Through the years, the Oscars have put on the show of the year, honoring movies that have changed and forced opinions. The winning movies have usually been representative of the time, the technology, and were reflective of the current social climate. That’s why this year’s Academy Awards was so special. Virtual unknowns like Gabourey Sidibe of Precious were nominated and sleepers like The Hurt Locker beat out the sure bet winners like Avatar. First-time nominees like Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side won over the record holding-Oscar-winning Meryl Streep of Julia & Julia. And it was so nice to see a comedienne (Mo’Nique) win the Best Supporting Actress in a serious role for Precious.
For the first time ever Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin hosted. They made an interesting and rather comical impression. Ben Stiller’s interpretation of Avatar as he announced Best Makeup was hilarious, especially since Avatar wasn’t even nominated for that category. And there was even something for those who’ve seen the independent film Paranormal, which preceded a horror movie montage including the following films: Psycho, Interview with the Vampire, Beetle Juice, Jaws, The Blob, Rosemary’s Baby, Poltergeist, The Shining, and more; underscored by Bernard Hermann’s famous score to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
Touching moments abounded with the Honorary Oscar given to Lauren Bacall and Roger Corman; a memorandum to John Hughes, as well as countless other actors who passed away in 2009 including Gene Simmons and David Carradine. John Hughes’ family and fellow colleagues, including Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) and Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club) were on stage in his honor. “When you get older your heart dies” – John Hughes
Here are some quotes from this year’s Oscar winners that I feel will reverberate in our minds for years to come:
In Glorious Bastard – Best Supporting Actor – Christoph Waltz
“Everybody helped me find a place. This is your welcoming embrace. There is no way I can ever thank you enough. I can right start now. Thank you!”
Logorama – Best Animated Short – Producer, Nicolas Schmerkin
“I have to thank the 3000 unofficial sponsors who appeared in the film. It took 6 years to make this 16 minutes. I hope to come back and make a feature in 36 years!”
Star Trek – Best Makeup – Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, and Joel Harlow
“We had fifteen amazing [makeup] artists over 40.”
Precious – Best Adapted Screenplay – Geoffery Fletcher
‘This is for everybody who works on a dream everyday!”
Precious – Supporting Actress – Mo’Nique
“First I would like t thank the academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics!” I’d like to thank my husband for showing me that sometimes you have to forego what’s popular for doing what’s right!”
Avatar – Art Direction –Robert Stromberg
“Thirteen years ago doctors told me I wasn’t going to survive. I thought this dream of standing here was never going to come true. Yet here we are.”
Avatar – Best Visual Effects – Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, and Andrew R. Jones
“Avatar was about learning to see the world in new ways. Just Remember, the world we live in is just as wonderful as the one we created for you.”
The Crazy Heart – Best Actor –Jeff Bridges
“Thank you mom and dad for turning me on to such a groovy profession—they loved show biz so much. This is honoring them as much as it is me.”
The Blind Side – Best Actress – Sandra Bullock
“Did I really earn this or did I just wear you’all down. To the moms who take care of those babies and children no matter where they come from. Those moms never get thanked. ”
The Hurt Locker – Best Director – Kathryn Bigelow
“I’d like to dedicate this to the women and men who risk their lives on a daily basis. May they come home safe.”
Written By Kaylene Peoples
