The good
- Crash! Up until the last moment I was torn between it and Brokeback. And you know, I still am. Simultaneously happy and sad about the outcome.
- March of the Penguins! That was my big moment of undiluted pleasure and happy SMSing for the night.
- George Clooney’s speech.
- Ang Lee! I’m glad that he got best director and Crash got best picture. That honors both great films of the year.
- The fact that Woody Allen didn’t win for plagiarizing himself and re-making a movie I saw in the eighties. Dude, it’s still the same movie if it’s set and London and doesn’t star aging Jews.
- Best score for Brokeback Mountain. Every once in a while there’s a score that really brings you back to the movie. Truly deserved.
- Keira Knightley was an abomination as Elizabeth Bennet. I’m glad Oscar went home with someone else, even if it was Reese.

The bad
- The pimp song. What the hell?
- Still no Oscar for Joaquin, who is fantastic. On the other hand, I have to admit Walk the Line wasn’t his best role ever, and I’m quite confident he’ll get his one day.
- I just can’t bring myself to like Reese.
- Not enough awards for Brokeback. I would have liked to see one actor get an oscar, and my choice was Michelle Williams.
- Philip Seymour Hoffman’s acceptance speech. Yeah, he’s good, but I would have liked him to… oh, I don’t know… emote.
- Jennifer tripping. Doh!
- What’s the deal with making Jack Nicholson the center of it all? Yeah, we loved you in The Shining. Can we move the f*ck on?

The meh
- Jon Stewart. Love him, but I thought he was a little too subdued. I don’t know if the biggest show on Earth is the right venue for his ironic, understated humor and funny little faces.

Overall, an Oscar night that, while it was a little more engaging than the past years, still didn’t manage to make it all the way to “exciting”. Maybe it’s because I rushed out to see all the Best Picture nominees over the past two weeks out of Oscar-night obligation rather than inclination. Maybe something more controversial than boys kissing boys has to happen. Maybe I’m getting old, but Oscar night just isn’t as spicy as it used to be.