They began the present with a show-stopper.
The 87th Academy Awards kicked off with a visible of Dorothy clicking her crimson ruby heels as we heard “There’s no place like house, there’s no place like house,” adopted by fast clips of Los Angeles-set scene in movies equivalent to “Rocky III,” “White Males Can’t Soar,” “Barbie,” “La Bamba,” “Chinatown,” “La La Land,” “L.A. Story” and, after all, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
This was adopted by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo performing a trio of songs associated to “The Wizard of Oz,” and it made for an emotional resonant and fairly stunning sequence. First it was Grande belting out “Someplace Over the Rainbow,” adopted by Erivo’s rendition of “Residence” from “The Wiz,” and the 2 nice abilities then singing “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked Part 1,” and sure, it additionally served as fairly the promotion for “Depraved: For Good.”
As in your host: Two-time Oscar frontman Steve Martin (who co-hosted a 3rd time with Alec Baldwin) used to have a stipulation in taking the gig: that he come out first, chilly, in order to not observe a filmed comedic bit or an epic manufacturing quantity. That manner, the viewers can be enthusiastic and welcoming, and able to snicker — not coming down from laughing and/or applauding some main routine.
That eight-minute musical medley meant Conan O’Brien needed to come out after the massive performances, after the standing ovation — and he correctly opted for a taped and mildly humorous and suitably gross bit taking part in off “The Substance” earlier than taking the stage.
The monologue was strong, with O’Brien noting the 4 p.m. Los Angeles begin time (“Everybody simply had brunch, I don’t perceive it”) and quipping, “A Full Unknown, A Actual Ache, Nosferatu. These are simply among the names I used to be referred to as on the crimson carpet. I feel two have been honest.”
Jokes about Netflix’s worth will increase and the size of “The Brutalist” have been predictable however witty sufficient, and O’Brien went there, as they are saying, with this zinger: “Little truth for you, ‘Anora’ makes use of the f-word 479 occasions. That’s three greater than the document set by Karla Sofia Gascón’s publicist.” Oof.
(That wasn’t the tip of the edgy if barely predictable materials from O’Brien, who later quipped, “Effectively, we’re midway by way of our present, which suggests it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to return out and name Drake a pedophile.”)
O’Brien ended his monologue on a somber word, thanking all of the behind-the-scenes staff who’ve “devoted their lives to creating movie. … Many individuals we have fun tonight will not be well-known, they’re not rich, however they’re dedicated to a craft that may, in moments, carry us all somewhat nearer collectively … even within the face of horrible wildfires and divisive politics, the work continues.”
Cheers to that.
Kudos to O’Brien for livening up the proceedings when he supplied greetings to viewers watching in Spanish (“Good night, and welcome to the Oscars…”), in India (saying in Hindi, “Greeting to the folks of India, it’s morning there, so I hope you take pleasure in your breakfast with the Oscars”) and people watching in China (“I’m in critical monetary debt. Please think about using me in your many movies.”) It may need been uneven and rudimentary, however give O’Brien factors for attempting to achieve throughout the globe.
There was additionally a pleasant little bit when O’Brien was ribbed by the announcer, who was revealed to be Joliet’s Nick Offerman, who can do no flawed.
The tribute to James Bond movies and producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson was well-performed (Margaret Qualley dancing, Doja Cat, Lisa and Raye singing) however appeared a bit superfluous. In any case, that they had a “Fifty Years of Bond” celebration in 2013. Why minimize the normal performances of the 5 nominated songs this 12 months in case you’re going to pad the present with performances of Bond anthems? (Perhaps it was the Academy’s manner of claiming, “It’s by no means going to get higher than this for the franchise, now that Jeff Bezos has control of it.”)
Ah, however what a deal with it was when Mick Jagger strutted onstage to current finest authentic tune and defined that Bob Dylan was the primary selection however he didn’t need to do it, in order that they bought somebody youthful. The 81-year-old Jagger continues to appear like he’s been taking the Substance eternally.
I additionally beloved it when O’Brien introduced out a bunch of Los Angeles space firefighters — and three of them learn jokes. It was the proper mixture of a heartfelt ovation from the viewers, balanced with some mild humor. Effectively performed.
One other memorable second transpired when Morgan Freeman got here out to honor his pal, the late Gene Hackman, with whom he co-starred in “Unforgiven” and “Below Suspicion,” because the lead-in to the “In Memoriam” section, which reminded us of the unimaginable variety of distinctive abilities who’ve left us within the final 12 months. To our nice profit, the likes of Maggie Smith, Gena Rowlands, Kris Kristofferson, Oscar-winning author David Seidler (“The King’s Speech”), Bob Newhart, Teri Garr, John Amos and director-writer Robert Towne (who received Oscar for his legendary screenplay for “Chinatown”), amongst others, go away behind work that may resonate for so long as we watch motion pictures.
Regardless of a number of pointless components and that gradual begin, O’Brien proved to be a terrific host, and the manufacturing values of the Oscars as a tv presentation have been first-rate. And the way nice was the Sandworm from “Dune 2” on the harp! What a expertise.
