By Cathy Maestri
InstantPride.com

First-time Academy Awards producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark were right when they promised a new kind of Oscars ceremony. Wow.

Sunday’s telecast was actually about films and filmmaking. Who knew, after years of pointless parades of celebrities, that the night could be all about movies and be interesting and entertaining?

Sure, there’s a little tweaking to be done. Hugh Jackman didn’t have a whole lot to work with as the opening number began — but bless his heart, he worked it. He deserved that standing ovation.

But on the whole, the concept was outstanding. Condon and Mark stole the show back from the fashion industry, which had hijacked it by default.

Showing clips from Oscars past and then bringing out previous winners to toast the nominees? Classy. Now when someone says it’s enough just to be nominated, they can mean it. Those kind words mean far more than a trophy.

And for the viewer? The broadcast was funny, it was interesting, it was tastefully glamorous, it was fast-paced. It actually made you want to go see movies — and it made you excited about the ones to come, thanks to the preview clips shown with the credits.

Bravo.

Filed under Entertainment, Voxpox

Monday, February 23, 2009

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