Ellen, the ultimate selfie and the ten most interesting moments from the 86th Academy Awards
Nathan Swank
March 4th, 2014
7. Another Song? – I’ve said this in the past, but can we cut the musical numbers? Don’t get me wrong, I loved all the songs nominated and their respective performances. But one can argue that the song is the least impactful part of the overall film when compared to all the other categories. So why dedicate so much of the Oscar telecast to them? This would help take that 3 hour 35 minute runtime down a bit. But again, I liked the nominated songs and I don’t really have a problem with those four. My real problem came with Bette Middler singing “Wind Beneath My Wings” and Pink singing “Over the Rainbow.” This is nothing against the artists but we don’t need to hear watered down versions of these beloved songs, especially when it brings the show to a screeching halt. This isn’t the Tonys or the Grammys. And don’t get me started on Darlene Love’s awkward impromptu singing after 20 FEET FROM STARDOM won Best Documentary. I loved the documentary and her singing but those actions are too self serving.
6. “Happy” – Yeah, I know I just went on about getting rid of the songs. But Pharrell’s “Happy” was so uplifting and playful that it became a definite highlight of the night. What earned itself a spot on this list was the inclusion of audience members, Lupita Nyong’o, Meryl Streep, and Amy Adams who spontaneously shook their groove thang from their seats. Plus, those two kid dancers killed it!
5. Bill Murray pays tribute to Harold Ramis – We lost a lot of great people in Hollywood this past year and a few well before their time. I thought the Memoriam tribute was appropriately somber by subtracting the applause. If only they would have subtracted Bette Middler from singing afterward. Bill Murray went off script and gave a warm nod to his longtime collaborator Harold Ramis for his work in CADDYSHACK, GHOSTBUSTERS, and GROUNDHOG DAY, who passed away the week before.
4. Old Hollywood meets Young Hollywood – For the most part, presenters kept things light looking beautiful as they were paired up from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emma Watson to Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron. But there were a couple of old school actors mixed in. Matthew McConaughey was paired with VERTIGO’s Kim Novak while Angelina Jolie matched up with Sidney Poitier. Both younger stars were patient and kind as they helped their elder walk to the stage and read their lines. Both moments were sweet and respectful.
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