As those in our household gussied up, took silly photos, and pranced around the apartment all bubbly, girlie-like, I apologized, “I know, I’m being silly.” Kenny diplomatically responded, “Not at all. This is your Superbowl.” He’s right. The Oscars ARE my Superbowl. And they matter, even when my teams aren’t playing.
A lot of my film friends are quick to pooh-pooh the Oscars, Sundance, other such events that measure “cinematic prominence,” but I think they over-think it. Sometimes it’s best to check your politics at the door and get back to fundamentals.
I was reminded of that at our annual Oscar Party. Every year we invite an eclectic assortment of friends to get dressed up or down (with prizes for best and worst dressed) and partake in champagne, caviar, a plethora of pretentious finger foods and an evening of decadence as we gather ‘round the tube.
I’ve always found it exciting. The communal cheering and booing, the suspense, the disappointment, the sentimentality as we look back and the excitement for the future. Will any of us ever be up there?
I don’t care about the politics, the snubs, the embarrassing dance numbers or other misguided choices involved. In so many ways it’s so arbitrary. I have certainly learned that over the past few years as we’ve sent our films out into the world. The details are hardly significant, it’s the overall picture, the symbol of it all that matters to me, the possibilities, the movie magic.
When film was a new medium, it was intended for scientific purposes. As it evolved into its logical narrative context, however, people looked down upon this ‘degenerate’ artform. Much like the works of Shakespeare in his time, cinema was considered the lowest common denominator entertainment for the masses (and this was well before Michael Bay was even born).
We’ve come a long way in cinema’s brief lifetime. There is so very much diversity in genres and approaches to filmmaking. And we continue to celebrate it with glamour and verve. That’s a triumph. Especially now where everything seeps immediately onto the Internet, VOD and where movies are so often judged by their cover art and packaging rather than real content and entertainment value.
I‘m personally glad the Oscars had its highest ratings in 5 years. This is one tradition I don’t want to see disappear into extinction (nor do I want to see Sundance disappear. If the Oscars are my Superbowl, Sundance is my Rosebowl – pick on them all you like, I’ve had a blast every year I’ve gone to Park City and always see great movies and meet kindred spirits I wouldn’t get to otherwise. Yes there are politics and film selection’s hardly based solely on a meritocracy, but it’s still a magical wonderful event that brings film-lovers together.)
As always, we celebrated Sunday night in fine form. About 20 of us gathered, ate, drank and made merry during the ceremony. Together we toasted John Hughes, cheered Hurt Locker and Kathryn Bigelow, got miffed about Farrah Fawcett and Bea Arthur’s snubs, and were dumbfounded by the Sandra Bullock win. Awards were distributed to the Best and Worst dressed (Congrats, Jeri and Stacy!), champagne toasts were made, And then we danced ‘til the wee hours of the morning.
Our Patron saint Sheila E. kicked us off with the Glamorous Life as always, but perhaps 
the most fun was a salute to our apartment’s theme songs Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” and Michael McDonald’s “Sweet Freedom” – (stories involving Youtube, air guitar and cocktails at 3am one crazy night behind both.) You know you’re among kindred spirits when everybody in the room dives enthusiastically headfirst into the same joke. Lighters were lit and heads were banging.
I was reminded of undergrad living once more. This felt like a super fun dorm party on a school night (especially for poor Kenny who actually had to get up a few 
hours after party’s end to go to work. You rock, Kenny!)
As the party thinned out to just 5 of us, exhausted, buzzed, but not wanting it to come to an end just yet, iTunechose some 80s ballads which prompted a spontaneous interpretative dance ensemble. This may have been my fave part of the whole evening. It so reminded me of improv class from my dancing days – no self-consciousness, no attempts to impress, just people moving to music alone and together, feeling the moment. It was extraordinary. It was a true celebration of why I enjoy the Oscars. Every movie begins with somebody’s dream, a single spark of an idea that ultimately evolves into this collaborative effort . I think every movie should be celebrated personally.
My Oscars have nothing to do with politics or commerce or ratings or popularity contests. My Oscars are much like any holiday that Hallmark and hyper-consumerism try to contaminate, but never truly will – at least not for me. Much like I imagine the Superbowl is to someone who truly loves football for all it encompasses – the game itself, the camaraderie, the favorite players, the nachos, the beer, the cheering, the booing, the face painting. etc. – the Oscars are to me, one who is completely enamored with cinema (and fine food, Agustin outdid himself with a 
wide assortment of delectable hors d’oevres – scallop tartlets, feta puffs, chocolate covered edamame, shrimp crostinis, minted date canapes and the list goes on…) It really isn’t about who wins or loses or is snubbed altogether, it’s the time-honored tradition that this once so maligned artform is so valued by our society that we must worship it with glamour and awards and ceremony. That unto itself is a victory, let us never forget. One just needs to celebrate it with the proper spirit (and spirits and kindred spirits, too.)
Who won? :p
Well said Devi!!