Oscar Recap: The Great Paradox

Unfortunately, I'm getting to this a little late in the game, so I'm sure much of this has already been said. But I'd be remiss if I didn't get me two cents in, so here goes.

Frankly, I didn't find last night's Oscar telecast as excruciating as many are claiming it was. Did James Franco need to loosen up? Of course. But the man is an intellectual and a bit of an introvert, from what I understand. He's clever, but not a comedian. I thought the opening bit was great (though a bit uneven) because it played to his and Hathaway's (who was a natural last night) strengths. The rest of the night: Not great, but not all-time worst material either. I'd rather sit through an interesting failure like this than another uninspired comedy routine from one of the usual suspects. Of course, if Billy Crystal was game again, I, like everyone else I've read, would be happy to see him host once more.

Just to touch on some of the highlights (and lowlights):

—Kirk Douglas was hilarious, but I have to admit feeling a little weird about his whole segment. I just wonder how much of it was planned and how much was the ramblings of 94-year-old man.

—Melissa Leo looked like a kid in a candy store to me. I loved her unrestrained glee, and if the F-bomb was planned, like some are suggesting, more power to her.

—I thought Randy Newman's speech was one of the few memorable ones. I was definitely a little underwhelmed by the overall quality and lack of anything meaningful by this year's crop of winners.

—As far as the winners go, I'm glad they were relatively spread out, though it saddens me that great films like 127 Hours, True Grit, and The Kids Are All Right went home empty handed.

At the end of the night, I was struck by one thing, however. Oscar watching is one great big paradox. I watch it and hope for surprises, yet I get upset when surprise after surprise (mostly in the tech categories) disrupts my abysmal predictions (15/24, this year...an all-time low). People out there (Social Network fans, mostly) cry and whine and bitch when their film loses, yet they love to say just how little the Oscars matter. And they hate on The King's Speech for what, being good?

It was an ugly year for following the Oscars. I grew tired of those out there (professional and amateur alike) who mistook their opinions and those of the Academy for facts. Is The King's Speech THE Best Picture. I don't think so. But it is a great movie. So is The Social Network. So is Inception, and True Grit, and 127 Hours. The Oscars are about celebrating, and it became more about complaining this year, I think, than ever before. And I just think that's a shame.

The biggest paradox of all, however, might just be this: As frustrated as I became toward season's end, I can't wait for the next season and its great movies to come along.