I got up at half two to watch the Oscars this morning. I was especially grateful for the lack of simultaneous dubbing which has been a staple of award shows on Turkish telly for so long.

Observations:

George Clooney is the coolest man alive (apart from, you know, me). That little double take he did when Jon Stewart joked "Good Night and Good Luck" was what Clooney always said at the end of his dates was inspired. His quip that he was not going to win director was perfectly timed and delivered and his actual speech succinct and brilliant. With a better director and a better script, he would have been the best Batman. There, I said it.

Jennifer Garner's ad lib about her doing her own stunts after falling over almost twice was so spot-on that i wonder if it was actually "written" backstage by Bruce Vilanch a couple of minutes previously. If not, then Jennifer Garner's as naturally witty as she is naturally gorgeous (though, if you look closely - and I do - you can see that she's had work done on her eyes and her lips. Call me Joan Rivers.)

Jon Stewart was sardonic but not as much as I thought he was going to be. Not too many "gay cowboy" jokes and the ones that were there, were original and funny (yet another nod to the inimitable Vilanch). Best gag: "And none of those issues were heard from again." Closely followed by the "montage gag".

The make-up winner was cringeworthy in not letting his co-winner talk and the latter as distressing to watch as she was trying to get hold of the mic to thank, I don't know, her mum, God, whatever. Lauren Bacall was painful to watch, I thought she was going to have a heart attack half way through her speech. Also Robert Altman's speech was a let down.

Wallace and Gromit! It's Hard out here for a pimp! You could feel the love in the room as they won.

Reason why I hate Reece Witherspoon No. 3, 211, 988: "Ahm just a lil gal from the South." Yes. You've said. Like, a million times. Get a new fcuking schtick already.

Irony: i·ro·ny n. pl. i·ro·nies A sub-par ensemble drama winning Best Film in the same year as Robert Altman wins an honorary Oscar.

I prefer Jessica Alba with blonde hair. I still love her though.

Finally: Amy Adams not winning an Oscar? What the fcuk were the voters smoking? Whatever it was, I sure hope it was as good as what Three Six Mafia were smoking because their acceptance was the performance of the night.

I was at an Oscar party at a friend's house. I did see some Oscars being handed out and heard some speeches but not all since I was in and out of the room, raiding the buffet and doing refills of what else...but cocktails. I had this drink of vodka with clamato juice. Yum. You Canadians would know what this is called. I think by now (at l east this weekend) I truly deserve the titile of Expat Lush.

Reese is as wholesome as a key lime pie baked in the south. I think what she is is obviously a part of her roots so that naturally exudes from her. Acting wise, I didn't see her movie with Joaquin so I can't truly critique it but I thought Thandie Newton was brilliant at Crash albeit her limited exposure.

Rachel Weisz I think was brilliant in The Constant Gardener and deserves her Oscar win and so did the actor who portrayed Capote. As for Clooney, I think he was full of himself when he was interviewed post awards show. He also ditched Teri Hatcher so he can just go to Texas and find his cowboy soulmate for all I care.

Did you see Jessica Alba's suddenly pouty lips? Even with that, she ain't no Angelina. In my opinion, Jessica's brown locks look more natural in the shade of hair color closer to her own. It's just more classy but the hair style on Oscar night looked too poufy wich highlighted her rather large forehead. Whoever did that blow up job...what was he/she thinking?

Uma looks great. Dustin Hoffman most likely went to Dr.90210 and so did Lily Tomlin, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and many more.

I didn't see a lot of the outfits as much as I wanted to since I tuned in late but I will peruse the tabloidsand In Style to get a load of who wore who and who were the winners at least in the red carpet. As a stylist, I get to do my own critique in that department.

Sheesh. You'd think I would agree with you at least once but there we go...

I have heard so many first-hand stories about Witherspoon's bitchiness (and some of them might even be true) that I loathe myself for loving her performance in the Cash flick.

