All That Pageantry
THE MORNING BRIEF, Vol. IV, #13 (March 26, 2001) -- My secret Oscar journal.
CONTENTS
OSCARS
OSCARS
OSCARS
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OSCARS
OSCARS
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OSCARS
OSCARS
OSCARS
OSCARS
OSCARS
OSCARS
OSCARS
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OSCARS
OSCARS
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BRITNEY SPEARS
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SIX DISK CHANGER
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UPCOMING
CONCERTS
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CONTRIBUTIONS
THE PRE-OSCAR SHOWER >>> Wonder what David Niven was thinking during his pre-Oscar shower in 1974, the year he was onstage when a streaker livened up the festivities.
The pre-Oscar shower...
PREP TIME >>> Yes, the Oscars are Hollywood's biggest party, but the day of the Oscars is the make-up industry's Super Bowl. Not to mention the hair, fashion, jewelry, and little gold statue industry's finest hour.
THE DRIVE >>> Traffic? It's not traffic when you're going to the Academy Awards. It's a bloody parade.
THE ENTRANCE >>> Just keep walking, wave and smile. If someone asks you a question, say "yes," politely. If anyone asks you what you're wearing, tell them Armani (in case you forget).
THE FASHION >>> One woman put Sunday's Oscars on the Fashion Map. Her name: Bjork.
Evidently someone told Jennifer Lopez this year's theme was: toga party. Or was she just throwing support behind "Gladiator"?
Someone forgot to tell Hilary Swank: never wear beige.
And a friend sitting nearby asked if Julia Roberts was pregnant. Not a good fashion sign.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN >>> Ironic, isn't it, that the winning costume designer's dress fell off to the side, exposing what appeared to be a second head on her left shoulder, craning to get a look at all of those stars. They pulled away during her speech, but you could still see it.
DYLAN >>> It's nice that after so many years as the voice of a generation Bob Dylan is finally getting the credit he deserves. As if moving a nation with your music isn't enough. Gotta have one of those little golden statues. Never mind that the song had nothing to do with the film.
Hey, at least Bob didn't do a Phil Collins like the now officially, formerly cool Sting.
MOST NAMES IN A SINGLE ACCEPTANCE >>> They told everyone before the show that there was to be a 45 second limit on the speeches. Only the folks from "Crouching Tiger" were listening.
ONE NAME FORGOTTEN >>> Technically she thanked her when she thanked the rest of the world; however, it would have been more than perfect if Julia Roberts had capped off her wildly enthusiastic, very entertaining acceptance with a special thought toward her filmic namesake. Erin Brockovich didn't merely write Julia's award-winning role. She lived it.
BEST SPEECH >>> Mr. Soderbergh's brief, rousing thank you to creators of any kind. Fitting, he being perhaps the most deserving winner of the evening.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN >>> Frances McDormand for "Almost Famous." Joan Allen, Ellen Burstyn, Laura Linney for Best Actress. "Traffic" for best film.
HE'LL BE BACK >>> Steve Martin was perfect. The job's his again if he wants it.
PARTIES! >>> Most of them suck. Just a bunch of people you've never heard of before, and Tom Arnold with some bimbo. Most of the important people who worked on the film are now working on another film. So they're pretty much out of town.
WHERE I WENT >>> I hob-nobbed with the stars of Blair Witch II at Baja Bud's in West L.A. They do a great tomatillo salsa there, and it was reasonable, mainly because the film didn't get a lot of nominations (0).
KIDDIE PORN >>> Who has the nads to love pop's talentless little supermodel as much as Bob Dole's dog? She is the musical equivalent of a Pepsi.
@ @ @
SIX DISK CHANGER >>> And now for some music that isn't sugar water:
1. Stevie Wonder, "Songs in the Key
of Life"
2. Various Artists, "Artificial Intelligence"
3. Circulation - "Colours"
4. Steel Pulse, "Smash Hits"
5. Ministry, "Psalm 69 - How to Succeed and How to Suck Eggs"
6. Mogwai - "Come on Die Young"
7. Bjork, "Debut"
@ @ @
A magical night in a magical town. If we close our eyes and dream real hard, it never has to end. Have a very special Oscar Monday.
Much flex,
D.
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Still high on the pageantry.
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The Morning Brief can be read each wwweek @ www.smmirror.com -- in the Web Stuff section.
