The Good
- Surprise Neil Patrick Harris is surprising.
- Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin as hosts. Though they seemed to vanish as the show went on (like Hugh Jackman last year), there were so many killer lines that it's easy to forgive:
Sandra Bullock. It almost made up for the fact that she shouldn't have won Best Actress. She was both funny and touching, and even after getting emotional, managed to close her speech with a funny one-liner about "my lover Meryl Streep."
- I know some will probably bash it, but the presentation of the Original Score nominees via a dance troup was absolutely stellar, especially the Up segment. This was such a good year for scores, and this presentation briefly made me forget that many of the best ones were overlooked.
- THEY BROUGHT BACK CLIPS OF THE ACTING NOMINEES!! FINALLY!!!!
- The 45 second speech time limit actually results in (for the most part) better speeches, especially from Michael Giacchino (original score winner for Up).
- Morgan Freeman's voiceover explaining why Sound Mixing and Sound Editing are actually important. It's about damn time.
- Tyler Perry is actually funny, and introduces one of the best moments of the show: Martin and Baldwin sitting on a couch sharing a snuggie.
- Best Presenter(s):
Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr. for Original Screenplay, who had a hilarious back-and-forth about what screenwriters and actors want in an actor and screenplay respectively. Best Line goes to Downey Jr: "...writers, who are sickly little mole people."
- Cameron Diaz actually looks good at the Oscars for the first time in years.
- Mo'Nique stays calm, controlled, and confident during her speech.
- Michelle Pfeiffer still looks better than most of the young starlets in the room. Not surprising, actually...
- Best "F*ck You!" to the media: after weeks of articles trying to stir up controversy about a rivalry between exes James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow (whose divorce was reportedly quite amicable), Cameron smiles, applauds, and gets teary eyed as Bigelow makes her way to the podium.
- Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin as hosts. Though they seemed to vanish as the show went on (like Hugh Jackman last year), there were so many killer lines that it's easy to forgive:
- "There's that DAMN Helen Mirren!" "Um, Steve, that's dame Helen Mirren..."
- "Meryl Streep has the most nominations of all time, or as I say it: the most losses."
- "Invictus combines two things I love: rugby, and tensions between blacks and whites."
- "We'd like to introduce these two lovely young actresses, because frankly, we're tired of seeing all of these old ugly actresses."
- "He directed A Single Man, and she weighs a single pound, please welcome Tom Ford and Sarah Jessica Parker!"
- "The show has gone on so long that Avatar now takes place in the past."
Sandra Bullock. It almost made up for the fact that she shouldn't have won Best Actress. She was both funny and touching, and even after getting emotional, managed to close her speech with a funny one-liner about "my lover Meryl Streep."- I know some will probably bash it, but the presentation of the Original Score nominees via a dance troup was absolutely stellar, especially the Up segment. This was such a good year for scores, and this presentation briefly made me forget that many of the best ones were overlooked.
- THEY BROUGHT BACK CLIPS OF THE ACTING NOMINEES!! FINALLY!!!!
- Christoph Waltz's first lines at the podium: "Oscar and Penelope? That's an uber-BINGO!"
Uber-Bingo indeed, Mr. Waltz
Uber-Bingo indeed, Mr. Waltz- The 45 second speech time limit actually results in (for the most part) better speeches, especially from Michael Giacchino (original score winner for Up).
- Morgan Freeman's voiceover explaining why Sound Mixing and Sound Editing are actually important. It's about damn time.
- Tyler Perry is actually funny, and introduces one of the best moments of the show: Martin and Baldwin sitting on a couch sharing a snuggie.
- Best Presenter(s):
Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr. for Original Screenplay, who had a hilarious back-and-forth about what screenwriters and actors want in an actor and screenplay respectively. Best Line goes to Downey Jr: "...writers, who are sickly little mole people."- Runner Up: Ben Stiller, dressed up as a Na'Vi
Best Win:
Kathryn Bigelow (deservedly) makes history as the first woman to win Best Director.
Kathryn Bigelow (deservedly) makes history as the first woman to win Best Director.- Cameron Diaz actually looks good at the Oscars for the first time in years.
- Mo'Nique stays calm, controlled, and confident during her speech.
- Michelle Pfeiffer still looks better than most of the young starlets in the room. Not surprising, actually...
Best Dressed:
Penelope Cruz
Penelope Cruz- No one in their right mind is crazy enough to try and play off Jeff Bridges, even as his speech goes WAY past 45 seconds.
