This Sunday night much of America, so we are told, will be watching the Oscars. Not suprisingly, I will not. Oh, I might watch the "red carpet" coverage-just to see the clothes. But not the awards show itself (and, truth to tell, every year I say I'm going to watch the red carpet stuff, and I never do). Why not watch? Well, let's see. I used to watch the Oscars religiously. I was an avid movie-goer, and usually had seen every film nominated. Then, in 1969 I think it was, John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in
True Grit beat Dustin Hoffman as Ratso Rizzo in
Midnight Cowboy. I was incensed, and I boycotted the show for years. As I matured I mellowed on the topic-Wayne was terrific in the role, and it was payback from Hollywood for all the moolah he'd raked in over the years. Hoffman had a great career ahead of him (though few roles as juicy), and I started to watch again.
But at some point, the over-the-top self congratulatory tone just began to annoy me so much that I couldn't do it anymore. I really can't pinpoint the moment. I know it has something to do with the acceptance speeches. The last good one was Louise Fletcher's for
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Otherwise, even accepting that they are excited, you have to admit that it highlights how very badly these people need scripts! And I've never understood why people found it necessary to ridicule Sally Field after her speech when she won for
Places in the Heart. That really seemed to be from the heart (pardon the repetition), and she was mocked for it. I'll never understand that-though I'm sure Jon Steward would.
