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‘Birdman’ takes flight at an Oscars punctuated by politics TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 38 Host Neil Patrick Harris performs onstage during the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. — AFP Review: The 87th Academy Awards hile it’s no surprise that the buoy- Crystal brought to hosting the ceremony - ancy of Neil Patrick Harris’ Oscar including having Anna Kendrick and Jack Wopening couldn’t last, seldom has Black horn in on his opening song. As it an Academy Awards presentation broken stands, whether his performance warrants down so transparently over one significant an encore is difficult to divorce from the shortcoming - namely, the writing. While a general malaise of the evening. number of factors, including a preponder- Turning to the 90-minute arrivals show, ance of little-seen nominees and the pre- ABC’s “Good Morning America”-heavy host- dictable nature of the winners outside the ing team actually acknowledged the best-movie category, were beyond the pro- #AskHerMore campaign - which appealed to ducers’ control, too much clunky scripted journalists to question actresses about more material flummoxed even Harris’ impish, than just what designer they’re wearing - good-natured charms. The Oscars are an then proceeded to be achingly gender-neu- unwieldy construct, but fleeting YouTube- tral by avoiding questions of substance, worthy moments couldn’t overcome a tele- regardless of sex. cast that played more than usual like a Notably, some of the British performers cheesy variety show interrupted by a cele- didn’t quite seem to get the memo, as actors bration of movies. like Benedict Cumberbatch and Rosamund Stilted presenter banter is an accepted Pike provided thoughtful responses, even if part of the territory, but the introductions the hosts’ questions (or in the case of Lara and bits conjured for the host can be a place Spencer, really non-questions) weren’t struc- for slightly livelier humor. Yet almost without tured to elicit them. exception those felt alternately flat or forced, Give ABC some credit for addressing the best exemplified by Harris strained baton issue at all - as Robin Roberts did while pass to “The Hunger Games’” Josh interviewing Witherspoon - and somewhat Hutcherson, saying, “Here’s the Peeta who downplaying the customary emphasis on won’t throw paint on you,” a pun regarding fashions that most ordinary people could the animal-rights group PETA. Alas, that was- never afford; still, diminishing that time-fill- n’t the only wince-inducing one-liner of the ing element didn’t elevate the conversation night (a play off Reese Witherspoon’s name so much as merely further expose the “GMA” was nearly as bad), and efforts to capitalize gang’s banality - on a night, even with on Harris’ winning personality by moving “Birdman” taking top honors, that seldom him into the audience with a hand-held Rita Ora performs ‘Grateful’ (Beyond The Lights) at the 87th Oscars. — AFP got off the ground. — Reuters microphone proved relatively bland. the festivities. The night’s undeniable high- first time the Oscars could be confused with Moreover, the direction at times looked off: lights came in one short, concentrated burst, Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards. when the host stripped to his underwear in which nearly brought the ceremony back Even some of the obligatory elements a spoof of “Birdman,” for example, the cam- from the brink: First, Idina Menzel was yielded head-scratching decisions. era failed to find Michael Keaton or anyone reunited with John Travolta - who mangled Foremost, stripping the necrology segment else associated with the film for reaction her name last year - and then John Legend of any film clips - even during Jennifer shots, just as it wandered unnecessarily dur- and Common stirringly performed “Glory,” Hudson’s song - robbed that sequence of ing the clever opening song-and-dance the song from the movie “Selma,” which left the power associated with seeing those number. star David Oyelowo, as well as others, with departed stars doing what made them tears streaming down his face. famous. The grouping of the nominated Awkward jokes The two artists then delivered heartfelt movies in the clip packages also felt hurried Some on social media were also quick to speeches about the lingering state of race and arbitrary. second-guess Harris for making a joke after relations, which felt like a cathartic moment Spontaneous moments one of the filmmakers of “Crisis Hotline: given the controversy over the lack of minor- That’s not to say there weren’t moving, Veterans Press 1” mentioned her son’s sui- ity representation in this year’s awards. spontaneous moments. “The Imitation cide, but to be fair, it’s hard to think of a tran- (Harris had joked about that at the outset, Game” writer Graham Moore referenced his sition out of such a moment that wouldn’t calling the Oscars a celebration of “the best own near-suicide at age 16, urging troubled have felt awkward. and the whitest-sorry, brightest.”) Then teens not to despair. Foreign-language film By contrast, his reference to “Citizenfour” again, the speech carried more power “Ida” director Pawel Pawilkowski plowed whistleblower Edward Snowden not being because until then, the whole ceremony through the music to thank his family (living able to attend the ceremony almost seemed possessed such a workmanlike quality that it and dead) in Poland, one of several recipi- intended to deflate the situation. cried out for more passion from someone, ents who merely sped up when the orches- Concerns about the show being anyone. tra began trying to play them off. JK immersed in politics because of the nomi- As for the other performances, Lady Simmons sweetly told people to call their nees proved slightly controversial. Indeed, Gaga’s rendition of “The Sound of Music” parents. there wasn’t a single speech along those gained stature when it gave way to Julie In the main, though, this was a forget- lines until supporting actress winner Patricia Andrews handing out the best-music award. table Oscarcast. It’s too bad, because Harris’ Arquette tacked on an endorsement of And that colorful “Everything is Awesome” opening delivered a taste of his potential to equal pay for women about 90 minutes into staging from “The Lego Movie” might be the approximate the light-hearted spirit Billy The Lonely Island perform on stage at the Oscars. .

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