy eyes make me feel like my allergies are acting up, and those puckered lips just make me angry.  -5.