the 81st Oscars

It was inspiring to watch the 81st Oscars ceremony last night

It was a lovely reminder of the magic that is the film industry, sure there are mainstream cheesy films made in Hollywood, sadly the bulk of them, but amongst them true pieces of art show up now & then, pieces of images, words, sounds, and music that truly change our lives…

Even though, I haven’t seen Slumdog Millionare, I was thrilled to see that the film won the Oscar for the best film, and overall I was happy for Danny Boyle getting an Oscar for best director.



[An early Danny Boyle episode in my life]
It was many years ago, while I was still living in Mexico city, 1996 or 1997 I guess, that I watched his film Trainspotting for the 1st time… I was coming out from 2 weeks of sickness, being trapped on my mother’s home under her cares, with high fever and NO books, NO TV, NO music, I had one of those viral infections that affect you when you are a child, I think was Rubeola (Measles), but me, I guess having not many kids around while growing up, got it at age 28, affecting all my system. After about 2 weeks of letarghy, when one day, I finally felt better, my mom said, knowing how much both love cinema: there’s an international sample of films on the art theater really close… still weak, I accepted her invitation, I was avid to see some movement, to listen to music, to feel again alive!! … and to my surprise the movie in turn was, yes… Trainspotting, not the most cheering or adequate experience for someone recovering, but oh if the film has been since there stuck in my mind… one of the best/worst scenes of the film was when Ewan McGregor relapsed on his old Heroin habit, “just 1 fucking hit” he says, jumping the fence, looking for the obliged fix of the night… the overdose follows, and who else, if not Danny Boyle could’ve come with such surreal scene… Ewan McGregor sinking down in a rug, about to die, being drive to a hospital by fellow junkie, in an cab, all accompanied ironically by Lou Reed’s beautiful song, It’s a Perfect Day, ironic, surreal, and ultimately sad… that was the day I started to admire the wit of mister Danny Boyle.

the video of the scene... I need to visit the Mother Superior, for one hit, one more hit...



Now, if you want to read a great review of Slumdog Millionare
the movie that gave Danny his 1st Oscar
please refer to Id It Is blog’s
http://iditis.blogspot.com/2008/12/slumdog-millionaire-metaphor-for-india.html
He/she/it has a profound and wise voice when it comes to review stuff that matters…
I haven’t figured out who ID IT actually IS,
is he a woman?
or if she is a man?
… unimportant that is ‘cause regardless he/she/it is a complete human being who writes wonderfully!

Also I was thrilled to see mister Sean Penn winning his 2nd Oscar, for his acting in Milk, now this is a film I have seen, what a delightful acting, what a superb film on the life of this activist too. Do not miss it!! You will get inspired too.

And I respect very few Hollywood big actors, but I do respect mister Penn’s social activism, who doesn’t remember his open letter to impeach Bush?… my memories to admire Sean Penn’s acting go back in time as well, his performance and the prisoner in death road on Dead Man Walking captured my heart, I have been a truly admirer of his career since…
And what a great acceptance speech:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you” he said, “You commie-homo-loving sons of a gun…” Hilarious! He also congratulated American people for having elected President “an elegant man”… and here some other rather interesting words of his speech, defending gay rights:

"For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone."



Another great feature of the Oscars this year, was the main nominees were introduced and greeted each and everyone by a former Oscar winner fellow, it was truly a parade of Oscar winning stars!

Ah, even if they were just the Oscars, and they are rather commercial, it was nice to enjoy the magic and wonder that are films and their stars…

Can’t wait to watch Slumdog Millionaire!