The Oscars Were Dull-
Until the End
The show was as dull as usual and even John Stewart had a hard time breaking the log jam. He did a respectable job, but it was a tough audience. Even the montages didn't have a lot of pizazz this year. But there were some high points:

• Ben Stiller was really good showing how the "green screen" works, ending up looling like a green blob holding an envelope.
• Three 6 Mafia (and the winning song- "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp") showed what excitement can be all about.
• Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin were magnificent doing a Robert Altman stream of consciousness/multiple conversation honor.
• Reese Witherspoon was moving in talking about being able to do something that matters.

But everything was pretty much as planned and expected. Until the Best Picture.

The Oscar voters did one of those politically correct moves that, I think, was the right one.

• Brokeback Mountain won adapted screenplay and best director for Ang Lee. Absolutely no doubt about it. But as a "love story" or in non-PC language- a "chick flick" - it's greatness was lost, I think in its "world changing/genre busting" hype.

• Crash won for best original screenplay and best picture. I really do believe that this is one movie that we will be watching for its power and incredibly challenging message for years to come. THIS was the world-changing movie. If you watch it with an open mind you will be angered, moved, and ultimately changed.

Actors awards went to really top performances in four other movies:

• Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote.
• Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line.
• George Clooney for Syriana.
• Rachel Weisz for Constant Gardner.

While it may have been a dull Oscars- and a less than box-office smashing year- these truly were some incredible movies and performances. They are movie-making at its highest. So even if the show wasn't exciting, the movies honored were.

[This was delayed from yesterday in memory of Kirby Puckett.]