Sorry for your sake there was a glitch and the post had to be re-done. Imagine if it were a lengthy, lengthy heartfelt, awe-inspiring post that went amiss...

My earlier comment was that I also liked Helen Mirren's gown. But moreso, I liked her being "so caught up in the moment" that she walked to the podium, her clutch purse in one hand and her jeweled earring in the other. She had a sense of naturalness (is this a real word?) about her, and although she played THE QUEEN, she puts on no airs, but comes off regally on her own.

Pearl:

Helen Mirren's naturalness (real word now) comes off as true star power. Did you notice that on the red carpet she was proudly waving the Union Jack. Well, good for her. She's a British patriot. Can you imagine one of our Hollywood star-wimps waving the Stars and Stripes at some film Festival in Europe? No, like the Dixie Chicks and countless others, they take the opportunity to heap scorn on America and our President.

I also appreciate the fact that Helen Mirren doesn't seem to be trying desperately to look younger than she is (and she is fabulous, BTW). If she has had any work done, it's subtle and tasteful, the way it's supposed to be.

Re: the Oscars. Toooooo long! The whole thing should be cut way back. I'm glad they keep the speeches short, though.

Tamara:

Is it over yet?

The Ennio Morricone acceptance got "lost in translation" and the whole thing "shlepped," if you asked me. And Clint, WITHOUT WEARING HIS EYEGLASSES,is trying to read off TelePrompters and just messes up words. C'mon, man, wear your glasses next time.

Jack, I loved your comment.

SORRY...JAKE, I LOVED YOUR COMMENT. (Jack, I'm sure whatever you plan to say will also be good!)

Saw almost none of the nominated films this year (again). And just skimmed the clips on the oscar(R) web site.

I don't believe in competitions between artists. I think it's insane.
- Alan Arkin
(He wore a black suit & black tie -- old-school class all the way.)

If Hollywood "royalty" want to thank the troops, they can do so in person, right? There are such things as USO shows.

I won't even consider an Apple iPhone until I can get a Rhinoskin to cover it, so I can stick it in my rear pants pocket and sit down without worry, just like I do with my Axim.

Solomon:

As you must know, once an Apple product rolls off the line, a whole frenzied industry follows with brilliant and not-so-brilliant support products. Have no fear, the i-Phone will have a zillion covers/sheaths/cases to protect it from your sitting slash abuse.

Jeremiah:

Nominated films in a Nutshell:

Babel: America is the reason for the problems everywhere in the world. Even in Japan... somehow.

The Departed: No difference between cops and mobsters. Karen walked out after ten minutes, remarking: "I know where this is going." Mediocre Marty. Oscar was for his career.

The Queen: Fine BBC TV movie. Helen is great. Solid script. I like anything that upholds traditional values.

Little Miss Sunshine: Cute little Sundance movie. Oscar material? Well, then I'm a neurosurgeon.

Letters from Iwo Jima: Japanese soldiers noble victims. American soldiers, big and mean with penchant for war crimes.

In short: The Queen is worthwhile, all else are minor footnotes.

I stopped watching the Oscars and other awards shows years ago. I think they are boring and self-indulgent spectacles for the participants. Don't get me wrong, I love a good movie. I just don't need to waste three or more hours of my life watching an awards show.

Robert, can you think of any stars who pop for USO shows, or do they keep it secret?

Joannah:

You go girl!

Solomon:

Gary Sinise of CSI New York. Goes overseas several times a year. Great patriot. Great actor. Bruce Willis. Morgan Brittany. There are several others, but their names are not popping into my head.

Robert,
I read a great deal. But, as is self evident, I only post in spurts from time to time.
I did not watch the Oscars precisely because I would have been incensed at the self-indulgent, grandiose display of indifference towards what is really going on in the world and the estatic effervescence at being Green with the Goracle.
These people scare me because they have the eyes and ears of the world and enough money to influence others.
They are terrifyingly pathetic.
Anyway, I emphathize with your venting...
Kol tuv.

Jack, I loved your comment.

Pearl it was one of the most insightful, moving and heartfelt remarks I have ever left anywhere. And now it is lost in cyberspace. Poor homeless pixels roaming around the nether regions of the blogosphere.

Moishe:

Self-indulgent. Precisely. And here's the greatest problem of all: America cannot win a war unless Hollywood supports that war with its incredible star power, and its huge propaganda machinery.

These Hollywood stars are not only aganst the war against Islamic terror, they are anti-American. In short, they provide aid and comfort to the enemy.

Well, in defense of Melissa Etheridge, I think she referred to her partner as her "wife." ;-)

What did you think of the montage of American film clips that Will Smith introduced? I almost choked on my drink when I realized that almost every clip portrayed Americans as a bunch of racist, bigoted, religion-crazed idiots.

Fern:

Did she say wife? Well, I feel so much better :)

Michael Mann's montage was terrible, horrible, disgusting, so insulting that—ask Karen—I was so angry that half-way through I just got up and walked out of the room. Why bother seeing it through, I got the point: Americans are racists, killers, psycho-soldiers, drug addicted gangsters.

