By Amanda DeCamp
In fear that Hollywood's far left views would bombard the 78th annual Academy Awards, I watched with caution. I sat down apprehensive and expected the worst. My predictions were all let down. I was awaiting eight acceptance speeches from a movie about gay cowboys and prepared to hear liberal talk show host Jon Stewart rant about Bush's foreign policy. I expected the winners to say such things as "Glad I won, but too bad America is doomed."
Instead, Hollywood finally remained in its place, in the world of pampering, performing and after parties-far from politics and the president. Jon Stewart, who did a remarkable job hosting the show, might have even helped with his opening monologue, which bashed the left-coast star mentality. He spoke of how Hollywood is referred to as the black hole of morality and even compared it to Sodom and Gomorrah. He concluded that there was no joke here; he just wanted to let them all know what onlookers thought of their bubble. The audience laughed; perhaps in concordance with the fact that they are in a different world, a world of gold and frolicking on red carpets in dresses that cost more than cars.
Presenters such as the Wilson brothers put their audience in a reality check when they told of their first really successful short film, which grossed just less than a million dollars-quite a large number for them at that time. A million dollars seems like pocket change to most of the people sitting before them.
Luke and Owen, as well as other presentors such as Will Farrell, Steve Carell and Ben Stiller, all lightened the mood and stole the night as true entertainers. It might have made the audience wonder why such comedians are not truly rewarded for the entertainment they bring into nearly every household. Farrell and Carell presented Best Make-Up and came out covered in hideous face makeup smudges, while Stiller came out in a head-to-toe fluorescent green body suit to announce the winner of the category Best Visual Effects.
The awards were given to an array of different movies and genres. Almost no deserving movie left without at least one golden man to bring home for the mantle. Dolly Parton sang loudly and proudly of Jesus in the song for the trans-gender movie, Transamerica. Although it did not win the award for best Original Song, it made the audience clap along in their seats and listen up, even to a religious song.
However, any sense of a religious presence was shot to hell when the Oscar for best Original Song was handed over to Three 6 Mafia for their song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp." One may have thought they were watching MTV's Video Music Awards when this song was performed. Although the stage lighting and effects were a tad bit classier than if it had been on MTV, the girls were dressed scantily as they danced sensuously and the rappers were wearing baggy jeans and sideways baseball caps. While I am sure many viewers' mouths were still agape in shock of this performance, the group immediately won the award following the performance. Three 6 Mafia seemed almost as shocked to hear of their win as the audience. They thanked God and showed a lot of appreciation for their victory.
Best Picture was given to Crash. I have not seen this movie, but I have heard only rave reviews. It is supposed to be appealing to men and women, young or old. Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain, a suitable award for this movie in my opinion. This movie is not for everyone, and I believe a movie that is appealing to the mass population should win Best Picture. If it did in fact have great directing, then it was rightfully awarded for such. Another deserving winner was Reese Witherspoon who won Best Actress for her performance in Walk the Line. Walk the Line was not nominated for Best Picture, but it was truly a movie for all to enjoy. The Academy Awards could have used a performance from Witherspoon and her co-star Joaquin Phoenix, who played Johnny Cash in the movie, especially since there were only three nominations for the song category.
The 78th Academy Awards focused very much on the classic movies as it showed clips of everyone from Humphrey Bogart to Audrey Hepburn. Without the usual liberal rhetoric the show turned out to be entertaining and somewhat equal. Even the penguins marched off with a golden man.