The Morning After The Oscars, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               No, I was not forced into a state of catatonia, and both David and I got through the program, but speaking for myself,  I have some things to say about last night's Oscars.

                                This was the most politicized Oscars I have ever seen.  If you were not Black, or a woman, forget it; you did not stand a chance.  I realize how that may sound, and I certainly don't mean to be, but, it seems, that, from the start, there was this hidden agenda of White Guilt for having giving so many previous deserving winners awards before the days when diversity ruled.

                                  The biggest surprise, and diverse element, was the award for Best Actress Given to Olivia Coleman!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That was a stunner!  She was so touching and cute, it almost felt like the Oscars were getting back on track again.  At least, for a moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     There were some other surprises.  Two song renderings--Bette Midler singing the touching "The Place Where Lost Things Go," from "Mary Poppins Returns" was gorgeous, but oh, how I would have loved to hear Julie Andrews doing it.  And Bradley Cooper doing "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born," with Lady Gaga, came off better live on stage, last night, than it ever did in the actual movie.

                                      Since MERYL was absent, class was represented,, thank God, by repeat shots of a gracious looking Amy Adams--oh, that hair!!!!!!!!--in a stunning white gown.

                                        But let's face it, there are only six, maybe eight, awards, anyone cares about.  So, do away with everything else, present those awards, and call it a night!  No one, and I speak for myself here, gives a damn about anything else.

                                           As to those eight awards--how about them?

                                          Best Picture--"Green Book!"  What?  Not that I had any clear cut favorites--there were not any--but I was jolted, because the way the evening was going, I thought it would go to either "Roma," or "Bohemian Rhapsody."  After the latter won for Best Film Editing, I was prepared to hear "Bohemian Rhapsody" announced, but "Green Book" threw me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Best Actor--Rami Malek, in "Bohemian Rhapsody."  Rami, who?  Never heard of him!  And beating out Christian Bale as a right winger is pretty impressive, especially since this is supposedly his first major role!  Shades of Jennifer Jones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Best Actress--Olivia Coleman, in "The Favorite."  Boy, did that come out of left field.  I was figuring poor Glenn Close would score on her seventh try.  Now, in her Seventies, Glenn has lost her last chance.  She has to wait till she has an age related illness so the Academy can honor her with an Honorary Award, Which is, literally, the Kiss Of Death!   I would turn it down, Glenn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Best Supporting Actor--Mahershala Ali, in "Green Book."  He gave a better performance in "Moonlight;" this film was Race Relations Light, like a male "Driving Mr. Daisy."  And it took two to make this thing work, so why not give it to Viggo Mortensen, too?  But this years award was all about correcting now perceived ills of the past!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               I could not help but notice how Richard E, Grant, seemed pissed.  Having won so many other awards for his work in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?," I think he thought he was a sure thing!  Instead, he ended up with egg on his face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Best Supporting Actress--Regina King, in "If Beale Street Could Talk."  Take it, Regina, baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This was the real thing, and a performance that commanded respect and admiration on the basis of merit, not its politics.  Poor Amy Adams; another nomination down the tubes.  But there is still lots of time ahead for her--an Oscar is in her future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Best Director--Alfonso Cuaron, for "Roma."  Again, when I saw this, I thought "Roma" might take Best Picture, though it had already cut its chances by winning Best Foreign  Language Film.  Cuaron is a marvelous director, but is the film as good as some think it is?????????????

                                                   These are the awards that are REALLY cared about.  The Best Song, for a change, just happened to have some good nominees in it, and the Best Foreign Language category had the potential of pulling off a "Roma" double header, which it did not.  Again, thank you, Amy Adams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Did any of these film interest me, no?  If this is the way of film, it will be back to scrawling pictures on cave walls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      Having no host seemed to pick up the pace a little.

                                                      But it will take more than that to improve the Oscars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!