You can also find prior Briefs at www.morningbrief.net if you've got the time. Or load it up from www.avantgo.com and take your Briefs to go.
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DISCLAIMAGE >>> Please feel free to forward The Morning Brief to whomever you like. If you do, in part or in segments, or if you'd like to re-publish, please copy me or just let me know. Thanks for reading!
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Notable shows in and around Southern
California.
Highly
recommended shows this color.
Red
alert; must see!
3.27.01 - Richard
Thompson @ The Troubadour
3.28.01 - Shawn Colvin @ Roxy
Theatre
3.29.01 - Shawn Colvin @ Roxy Theatre
3.29.01 - Darren Emerson @ Vynyl
3.30.01 - Jonatha Brooke @ El Rey Theatre
3.30.01 - Specials @ The Key Club
3.31.01 - Guster @ House of Blues
3.31.01 - Seb Fontaine @ Club Giant
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4.03.01 -
Akiko Yano @ Knitting Factory Hollywood
4.04.01 - Waterboys @ House
of Blues
4.05.01 - Waterboys @ House of Blues
4.06.01 - Bela Fleck & the Flecktones @ Wiltern Theatre
4.06.01 - Guided by Voices @ House of Blues
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4.12.01 - Lloyd Cole @ The Mint
4.14.01 - Pete Tong @ Club Giant
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4.16.01 - Joe Jackson @ John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
4.16.01 - Shane McGowan and the Popes @ House of Blues
4.19.01 - Low @ El Rey Theatre
4.20.01 - Poi
Dog Pondering @ House of Blues
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4.23.01 - U2 @ Arrowhead Pond
4.23.01 - Medeski, Martin & Wood w/Karl Denson's Tiny Universe @
House of Blues
4.24.01 - Medeski, Martin & Wood w/Karl Denson's Tiny Universe @
House of Blues
4.24.01 - Arab Strap @ Knitting Factory Hollywood
4.27.01 - Kate & Anna McGarigle @ Knitting Factory Hollywood
4.27.01 - Ira Glass @ UCLA Royce Hall
4.28.01 -
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Jane's Addiction, St.
Germain, Kruder & Dorfmeister) @ Empire Polo Field (Indio,
CA)
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5.05.01 - Natalie MacMaster @ UCLA Royce Hall
5.12.01 - Stanley Jordan @ The Key Club
5.18.01 -
David Gray @ Universal Amphitheatre
5.20.01 -
Mark Knopfler @ The Greek Theatre
5.21.01 - Badly Drawn Boy @
El Rey Theatre
5.22.01 - Dave Matthews Band w/Macy Gray @ Dodger Stadium
(ouch!)
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HAVE YOU ever reconsidered? HAVE YOU done something on the spur of a moment? HAVE YOU eaten anything extra yummy? HAVE YOU found a haven? HAVE YOU considered moving to a new climate? HAVE YOU got an axe to grind? HAVE YOU taken a deep breath lately?
RE: VIEWING TIP >>> I'm totally wired having just been to a screening of -- of all things! -- a new version of "South Pacific". I had serious doubts and was prepared to be very embarrassed for everybody. But I was astonished, entertained, even moved! Stars Glenn Close and one of the sexiest frenchmen I've ever seen (can't remember his name, jean-paul something, natch) and Harry Connick, Jr. You know the show..."There is nothing like a dame", "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair", "Some enchanted evening", on and on go the great Rogers and Hammerstein songs.
The story's been rewritten very intelligently -- the real enemy and thwarter of love and romance here is racism, rather that the Japanese in WWII (tho the war figures heavily into the last part). Beautifully directed by Richard Pearce. It airs Monday night on ABC. Probably at 8PM since it's 3 hours. I know it won't hold up so well with commercials interrupting but it'll be worth watching.
Anybody with the slightest romantic yearning or teeniest nostalgia for those fabulous show tunes and that amazing form -- the American musical -- should not miss this. List it in the Brief. I'm happy to take responsibility if there's any fallout which I doubt.
-- Randi Johnson.
RE: TWO STORIES, TWO LINKS >>> Check these out:
1) Energy solution, or everything solution? http://biz.yahoo.com/st/010323/23113.html.
Don't supposed anyone's thought about solar? Maybe if we could build solar bombs people would get into it...
2) A breath of fresh air in these troubling economic times:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010320/ts/vatican_abuse_dc_5.html