2010 Academy Awards

The Oscars was the highlight of my evening on Sunday, March 7. Granted, that I am not a huge fan of watching the Academy Awards every year, but when there is a movie that catches my attention or an actor/actress being nominated for an award most likely I will watch. That was the case this year with my anticipation to watch and witness history being made that night in Hollywood. Here are some of my favorite highlights from the ceremony.

Oscar winner, Mo’Nique won the Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. It was a delight to see her as an African-American to win an Oscar. Even though she won a Golden Globe award in that same category, but to win an Oscar is priceless or even better than that – the icing on the cake. Her acceptance speech was professionally done and straight to the point. Another thing that made that moment for Mo’Nique even more special was realizing how far she came in her career; from being a stand up comedienne, that led her to acting in comedy movies, getting her own television show The Parkers, reality show, and now her own late-night show on BET. I am sure that more opportunities and doors will open for her.

One of my all time favorite actress Oscar winner Sandra Bullock won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for The Blind Side. This was a great moment for Sandra Bullock by winning her first Academy Award and she deserved all of the recognition for playing this role. I always thought she was a good actress but most of her movies were romantic comedy movies, yet even the drama roles she played (remember The Net, Hope Floats and A Time to Kill back in the mid 90′s) weren’t blockbusters nor did it help her career. I thought she did a great job in the movie Crash but she wasn’t nominated for any major awards. Then, she went back doing what she always did best romantic comedies. Finally, an opportunity came her way at the right time that showed another acting side of her that most of us already knew she had. The Academy took notice of Sandra Bullock’s serious side of acting and as they say the rest is history.

Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow won Best Achievement in Directing for her movie the Hurt Locker. In all honesty, I am not familiar with Kathryn Bigelow or her work, nor have I seen the movie so I cannot comment much on it. I do remember seeing the movie trailer for this as well as watching bits and pieces from scenes of the movie while watching the Oscars. The bits and pieces I saw seemed intense and surreal. She made history that night for winning the Oscar for Best Director and not too many women of her stature are able to achieve that kind of recognition in Hollywood. Kathryn will be another one on my movie watch list.

Gabourey Sidibe was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Precious, but lost to Sandra Bullock. She did not win the award but she was practically the highlight at the Academy Awards ceremony. A special speech by Lady O herself, Oprah Winfrey and on the red carpet prior to and the end of the ceremony, every entertainment host wanted an interview with Ms. Sidibe. So, either way it goes she was still a winner and everyone took notice. She would be another actress who I hope to see more doors and opportunities open because next time she may just win an Oscar.

On a side note: I am so glad Inglorious Basterds didn’t win the big categories such as Best Directing and Best Screenplay. Why on earth that movie by Quentin Tarantino was selected and nominated for any category is beyond me.