HOLLYWOOD HULLABALOO THE INS AND OUTS OF OSCAR I always wonder what goes through the minds of the actors as they walk the
gauntlet of the infamous red carpet: “Please god, don’t let me fall off these freekin’ Christian Louboutin platform stilettos,” or “if this push up bra pushes up any farther I’m gonna be able to rest my chin on these puppies.” The guys have it so much easier, all they have to do is wear a tux and a smile, albeit those tuxes cost more than some small cars out there and they have to answer all those silly, inane questions, but who’s counting? I wonder what the denizens of the golden age of Hollywood would say to the
glitzy, over-the-top event that occurs now? Especially considering it’s beginnings in the Blossom Room at the classic old Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel—a lavish ban- quet of which only 45 minutes was taken up by award presentations. There have been many moments that have been remarkable on the Oscar stage
and some that earmarked the times of our lives. One in particular for us as a com- munity was in 1993; the year that Tom Hanks won “Best Actor” for the powerful filmPhiladelphia, that chronicled some of the early horrors of the AIDS crisis. His acceptance speech was incredibly powerful—it still makes me weepy to remember that time, those words:
by joel martens
Lord, here we go again, the parade of flawless beauties in gowns that cost more than most of us will see in a half-year (I wonder… how much double-stick tape does it take to hold some of those dresses in place?), dripping
with jewels that cost more than many a house (believe me I’d knock one of those b*tches down in order steal me a Van Cleef and Arpel or two if I thought I’d get away with it)!
“I know that my work in this case is magnified by the fact that the streets of heav-
en are too crowded with angels. We know their names. They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all, a healing embrace that cools their fevers, that clears their skin, and allows their eyes to see the simple, self-evident commonsense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all.” Elizabeth Taylor, after winning the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, made
the attendees think very hard about AIDS again and what it means to be human in 1993: “Tonight I am asking for your help. I call upon you to draw from the depths of
your being to prove that we are a human race. To prove that our love outweighs our need to hate. That our compassion is more compelling than our need to blame. That our sensitivity to those in need is stronger than our greed. . . Thank you and God bless.” Another significant moment to me was Halle Berry’s epic 2001 Best Actress
win forMonster’s Ball in which she said, “This moment is so much bigger than me.” She was the first black woman in history—in the 72 year history—of the Academy Awards to win the award. Her emotional speech acknowledging the actors that had blazed the trail before her, opening the doors so that she could walk through to take her place in history—it was magic. Sidney Poitier became the first black man to win Best Supporting Actor with
Lillies of the Field in 1963 and said this;“it has been a long journey to this moment.” But none can argue, that in 1939 when Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress forGone With The Wind, the event had hit a milestone. Not only was she the first black actor to be nominated, an incredibly important landmark in the history of film, for the Academy and notably for the status of black people in American society. She was the first ever to beseated at the banquet. How aboutSuperman’sChristopher Reeve and his surprise appearance in 1995,
after he had suffering a major spinal cord injury which left him a quadrepaligic and in a wheelchair. He was there to present a reel on Oscar film moments dealing with social issues. His bravery brought the audience to their feet in a long-lasting ovation. There are so many more moments that can be pulled from the 84-year history
of this awards show. Some of them funny, some are sad, some are powerful and some are just plain silly. People say that the show is a testament to the overin- dugence of the moneyed few, but for me it is a unique chronicler of times that film can represent in history. I have set my predictions for the top 12 winners in their categories for this year’s epoch. So, put on your most fabulous dress, dust off that tux, make your own predictions while watching the cavalcade and enjoy the show…
The 84th Annual Acadamy Awards takes place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and airs Sunday, February 26on ABC.
26 RAGERAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2012 monthly | FEBRUARY 2012
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