Egypt partners with Google to promote 'unmatched diversity' tourism campaign    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Taiwan GDP surges on tech demand    World Bank: Global commodity prices to fall 17% by '26    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    UNFPA Egypt, Bayer sign agreement to promote reproductive health    Egypt to boost marine protection with new tech partnership    France's harmonised inflation eases slightly in April    Eygpt's El-Sherbiny directs new cities to brace for adverse weather    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Egypt's Al-Mashat urges lower borrowing costs, more debt swaps at UN forum    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Oscar sprinkles gold
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 01 - 03 - 2012


By Lubna Abdel-Aziz
Here we go again! Tinsel-town is blowing its horn again, and super-stars are all aglow again, sprinkled with Oscar gold. Our thirst for merriment, during such hard times, carries us on a magic carpet escapade to the make-believe world of Oscar.
Hollywood's glamourati and gliterrati came out en masse, in a sea of dazzling flesh, beating in majestic style, swelling under liberally cut corsages. They came to gaze and gape at each other and to honour the most anticipated, most coveted, most treasured award in filmdom.
The fashion at the 84th ceremonial party of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, (AMPAS), was a delicious serving of good taste and refinement. There was no daring Lopez, shocking Cher or crazy Bjorn; only patrician luxury and pretty little conceits. Angelina Jolie led the pack in her simple black Versace, split up to there, revealing a much-ogled bare leg. She wore almost no accessories, except for her god-given beauty, her bright red lips and her effortless sense of elegance. Gwyneth Paltrow was a close second in her Tom Ford regal, white, sleek costume and long cape, looking like Hollywood royalty. Both stars are also previous Oscar winners.
The road to Oscar-ville is often strange and unpredictable. It can be short or long, straight or twisted, surprising or anticipated, deserved or undeserved. Nevertheless, it remains the gold standard in the film world. The big annual bash on Oscar night is as lustrous as the gold of the statuette. Although the Academy choices are not necessarily definitive indications of excellence, it does not diminish its status. More often than not the Academy has chosen to reward mediocrity over supremacy. One has to consider the members and their inclinations, as they swing and sway from season to season. The penchant of late has been to reward smaller dramas and snub the mega- productions and box-office blockbusters. A small period piece like "The King's Speech",(2011), and an even smaller Anglo-Indian melodrama, with a totally unknown Indian cast, "Slumdog Millionaire",(2009}, beat all the "Harry Potters", "Ironmen" and "Spidermen".
This year was no exception. Again, a small French silent film, black- and-white to boot, won 5 out of 10 nominations, including 3 major categories of Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Dubbed as a love song to Hollywood's silent era, "The Artist" is the first French film to win such an honour, and actor Jean DuJardin the first French actor to take home Oscar gold. Director Michel Hazanavicius, beat directors Woody Allen, Alexander Payne, Terence Malick and Martin Scorsese to win Oscar's highest honour. Awards for Best Costumes and Best Musical Score round up "The Artist'S'' five statuettes.
None of the 9 Best Picture nominees was among the top 10 releases at the box- office. "The Help", another small drama about black maids working for white families in the South, was the only film that had grossed $169 million before the nominations. Octavia Spencer won for Best Supporting Actress, thus sweeping all the year's awards. Her acceptance speech left everyone in tears. "The Artist" only grossed $12 million, but tomorrow will be another day
Another light-hearted moment was 82 year-old Christopher Plummer's first win for Best Supporting Actor in "The Beginners", making him the oldest actor in Oscar history to win an award. He bent down to his trophy and queried:" Where have you been all my life?" Oscar is only 2 years older than the veteran actor who has to date appeared in 100 films. We wish him many more.
Meryl Streep's 17th nomination ended with her 3rd win for her portrayal of Britain's former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, aka "The Iron Lady". She had previously won Best Supporting Actress for "Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979), and Best Actress trophy for "Sophie's Choice" (1982). Meryl Streep's skill is as unprecedented as her 17 nominations. Far from being an exciting speaker she seemed to read our thoughts, or even our lips when she said that most of us are complaining, "oh no, not her again"! She was right.
Comedian Billy Crystal was a welcome host after an 8- year hiatus. He brought his usual scintillating brilliance and verve, and his notes rang clear and pure, as only Billy Crystal could. The Best Animated Film, now a permanent Oscar feature, was less than thrilling, with 'Rango" directed by Gore Verbinski, winning the category. Best Original Song went to our perennial favourites, "The Muppets", from "Man or Muppet", by Bret McKenzie. As for Best Foreign Language Film, it brought a sigh and a tear. The Oscar went to the Iranian film "A Separation" directed by Asghar Farhadi. Should this have not been a film from Egypt, after a century- old industry, which has seen many golden years throughout its history.
Hundreds of millions of film fans worldwide, tuned in to indulge in a mixture of glamour and excellence, a welcome relief from the usual heart-breaking TV. fare. Oscar presenters, whose task was to open the envelopes and announce the winners, were even more stunning . They brought with them their stores of beauty, some wit and little wisdom. There were those moments of sad regrets for such missing icons as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly or Elizabeth Taylor, who brought so much more than beauty to the festivities. If those days are gone, we still retain fond memories of Oscar's past, and alas,so much of a splendid past is gone forevermore.
"Gone -- glimmering through the dream of things that were".
-- George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824)


Clic here to read the story from its source.