The Oscars 2020

I saw TWELVE nominated films this season! That is a record. Some years I haven't seen any. Here is the list:
American Factory
Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Bombshell
Harriet
How to Train Your Dragon
Jo Jo Rabbit
Judy
Les Miserables
Little Women
Parasite
Rocketman
Two Popes

There are still at least two more that I want to see: Marriage Story and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I also like documentaries, so I'd like to see the nominated ones.

What was overlooked, in my opinion? I'll name three:
Although I haven't see it yet, but plan to, I've heard Eddie Murphy deserved a nomination for Dolomite is My Name.
I think Awkwafina deserved a nom for the Farewell, and I think the movie should have been nominated, but there were a lot of good international films this season.
Jamie Foxx was overlooked for Just Mercy, or did that movie come out too late for consideration?

I didn't see all of the films up for Best Picture. If I'm interested in a movie, I'll see it, but if I'm not, I won't, even if its an Oscar contender. Two examples from this season are 1917 and the Irishman. I know, they're both excellent movies. I just don't think I'll ever see them.

I enjoyed the telecast.
My favorite acceptance speech was Renee Zellweger's.
I also loved Laura Dern thanking her actor parents.

Being a person with a disability, I was thrilled to see Zack Gottsagen become the first actor with Down Syndrome to present an award at the Oscars. It was tough to see how nervous he was, but he got through it. There had been some buzz that he might get a nom for Peanut Butter Falcon, but that didn't happen. I was also so happy to see a person in a wheelchair in the choir that sang with Chrissy Metz. 

Witnessing Parasite make history and become the first international film to win best picture was so exciting. I had a feeling that would happen, even though 1917 was the favorite. There has been such a buzz about Parasite this season. It also won the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) for best picture. I'm so glad I saw the movie. Of course I haven't seen 1917 or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But I think the Oscars got it right with Parasite. It's fun when there are surprise winners.

Many of the categories had so many good performances that it was hard to root for just one person. I know Laura Dern was deserving of her best supporting actress win, but I also loved Scarlett Johansson in Jo Jo Rabbit and Florence Pugh in Little Women. Likewise in the best actress category, Renee Zellweger absolutely deserved it, but I also thought Cynthia Erivo was outstanding in Harriet and Saoirse Ronan was a joy in Little Women.

Thanks for a great season Hollywood! :)
librarianintx

Grammy's

Of course I'm a week and a half late posting about the Grammy's.
I'm always late in blogging about something.
But I'm blogging anyway.

I was concerned that I wouldn't enjoy the Grammy's, because I haven't been listening to music much lately. I've been going to movies and reading more than listening to music. But I did enjoy the Grammy's. There really wasn't a performance that I didn't enjoy. But here were my favorites:

Demi Lavato
What a journey Demi has had. Her performance blew me away. That song is incredible, and everything about her performance was so powerful - how she powered through the emotions she was experiencing, her soaring vocal range - it was heartfelt, inspiring, and uplifting, even though the lyrics were basically a cry for help. I wanted someone to run up on stage and hug her (not a Kanye "you don't deserve that award" moment, but a "we love you and are here for you, Demi" moment) It was breathtaking. You did it Demi!

Usher's salute to Prince.
Usher did the Purple One proud. I LOVED this medley. I adored everything about it - Usher's super HOTNESS, his great vocals, the choreography with Sheila E, the band, and the dancers - everything. The 80's are my musical decade, and it was wonderful to hear songs like "When Doves Cry," and "Kiss" again. Some people thought the set was too risque - I absolutely disagree. What was controversial about that performance? It's Prince, for goodness sake. He oozed sexuality from every pore. Usher was supposed to just stand there and sing? I mean, the female dancers were fully clothed. He didn't grab his crotch, or theirs. I thought it was sexy and tasteful. The pole dancing was artistic, not overtly sexual. I just didn't see the problem.

Camilla Cabello
Having lost my father at a young age, I am always emotional seeing daddy / daughter interactions. Camilla singing to her dad was the sweetest thing. I'm crying just thinking about it. She looked so beautiful and he was so proud and the lyrics of the song were so heartfelt, plus they had video footage that must have been the two of them when she was little - it was an absolutely beautiful few minutes in their relationship that we were all fortunate enough to witness. Thank you for sharing that time with us, Camilla and Camilla's dad.

Arrowsmith and Run DMC's "Walk This Way."
Okay, let's just call it out for what it was: A Hot Mess. But what a fun hot mess it was! Again, the 80's were my decade, and I remember how groundbreaking that collaboration was. I think maybe they couldn't hear each other too well, but no matter, I was rockin', and singing along, and so was the audience. It wasn't as good as Salt N Pepa and En Vogue's reunion at the Billboard Music Awards, but it was nostalgia, and I'll take it.

librarianintx

January 2020 Recap

A new year!
A new decade!

I haven't written about 2019 yet (one of these days), but here's a recap of my first month of 2020. It was a very busy and productive thirty-one days.

I saw SEVEN movies in January; six of them in the theater. That is probably a record for me:
Hustlers
Bombshell
Just Mercy
Les Miserables
Give Me Liberty
Song of Names
Clemency

I read three books in January:
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
The Man From the Train by Bill James
Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland by Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus

I participated in two book clubs:
An online chat with author Haben Girma
True Crime Book Club at Austin Public Library

I also toured the Motown exhibit at the LBJ Library.

I went out to eat three times:
Aster's (after the Motown exhibit)
Galaxy Cafe (before the True Crime Book Club)
Texas Smokehouse in Katy

And I attended the Transportation Works conference in Galveston. Unfortunately the weather was dismal and I was only there for about a day and a half, so I didn't get to enjoy the city, but the conference was good, and I got to spend time with friends I met at previous conferences.

I am thrilled with everything I was able to do, and hope that February is just as productive and eventful.

librarianintx