G.R.i.D. (Get Rich in Dallas)

So if you’re out getting to know your mayoral candidates up close, you have an opportunity to meet another one tonight because I’m sure you already went to the Zac forum on Saturday, right? Cause you want to be a concerned citizen and make an informed choice come election time, yes? hmmmm.

Tonight, Log Cabin Republicans are inviting the community despite their political leanings to meet Dallas City Councilman and mayor hopeful, Ed Oakley and listen as he “updates us on city issues and his vision for the future of Dallas.” Not sure what his thoughts are on Deep Ellum but this guy has some major experience behind him that could make for some interesting remarks.

But hurry, you got less than an hour to get over there. LCR will host Mr. Oakley at Mattito’s Cafe Mexicano, 3011 Routh St. Happy hour at 6:30 with dinner and remarks at 7.

For the dead people montage, was Anna Nicole too late in getting in? I mean she does have a body of movie work. Granted, straight to video mostly but art is art right? She was in Skyscraper and Naked Gun 33 1/3. Poor thing. Her one last chance for Hollywood acceptance.

Anyway, I was just wondering.

Ellen vacuuming was genius.

And Reese Witherspoon presents best actor. Forest Whitaker. Yeah…he’s won everything else. He’s the fourth black man to win the Best Actor. And there he goes with his mumbling bumbling long time speech that he did at the Globes and SAG. Good ending though.

Forest gives a shout out to East Texas…WOOOOOT!

What’s scarier than this? Is this the icy stare of disdain and disappointment or is he plotting against He-Man again?

So could it be more obvious if Spielberg, Lucas and Coppola are presenting the best director that Scorsese will get it? They have always been grouped as the same ilk their whole careers. And he wins. YES! A class act for accepting the award for the film and not his career.

And Jack Nicholson looks like he’s about to present best picture…just like last year. Oh, Diane Keaton joins him. I’m still hoping for Little Miss Sunshine! And it goes to…The Departed. Wow. My second pick and the Academy gives it to a gritty shoot em up that was intense!

Final tally

The Departed 4

Dreamgirls 2

Little Miss Sunshine 2

Pan’s Labyrinth 3

and the others you’ll see tomorrow.

J Lo introduces Dreamgirls number. Where has she been other than under lock and key via Marc Anthony? She looks good but that dress sort of makes her look pregnant. Ummm, why is Beyonce singing on J Hud’s song? Oh…they are singing each other’s. Doesn’t work. This whole piece is awkward but I’m still pullin’ for a Dreamgirls win here.

John Travolta and Queen Latifah present best song to Melissa Etheridge??? An Inconvenient Truth wins two for two. Oh well, there goes Dreamgirls for the night. Two Oscars out of eight.

What IS this Michael Mann American montage? And do we need it at 10:39 pm? Geez.

An elegant Kate Winslet presents best editing which goes to The Departed. So The Departed is at two now. The Academy seems to like divvying them up now much like last year when most movies got three awards each. 

Jodie Foster looks beautiful as we now see dead people. Always a touching moment for me though. Wait, WHO was Jodie talking about? Didn’t see that name on there.

Dang..that Bank of America bank of opportunity commercial got me more than the memoriam montage. Good stuff.

Umm…did Phillip Seymour Hoffman just wake up from the green room? Or was he throwing back a few? Dude….clean up. And the best actress is Helen Mirren…yeah. At least she seems genuine about her win. Judi Dench knew better than to come to American to get smacked down by the queen.

Three more.

WHO is that chick with Gael Barcia Bernal? Is it me or is something lacking from this night? No energy.

Best doc short goes to The Blood of such and such. I picked that one too! I guessed…I mean I’m good.

People still wear the red ribbon?

Oh here’s Jerry Seinfeld. He’s presenting best doc. Random. Was Comedian really enough for him to present? Anyways, the Oscar goes to An Inconvenient Truth. Go Gore! My plans to film a teacher of mine doing a Power Point presentation should assure me an Oscar nomination in the future. But good for him and the movie. Global warming sucks.

Wait a minute. Ennio Morricone wrote a new song for his own honorary Oscar presentation? Did I read that right? Vain much? Celine makes her comeback to the Oscars. Looks like all her previous performances on their. Dang, is that Quincy Jones? Wow! So Morricone makes a speech in Italian and Clint Eastwood translates. Who knew? I’m more impressed with that than him making two huge movies in one year.

Best original score goes to Babel. Hate the movie but love this composer, Gustavo Santaolla. And he won last year for Brokeback. Babel will probably take this only award out of its seven nominations. Thank goodness. Those nods could have gone to better movies.

Spider Man music for Tobey and Kirsten. Best original screenplay goes to Little Miss Sunshine! Yes. I think I have a new crush.

These Oscars are boring me.

And Costume Design goes to Marie Antoinette. Didn’t dig the live fashion montage though. The time they saved with other categories has been wasted here. 

Finally, a Jean Herscholt award going to someone worth noting. And a short speech to boot! Me likey.