When I think of the montage I would have cut, the America I know and love, the classic movies that have made me what I am. There is nothing worse than ingratitude. Fern, I really feel ashamed of my industry.

Robert,
Actually, when I was intermittently watching the Oscars last night, I turned to my husband (after telling him I liked Helen Mirren's gorgeous dress) and said something to the effect of "how can Robert stand to work with these people?"

That thing that Meryl Streep wore on her neck reminded me of the evil Tiki doll that brought Greg Brady bad luck on the Brady Bunch Hawaii episodes.

Ellen Degeneres' prop of a Baby Bjorn infant carrier to be used as an Oscar holder was quite cute.

Otherwise a very ho-hum insult to true filmaking.

Take care!

Well, the montage was not a total waste of time. It inspired my family to try and come up with our own top ten list of "most American" films. So far front runners are movies like Its a Wonderful Life and Saving Private Ryan.

Mann's montage was just so...weird. Is that what he really thinks about America? That the only sort of people we have produced are white supremacists or goofy men who thank "baby Jesus" for their fast food? I can understand acknowledging the ugly side of our past (and present), but there wasn't anything positive. He didn't even do a good job representing all the different genres of film. Other than Talladega Nights (which I am embarrassed to admit I sort of kinda thought was amusing) I didn't see any comedy, film noir, horror, romance, or sci-fi movies.

And the Oscar goes to Jake for the funniest and most appropriate Oscar comment: "Is it over yet"

JIASF!

Rachel:

How can I stand to work with these people? Easy, never talk politics, never ever. Concentrate on the work. Because Hollywood people make Hollywood films better than anyone else in the world. Well, at least we are supposed to.

Fern:

I agree the Mann montage was severely limited, it's almost as if it was cut by someone who had taken one course in film history given my some Marxist film historian from Berkely called: Deconstructing American Racism Through Hollywood Imagery" or some such nonsense. It was not even well edited.

I'm still not sure it's over.

But, I'd like to thank the Academy for giving me more material than I could ever want.

Didn't anyone catch the part where Hollywood is still going on about Bush "stealing the election"? The whole, "America didn't vote for Jennifer Hudson yet she's here tonight, nominated for a Grammy. And America did vote for Al Gore..." Audience roaring.

It's great how these people who think they're experts in politics don't understand checks and balances.

Robert,

The two gentlemen who won for sound editing for Letters From Iwo Jima were Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman. Murray’s father was a Marine who was an Iwo Jima veteran, and in his remarks he thanked American service men and women:

“Thank you to my father and all the brave and honorable men and women in uniform who in a time of crisis have all made that decision to defend their personal freedom and liberty no matter what the sacrifice,”

Also, Forrest Whitaker's acceptance speech was pitch perfect, starting with a young actor's aspirations and ending with thanks to God.

“Thank you. Thank you. Just a second, just a second. OK. Take it. OK. I wrote something down, because I thought if it would happen that I would be a little overwhelmed and I am. So, OK.

When I was a kid, the only way that I saw movies was from the backseat of my family's car. At the drive-in. And, it wasn't my reality to think I would be acting in movies, so receiving this honor tonight tells me that it's possible. It is possible for a kid from east Texas, raised in South Central L.A. in Carson, who believes in his dreams, commits himself to them with his heart, to touch them, and to have them happen.

Because when I first started acting, it was because of my desire to connect to everyone. To that thing inside each of us. That light that I believe exists in all of us. Because acting for me is about believing in that connection and it's a connection so strong, it's a connection so deep, that we feel it. And through our combined belief, we can create a new reality.

So I want to thank my fellow believers in The Last King of Scotland. I want to thank Peter, Jeremy, Andrea, Lisa, Charles, Kevin, James McAvoy, Kerry, Stephen, Fox, DNA, Channel Four. I want to thank the people of Uganda, who helped this film have a spirit. And finally, I want to thank my mom and my dad. I want to thank my wife Keisha, my children, my ancestors, who continue to guide my steps. And God, God who believes in us all. And who's given me this moment, in this lifetime, that I will hopefully carry to the end of my lifetime into the next lifetime. Thank you.”

Nechama:

I was out of the room when Hudson won and accepted, sorry. Good point, thanks for bringing it to our attention.

Johan:

I heard the sound editors and was very moved. I did think he was talking about the Marines on Iwo Jima, for he does not mention Iraq or Afghanistan. But look, in Hollywood it takes guts just to mention American troops.

I agree, Forrest Whittaker's speech was spectacular.

1. He told the audience that a poor kid can follow his dreams and make it in America through hard work.

2. He thanked his entire family.

3. He thanked G-d.

4. He affirmed this life and the afterlife.

What a mensch.

Thanks so much for pointing out these two important Oscar moments. I should have and I didn't. I'm a moron.