A few moments we’ll be talking about from Sunday’s Oscarcast the day after:
A LITTLE HELP FROM DAD:
Host Chris Rock sells Girl Scout cookies in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Source: AP)
Host Chris Rock gave his daughters a boost with their Girl Scout Cookie sales by dispatching a team of Los Angeles-area Girl Scouts through the Dolby Theatre selling cookies to the gathered glitterati. An unfair advantage bestowed by a famous father? Sure, but you’d do the same for your kid if you could. And those enterprising girls collected a quick $65,243.00 for a good cause.
A DIFFERENT GROUP OF FILM FANS:
Host Chris Rock, right, appears on screen as he interviews an unidentified moviegoer off-site during the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Source: AP)
It’s useful to recall that every moviegoer doesn’t glom onto _ or even pay attention to _ the films recognized by the Academy. To demonstrate that simple truth, Rock, in a pre-taped feature, visited a movie house in Compton, California, where black moviegoers seemed mostly oblivious to the films nominated for this year’s Oscars. Among their own favorites: a film conspicuously overlooked by the Academy, “Straight Outta Compton.”
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A POINT, BUT WHAT?:
Stacey Dash speaks at the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Source: AP)
Many viewers had to be puzzled by a fleeting appearance by actress and conservative Fox News personality Stacey Dash, who was jokingly introduced by Rock as director of the Oscar’s minority outreach program. Dash strode onstage to say, “I cannot wait to help my people out. Happy Black History Month!” Suggested assignment: Discuss among yourselves the intended point of the joke, which laid an egg with the audience.
HE WOULD NOT BE THWARTED:
Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for best director for The Revenant at the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Source: AP)
Alejandro G. Inarritu had an important point to make about inclusiveness (“to really liberate ourselves from all prejudice and this tribal thinking”), and he meant to make it during his acceptance remarks as best director for the survival epic “The Revenant.” Boldly he pushed through the rude hurry-up music, with its intimating chosen tune: Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.”
A STANDING O AND A PLEA TO SAVE THE PLANET:
Leonardo DiCaprio accepts the award for best actor in a leading role for The Revenant at the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Source: AP)
After four past nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio finally scored an Oscar as best actor for his performance in “The Revenant.” He was hailed with a standing ovation, after which he made an impassioned plea for everyone to take action against climate change during possibly the night’s most stirring acceptance speech.
WELL-INTENTIONED, BUT WRONG:
Jimmy Napes, left, and Sam Smith accept the award for best original song for Writings On The Wall from Spectre at the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Source: AP)
Sam Smith received his best-song Oscar for “Writing’s on the Wall” (from “Spectre”) by citing an article he said claimed that no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar before him. He was mistaken about that, but it didn’t undermine his call for everyone to “stand together as equals one day.”
THAT’S WHAT GOOGLE IS FOR:
Margot Robbie, left, and Jared Leto present the award for best makeup and hairstyling at the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Source: AP)
Jared Leto’s tossed-off mention of the term “merkin” (with a sidelong glance at Margot Robbie, his fellow presenter for best production design) may have drawn a blank with many viewers. Those among them who flocked to search engines (or even a dictionary) swiftly learned that a merkin is, um, a pubic wig. The next step for many of those curious souls: un-learning what a merkin is.