Best Cinematography goes to Pan’s Lab. Dang. Picked Children of Men. Their third award for the night. I believe I am the only one who has not seen this movie. Even my whitey friends whose ideas of foreign movies are badly dubbed chopsocky movies. No seriously. How does that happen? Now I have to go in shame to see it as the ticket taker knows I’m only seeing it because it’s won all these awards. So embarrassed. 

Awww….I love the MasterCard commercial with the elephant. Sweetness.

I can’t stand Robert Downey Jr and lo and behold another self deprecating joke about his druggie phase. Dude, you’re a has-been who lucked out with a second chance that you’re not even taking advantage of. Go do TV or something.  He’s presenting Visual Effects with Naomi Watts. And the Oscar goes to Pirates of the Caribbean.

Best foreign language film goes to The Lives of Others. Dang…I rested on Pan’s when I heard this could be the upset.

George Clooney, who equals the just exited Clive Owen in incredibly stunning handsomeness finally comes to the stage for Best Supporting Actress which goes to Jennifer Hudson. Surprise. Now why she gotta go and say “I didn’t think I was going to win”? Chick…who you foolin’?

I am digging the way they are announcing the best pic nominees. Not a movie trailer but one of the filmmakers or actors talking over video of the film. And the acting nominees were merely described w/o timewasting film clips. But dang their faces are big on that huge screen onstage. My mistake…they are doing film clips. Maybe I type too fast.

Ohhh, the songs. Well, just two. Randy Newman and James Taylor singing Cars followed up by Melissa Etheridge and her An Inconvenient Truth song. Meh…nothing exciting here. Where’s our Pimp song for this year?

Dang, J Hud is already getting flak about her dress.

What the heck is Jerry Seinfeld there for?

An eco-friendly speech from Gore and DiCaprio. Gore has some good comic timing. Leo asks for any special announcements Gore might have. As Gore speaks the orchestra strikes up. Doh! Funny

Best Animated Feature goes to Happy Feet. Dang…I should have stuck with it instead of Cars. The Oscar/Penguin fascination continues.

Cameron Diaz’s white abstract cut dress is dynamic. She’s beautiful tonight.

Was that George Lucas sitting with the animators?

Dang - best adapted screenplay goes to (early!) The Departed. Lame long speech though as he tries to kiss Peter O’Toole’s butt about Lawrence of Arabia and some other nonsense. Dude, get off.

Sound Effects Choir was by far one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen.

Steve Carrell and Greg Kinnear are just too handsome. Sound editing goes to Letters from Iwo Jima. Wow, I guessed good. Uh oh…looks like a long speech kinda guy. Not too long, just slow.

Sound mixing goes to Dreamgirls. The first of many I’m sure.

And the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor goes to…..Alan Arkin!?!?! SNAP, I gots to eat my words already. Arkin shouldn’t have won although he was good. Eddie Murphy was great in Dreamgirls. Guess the Academy didn’t want too many black actors on the podium tonight. Robbed, I tell you.

Wow. Will Ferrell’s afro is disturbing but the trio of him, Jack Black, John C. Reilly and their musical number singing up comedy actors never winning is hilarious. And then picking fights with Leo and Peter O” Toole is classic.

Makeup goes to Pan’s Lab. I picked it! One and one. Awwwkward..the first speech cut off by the band.

Awwww…Will Smith’s kiddo and Abigail Breslin are presenting now. Best Animated Short goes to The Danish Poet. Dangish. I picked The Little Matchgirl. I do get the feeling Jaden something Smith is a brat. Live Action Short goes to West Bank Story. I picked that too! Two and two. Dang..that guy is giving a GREAT speech. Probably one of the best for the night.

Gwyneth is stunning.

Opening segment of nominees chatting up their films and nominations. Lots of nominees. Eddie Murphy knows exactly how and when to be funny. And he does the opposite of everyone else. Little Miss Sunshine chick is getting on my nerves. First and last nomination. And seriously, they can give that kid a nod but none to Dakota Fanning who is practically brilliant at her age. The shame.

Yyyyikes…what is Ellen wearing? I figured she’d do her tux bit but crushed red velvet looking like pajamas and white boots? I hope it’s a punchline. Wait, was it just me or did she refer to Penelope Cruz as Mexican? She’s ummm Spanish!

Yikes again! Was that Jack Nicholson with a completely bald head? So not a good look for him. I’ll assume (and pray) it’s for a role.

Ouch…Ellen had to bringup Jennifer Hudson and American Idol. Will she ever get away from that? If Jennifer Hudson wins, will she still do movies? See her more as a singer than actress. Silence of the Lambs starring Jennifer Hudson…hmmm…doesnt’ sound right. The new album by Jennifer Hudson…ok, there ya go.

HAHAHA - “If there were no blacks, Jews or gays, there would be no Oscars.” Great.

Here comes Nicole Kidman and (swooooooooon) Daniel Craig. Geez, Nicole looks amazing.

Art Direction award goes to Pan’s Lab. I picked Dreamgirls. Dangit.