Review

Review Date: 29-February-04
 

The 2004 Academy Awards Broadcast

I don't think I have ever looked forward to an Oscar broadcast more, what with the three LOTR-lovin' years that led to this one. So, despite a preponderance of predictability, it was a wonderful night.

5:31 pm (PST): As the show gets underway, I tip my hat to nominees Keisha Castle-Hughes and Johnny Depp, who are introduced to each other by the most annoying pre-show fawners in memory but manage to keep their dignity.

5:50: Tim Robbins wins the first statue of the night for Supporting Actor in "Mystic River," as predicted. (I guess starring opposite Sean Penn brings good luck to his family.)

5:58: As Sir Ian McKellen takes the stage to introduce "The Return of the King" as a Best Picture nominee, I am delighted to hear the orchestra play the music from the beacon-lighting scene to represent the film. My happiness grows as ...

6:01: ... ROTK wins its first award, for Art Direction. (A radiant Angelina Jolie presents.)

6:07: Holy mackerel! Who could have predicted that "Finding Nemo" would win Best Animated Feature? Besides, you know, everyone.

6:22: Fending off a strong push from Shohreh Aghdashloo in recent days, Renée Zellweger finally wins her first Oscar (for Supporting Actress in "Cold Mountain") after losing two years in a row.

7:00: An hour and a half into it, ROTK keeps its streak going with a win for Visual Effects. (No competition there!)

7:09: Jim Carrey introduces Blake Edwards, the recipient of this year's honorary Oscar. Personally, I think this guy has made some unforgivably bad movies ("Blind Date," anyone?), but the last shot of "Days of Wine and Roses" atones for some of his sins.

7:30: Not content to relegate her to the annual "In Memoriam" section of the show, the producers roll a special tribute to Katharine Hepburn. Classy.

7:44: In the strong Documentary category, the Oscar goes to Errol Morris for "The Fog of War." It's not his best work, but his acceptance speech is fairly rousing.

7:49: Special mention of Gregory Peck leads into the tribute to filmmakers who died over the past year. Hard to tell who wins the applause-o-meter contest, but Charles Bronson and Elia Kazan get a hearty hand.

7:59: My fist pumps for the first time as Howard Shore takes the trophy for Original Score for his gorgeous, vital work on ROTK ...

8:18: ... and again when "Into the West" gives Shore another award (along with Annie Lennox and Fran Walsh). (And thumbs up to hilarious presenters Jack Black and Will Ferrell.)

8:26: Possibly because I have watched more TV tonight than I did during the entire month of February, I almost shed a tear when that stupid dog in the serial MasterCard commercial finds his way home.

8:32: In the one category in which I didn't fully want ROTK to win, Peter Jackson picks up his first trophy (with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) for Adapted Screenplay. (I was rooting for the team from "American Splendor.")

8:45: I finally get teary as Jackson wins his extremely, totally, and absolutely well-earned award for Best Director.

8:49: At last, Charlize Theron gets her hands on the Best Actress award that everybody said was coming (for "Monster"). All I can think about as she (very graciously) accepts her award is how hard the event must be for her boyfriend, Stuart Townsend, who was fired from the role of Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings."

9:02: Despite the fact that the Best Actor category was this year's most hotly contested, front-runner Sean Penn gets the Oscar (and a standing ovation) for his work in "Mystic River."

9:08: With hobbits, an elf, and a wizard behind them, Peter Jackson and Barrie M. Osborne accept the Best Picture Oscar to complete a sweep for ROTK. Ahhh. Sometimes, the world feels just right.

For a complete list of winners, see www.oscars.com.

Copyright © 2004 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.