If there was one most deserving award at this week’s Oscar ceremony, it was Mo’Nique. As Mary Jones, she kept you glued to the screen. The sassy comedian showed a dark, terrifying side that left you breathless.When he name was read, all was right with the world.
And I hope I never have to endure her again.
I don’t really like Mo’Nique. Not her comedy, nor her other movies, nor her personality. She bores me on talk shows and I think she should shave her legs and her acceptance speech was the height of arrogance. But all that has nothing to do with whether she deserved to win the Oscar. It’s just hard to root for someone when you don’t like them all that much.
The same is true of Sean Penn. When I first heard he was playing Harvey Milk, my initial reaction was, “Really?” Then I saw his performance and was transfixed. Penn became Milk, an actorly transformation that established him, in my mind, as an actor of incalculable skill and bravery. Last year, the conventional wisdom was that Mickey Rourke would win the Oscar for The Wrestler. I never wavered, though. Rourke had a good story, no doubt; but Penn’s work was simply the best.
I just didn’t want to think too much about Penn himself. Penn is the epitome of the navel-gazing “actor,” who sniffs his way through life with contempt for us lesser humans. People who criticize his charitable activities as vanity should die slowly of colon cancer, he said just this week on CBS Sunday Morning. His latest comment that tickled me? Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is NOT a dictator, he maintains, and anyone who calls him one should be put in prison.
Ummm, Sean, jailing people for critizing their leaders is, uhh, the earmark of a dictator. So maybe Chavez isn’t a dictator; but you sure as hell sound like one.
My final Oscar observation: Lauren Bacall. The legendary actress was a surprise loser of her only Oscar nomination, in 1996 when her work in The Mirror Has Two Faces fell to Juliette Binoche in The English Patient. She got the first standing O of the night this week when he was recognized for her honorary award. So meeting her yesterday was quite a thrill.
Except she was kinda bitchy.
I met her at the Nasher Sculpture Center, where she appeared as part of the Nasher Salon, and she walked through the museum with her adorable Papillion, Sophie. I joked with an employee that I didn’t know dogs were allowed in the Nasher, and I’d bring mine next time. Feet shuffled, nervous laughs. The point: Lauren Bacall’s dog is welcome; yours isn’t (until you are of the stature of Lauren Bacall).
When I was introduced to Bacall, I mentioned how beautiful her dog was; she seemed slightly impressed that I recognized Sophie as a Papillion, and not a long-haired Chihuahua. I joked with her, “She’s beautiful — she looks like a fancy version of my Chihuahua.” “Not to me,” Betty snarled. “To me she looks just like a Papillion! And she’s the best looking Papillion ever! Everyone tells me that they have never seen a prettier one.” She didn’t seem to be kidding; she seemed pissed.
Maybe she needs a cat: Me. Ow.
It’s difficult meeting heroes; it’s too easy to be disappointed. Bacall — the prototype for the independent woman on screen — has her rep in part by being a no-bullshit personality in real life. At 85, that can translate as snippiness. During her hour-long presentation, she made catty remarks about Woody Harrelson, picked fights with the master of ceremonies, accused Nancy Nasher with that most dreadful of insults— she said she was “a journalist” (uh, no, her dad built the room you’re sitting in), and when one man got up to use the restroom, she asked him if she was boring him.
Still, it was a treat meeting her. Not many people will be able to say the met her in the future. But maybe it’s best not to think too much about how she thinks her Papillion is better than my one-eyed Chihuahua when I’m watching her movies. No good can come from such comparisons … for Sophie or Lauren.
Well Done Arnold!
Couldn’t agree more about Monique – stunning performance and the most arrogant, pissy acceptance speech I’ve seen in a long time – especially given how humble she was at earlier award shows. It was bitter and a stain on the night.
I don’t even read about Penn – but I second that his performace as Harvey Milk was rivoting – he deserved the Oscar, hands down. He indeed BECAME Harvey Milk. It was brave, it was bold, and a huge victory for the silver screen in relation to how gay men are shown.
dang she sounds fiercer than Anna Wintour with heavy flow, this tranny is jealous
Lauren Bacall just got upgraded!
“It’s difficult meeting heroes; it’s too easy to be disappointed.”
Few celebrities are heroes and few heroes are celebrities.
I felt the same way…seeing Lauren (Betty) Bacall was a once-in-a-lifetime extraordinary moment…the breath went out of me when she aimed that comment at Nancy Nasher…omigod…poor Michael Cain…I thought he was was great. I got to shake her hand as she was leaving, what a moment that was…am going to order all three of her books, can only imagine how interesting they will be…yes, please, as she says, will someone hire her to carry a tray in one of their movies…and give her a line or two as well…she needs to be seen and heard while we still have her with us.