Tag: Viola Davis

Emmys, Women of Color and the Wonderful Awesomely Luvvie

Listening to Viola Davis last night and reading responses from so many of my friends was inspiring, but hardly surprising. I’ve written often about the gift, through the Internet, of access to the ideas of women of color their perspectives on America and race.

But last night and this morning, it was as if it was brand new, with this post from AwesomelyLuvvie saying it all. The depth of joy and pride wasn’t surprising, of course. It was just so wonderful and passionate. I remembered all the “first women” of the 70’s and 80’s: astronauts and VP Candidates, fire fighters and West Point grads, Supreme Court justices, rabbis, and orchestra conductors,  and could only imagine how much bigger this must feel – especially since Davis’ speech was so phenomenal.

So hats off Luvvie!  And hats off to Viola Davis and her sisters, those who won, those who didn’t and the fierce women who supported them.

Hey Oscar? You Have Some Explaining to Do!

Images-4SWhen I was a kid on Oscar night, my parents made me go to bed way before the show was over, but my dad always kept a winners list for me on a shirt cardboard so I wouldn't miss anything.  It seemed so important then.  Without the entertainment shows like ET and Access Hollywood, the unedited Oscar acceptance speeches were one of the few times we got to see celebrities revealed.  It was thrilling.

Of course, the mystique – and the Oscar TV audiences — have eroded since then.  It will be interesting to see if tonights "new" Oscars  – which do look better and at least are doing things with a little more wit and humor – make a difference.  I'm watching as I write this – amazed that Jessica Biel, the wayward daughter from the sentimental but sweet Seventh Heaven, got to present alone  – even if it was the tech awards.  Who would have predicted that?

I think I'm out of touch, or I've gotten crotchety in my old age.  Why?  First of all, though I'm a real, loyal Woody Allen fan, I did NOT like Vicky Christina Barcelona. . Penelope Cruz was fine, but not the best.  It's so sad when two nominees (like those in Doubt) are set against one another and split the vote.  I'm assuming that's how Cruz won.  The two women from Doubt - – Amy Adams and and Viola Davis -  especially Davis,  were just astonishing.  Their bad luck to be opposite one another in the same category.

Meanwhile, I'm struggling to figure out how to talk about the presenters in the "best supporting"category.  Goldie Hawn, whom I've always loved, just made me sad.  We're nearly the same age, and she certainly looks better than I do.  BUT tonight she looked so over surgeried, overstuffed into her dress, over everything.  It was like she had been blown up with a bicycle pump – all swollen.  BUT tonight she looked so over surgeried, overstuffed into her dress, over everything.  It was like she had been blown up with a bicycle pump – all swollen.  The toughest thing of all, though, is how many of this year's most honored movies were movies I really didn't like. 

I've written before about Slumdog.  I probably should have known I wouldn't love it; I wanted to see it too much.  It's sweet and explores the poverty and misery in India, but it just didn't do it for me.  Too neat, too pat, And, to me, terribly manipulative.  As I said, Vicky Christina Barcelona was disappointing too, shallow and silly.  I'm also ornery about the show itself.  I actually loved the musical numbers- long or not, even though everybody on Twitter was complaining about them.  Probably showing my age.  
Anyway, the show was way too long but I'm not sure what I would have cut.  I loved the five veterans honoring the nominees too.  Beyond that I'm not sure.  What I am sure of is that at least now I don't have to wait until I wake up in the morning and get the Oscar results from a shirt cardboard on the kitchen table.