A quick Oscar wrap-up
Due to travel snafus, your humble blogger was unable to post his traditional pre-Oscar predictions post. Suffice it to say that I correctly predicted all of the major awards but, as always, screwed up the best documentary short and best foreign language film. Ten quick points, both positive and normative: I think it’s telling that ...
Due to travel snafus, your humble blogger was unable to post his traditional pre-Oscar predictions post. Suffice it to say that I correctly predicted all of the major awards but, as always, screwed up the best documentary short and best foreign language film.
Due to travel snafus, your humble blogger was unable to post his traditional pre-Oscar predictions post. Suffice it to say that I correctly predicted all of the major awards but, as always, screwed up the best documentary short and best foreign language film.
Ten quick points, both positive and normative:
- I think it’s telling that one of America’s most competitive industries organized an awards show around an Aussie host, a British best actress winner, a Spanish best supporting actress winner, and a best picture winner based in Mumbai, India and directed by a
ScotsmanEnglishman. I’m just saying that the most globalized sectors of the economy are usually the most efficient and productive. - There needs to be a word for a cultural trope that manages to attract admiration from both genders and both the gay and straight communities. Whatever that word is, Hugh Jackman seems to embody it.
- Is it me, or is there an iron law of Oscar shows that decrees that the last third of the show must drag on to the point where it sucks the life out of the show?
- The Academy could save everyone a lot of time and angst by assigning hosting duties next year to Tina Fey and Steve Martin. They were funnier than any of the comedy clips.
- No nominations for Salma Hayek? So what if she did not appear in a motion picture this year?
- Waltz with Bashir did not win Best Foreign Film? Where’s that damn Israel Lobby when you need it?!
- Call me schmaltzy, but I did like the idea of having former Oscar winners praise each nominee. The nominees really seemed to go for it, too.
- For just one day, I would like to be able to pull off the Mickey Rourke look.
- Best Visual effect of the show — Sarah Jessica Parker in her gown, as well as her ability to smile while sitting next to Matthew Broderick.
- Among those who got jobbed by the Oscars this year: the adult actors in Slumdog Millionaire, especially Dev Patel; Both WALL*E and The Wrestler should have been nominated for Best Picture, and one of them arguably should have won.
I think that’s it.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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