Oh yeah, the Pom and I slummed it through the Academy Awards.
For a start, our foodie hosts had joined forces with a chef friend to cater our little soiree: turns out figs and films make the perfect combo, and when you add rocket, home-smoked meats and goats cheese with truffle oil, you can't help but feel a little Hollywood decadent.
Bubbles accompanied this stunning entree, and loosened tongues just in time for some red carpet heckling. As per set rules, there was a fair bit of drinking as the frocked and facelifted wafted across the screen, but all too soon it was time for the first award.
And it went to ME!
Eeeee! Finally my hours of film watching paid off as I took out the 'most films' award. I am now the proud owner of my own wooden Oscar, whom the Pom has already positioned in perfect golf stance. Remind me to post a pic.
Not that it really matters now I've scored my prize, but you know, we did eventually watch the Academy Awards. With a bit of technological gymnastics, we screened the last third first as we waited for Channel 9's coverage to begin. The second award up for grabs was for 'best score', based on the ballots we'd submitted the night before.
So as we tucked in to some scrumptious pasta, pens were in hand to mark up which of our Hollywood horses had made it across the line. Of course the writing was on the wall very soon: it was to be a Slumdog night for us.
I should have played the politics; should have known that the Academy would always go for the grand spectacle of a Slumdog Millionaire landslide, rather than the subtlety of awarding a variety of equally worthy films. Which is not to say Slumdog Millionaire isn't a marvelous film, it's just that winning eight Oscars seemed almost a continuation of the film's fairytale plot. It's all about what makes good television I guess.
Don't get me wrong, with the delicious fruit tart followed up with to-die-for homemade rocky road, there were certainly no sour grapes to be had as our hostess scored the second wooden Oscar. Nicely done, Tori!
When we eventually switched over to Channel 9, it was with some trepidation that we prepared for Hugh Jackman to assume his duties as host. Though the New York Post condemned his performance as that of a "cheesy cruise-ship entertainer," I thought 'Our Hugh' did remarkably well. Sure, his singing and dancing routines would perhaps have been more at home at the Tony Awards, but I give him credit for sticking to his strengths. I thought he seemed professional, affable and in his element (particularly as he snuggled into Frank Langella's lap!). More hairy, hairy, man love for Hugh I say!
So 'twas a marvelous night for food, festivities and fun. Many many thanks to the generous hosts and our new friends for the gourmet menu and inspired heckling. May the Academy Awards always be such a ball!
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A quick question: were a whole lot of categories edited out? I thought perhaps it was due to our back-to-front viewing of the show that we missed some awards, including the best screenplays, but if they simply weren't shown then I must protest!
4 comments:
Ah, so sorry to miss it - sounds like you had a ball.
Honestly, Hugh could kill children and I would still love him unquestioningly. Wrong, when you think about it.
Reminder - post a picture of wooden oscar.
when hugh jackman started doing the musical number - "why am i wearing a tuxedo" lead in to the song - it was horrible on so many levels. i felt bad for him, for the audience, and most of all baz lurhmann who should just .... stop.... for a while.
glad to see slumdog win.
jai ho, alice. jai ho.
@Kate: disturbing, but so true!
@WiredJazz: must get a digicam one of these days. Even my phone is too lame to take photos. Will get a pic up soon though, ta :)
@jw: Ok, I'll give you that. Did you see Bazza's face after the number? He looked like he'd been sucking on a lemon. Perhaps an intervention is in order...
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