I am glad 'Crash' won the best film award...I would maybe give it a 9 out of 10 regarding my own enjoyment of it (I watched it at a cinema a few months back). Since I am someone who is anti-racist big time, I was extra glad that it won

Cheers,

Cem

I was surprised 'Crash' was even nominated, especially as 'Walk the Line' was stiffed and was a far superior film, in my opinion. 'Crash' wasn't terrible, it just wasn't super either. I've lived in the U.S. inner city for the majority of my life & found that film to be pure hyperbole. Are there racists in America? Yes. Are they so prevalent that you couldn't shake a stick without hitting more than 10 of them in one short period of time as in 'Crash'? I truly don't think so.

Here are the top 10 movies I saw this year that I would rate higher than 'Crash':
1) Brokeback Mountain
2) Munich
3) Walk the Line
4) Millions
5) Syriana
6) Good Night & Good Luck
7) Transamerica
North Country
9) Wallace & Gromit
10) The 40-Year Old Virgin

OK, I'm only kidding about number 10.

Has anyone seen 'The Constant Gardener' in Istanbul? How has it been translated? I really want to see that as well as 'Capote.'

I think racism is prevalent in many cultures and it is certainly present in the US on many levels. It is certainly played up in some situations by politicians, etc. who run the machinery of a city, state, agency, etc. Many sentiments and views in some cases may never see the light of day since most are kept private and are never acted upon for fear of repercussion. It is not only in regard to race but many other things like socio-economic status, hierarchy in an organization, etc. I think the producers of Crash are more than visionaries to depict some likely true-to-life scenarios.

i loved stewarts line about 'martin scorceses oscar count ZERO....36mafia ONE'

Don't be. The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a fantastic film. In a perfect world, every single film would end with a Hair-medley done Bollywood style.

Also, yes, Crash is sub-Dickensian, sub-Altmanesque and super-shit.

Observations:

Lee: legend; Clooney: legend; Hoffman: legend.

Crash: haven't seen it yet, but always good for a US institution to embrace a film about racism.

Witherspoon: how can occasionally looking like outraged chiwawa qualify as an oscar winning performance? Also like her poochaske she seems to be very good at playing dumb (by playing the innoscent girl from the south even though she apparently went to Stanford University). She may well command more than Juilia Roberts per movie, but commands no respect from me. Plus, terrible speech ranking alongside the Grampa Paltrow incident.

Weitz: bright, interesting and great cleavage. Say no more.

Knightly: thank god she won nothing.

Altman: deserved.

Next year: is it time for a Gary Glitter biopic?

Reese has been typecast in her Southern roles in her last few movies which she plays efforlessly being a southern belle herself. Another southern belle made good, Julia Roberts who also garnered a Best Actress award. Ditto for Holly Hunter. I'd lke to make a point that Reese's her characters are just those. They don't represent what she is: a bright, self-made woman who is NOT a typical Hollywoold gal. She is married with two children and has a real life. She also has values which she thanked her grandmother for in her speech. I thought it was heartfelt although it wasn't worthy of a kleenex as the Halle Berrry's. Let's not forget that the people who voted for Reese was not thinking of her "cuteness" or the lack of it when they cast their ballots. I think she may not have stretched herself in "Walk the Line" but the academy deemed so.

She was brilliant in "Walk The Line". I also think she might very possibly be the Anti-Christ.

Weitz: Push Up Bra.

I need to see other nominess before I can comment on the best pic.

I did notice the a new bird's eye camera angle being used which enabled the viewer to examine the cleavage of laydeez lucky enough to receive an Oscar. It made the Oscars seem like a glamorous version of hooters. Shame about Weitz's cynical use of underwiring.

EXHIBIT A

Witherspoon:
http://stars.udn.com/star/StarsContent/ ... hiwawa.jpg

Chiuwawa:
http://www.justlikeheaven-themovie.com/ ... 1600_5.jpg

MY EYES! MY BEAUTIFUL EYES!

Rachel Weisz = 7 months pregnant = no push-bra needed