MHO on some of the Oscar elements discussed:
I liked Pilobilus. They usually have so random thing like that, or Cirque du Whatever or something that has little to do with movies, so at least these were short, and I found the Snakes on a Plane one very funny.
I liked the Writer's Montage. The other one (America?) started when I was out of the room. I came back in and saw most of it but still had to ask what the theme was, because none was apparent.
The thing that bugs me about these montages is that the Academy makes a big deal about Barbara Koppel, or Jonathan Demme or Woody Allen doing these tribute montages, when all they probably do is slap their name on it and the editor does all the work putting it together. They are fun and I enjoy watching them, but it's nothing that a halfway decent editor couldn't do. I've done tons of these on my own, and these editors have many assistants to view films and pull clips for them. It's all about finding good music and the rest is easy.
I was glad to see Ennio Morriocne get an award, but another mediocre montage. And in his list of films at the end, they didn't mention "Sacco and Vanzetti". (I did see a clip from a Buster Keaton film that we use in S&V in one of the montaages...nobody else knew why Greg and I were laughing.)
Celine Dion---pretentous posturing. I couldn't wait for it to end!
I liked Ellen, particularly the bit with Spielberg.
I was glad to see Randy but like bk, I wish he had performed the song himself. Not one of his best, but better than the other stuff.
I thought they should have cut the choral group doing the "foley". And rarely is foley done like that---they would just cut the sfx from wild tracks or a library, so what was the point???
The death montages are getting better---at least they are nice visually and they picked good shots. They also did a nice job of graphically incorporating the titles of the films for writers, etc.
I guess Ray Evans will be in next year's montage.
Kirsten Dunst looked rough and squinty. Helen Mirren looked miraculous and made a perfect speech. I also thought one of the writers made a perfect speech, too. But it always bugs me when 2-3 people go up and the first person hogs the mike and the others are standing there like so much fish.
I hated the Dreamgirls number and thought the songs and staging were lame.
The party I attended had some annoying people talking very loudly and having to comment on every little thing, to try and prove how much the knew about films. Other people were not there to watch the show and talked so loudly that you couldn't hear half of what was said, and then when people laughed, they wanted you to go back and explain the joke---thus interrupting what was said next. I don't understand why people would come to an Oscar party and then not even watch it! But I did enjoy seeing our friends' house and their huge screen, so I was glad I went. I was missing the HHW action while I was there, and wishing I had brought my laptop. (How rude!)