After 5 nominations, the Dude can finally abide.
After 5 nominations, the Dude can finally abide.- Best "F*ck You!" to the media: after weeks of articles trying to stir up controversy about a rivalry between exes James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow (whose divorce was reportedly quite amicable), Cameron smiles, applauds, and gets teary eyed as Bigelow makes her way to the podium.
The Bad
- See you again next year, Meryl.
- Holy crap, George Clooney actually looks...old.
- The Young Victoria wins Best Costume Design. And yet another Regency Costume Drama takes home the award...YAWN
- Precious wins Adapted Screenplay over the likes of In the Loop (which should have been nominated for tons more), and front runner Up in the Air. I imagine that Jason Reitman is seething right now.
- Kristen Stewart, absolutely devoid of charisma, co-presents the Horror Tribute Montage, which for no reason includes clips from both Twilight (to be fair, it is horrible) and even more ridiculous, Edward Scissorhands. How is Edward Scissorhands HORROR!?
- Factual Errors: At least two notable ones
- The lighting on the stage. This is Hollywood's biggest celebration, and yet the dominant color on stage was midnight blue. Why!? This is supposed to be bright and happy, not dark and mournful!
- Why was the presentation format for the supporting actors different from the lead actors? Sure, it would have taken more time, but supporting roles are in no way "inferior" to the leading ones. Show some respect Academy. It was bad enough when supporting actors actually received smaller/different trophies all those years ago.
- The height differences: Miley Cyrus (STAND UP STRAIGHT!)
...towering over Amanda Seyfried, and T-Bone Burrett towering over Ryan Bingham.
- No Original Song performances, and consequently, no Marion Cotillard or Ryan Bingham singing. Lame.
- Quentin Tarantino co-presents Foreign Language Film looking like he crawled out of a dumpster. Was he that distraught over losing Original Screenplay?
- Sam Worthington, stop chewing your gum ON STAGE.
- Holy crap, George Clooney actually looks...old.
- The Young Victoria wins Best Costume Design. And yet another Regency Costume Drama takes home the award...YAWN
- Precious wins Adapted Screenplay over the likes of In the Loop (which should have been nominated for tons more), and front runner Up in the Air. I imagine that Jason Reitman is seething right now.
- Kristen Stewart, absolutely devoid of charisma, co-presents the Horror Tribute Montage, which for no reason includes clips from both Twilight (to be fair, it is horrible) and even more ridiculous, Edward Scissorhands. How is Edward Scissorhands HORROR!?
- "Ladies and Gentlemen, we're experiencing some technical difficulties": random hissing noises, a "sshshsshshshsh" sound during the art direction acceptance speech, and the failure of the screen to play clips/stills from the cinematography nominees. A cut to the audience showed that clearly, Kathy Bates was displeased. Who is to blame?
"Was it YOU, the woman from 'The Crying Game'!?"
"Was it YOU, the woman from 'The Crying Game'!?"- Factual Errors: At least two notable ones
- The announcer introduces Robert Downey Jr. as an Oscar Winner, when he's only ever been a nominee. Ouch.
- Charlize Theron presents Precious and says that it is up for 4 Oscars. The film was nominated for 6.
- The Reverse-Kanye Moment: As the director of short documentary "Music by Prudence" gives his speech, the film's producer barges in and interrupts and takes over the speech.
"Imma let you finish...or not"
"Imma let you finish...or not"- The lighting on the stage. This is Hollywood's biggest celebration, and yet the dominant color on stage was midnight blue. Why!? This is supposed to be bright and happy, not dark and mournful!
- Why was the presentation format for the supporting actors different from the lead actors? Sure, it would have taken more time, but supporting roles are in no way "inferior" to the leading ones. Show some respect Academy. It was bad enough when supporting actors actually received smaller/different trophies all those years ago.
- The height differences: Miley Cyrus (STAND UP STRAIGHT!)
...towering over Amanda Seyfried, and T-Bone Burrett towering over Ryan Bingham.- No Original Song performances, and consequently, no Marion Cotillard or Ryan Bingham singing. Lame.
- Quentin Tarantino co-presents Foreign Language Film looking like he crawled out of a dumpster. Was he that distraught over losing Original Screenplay?
- Sam Worthington, stop chewing your gum ON STAGE.
The Ugly
- Cameron Diaz and Steve Carrell bomb as presenters.
- Most in need of grooming: Keanu Reeves
Worst-dressed presenting duo:
Carey Mulligan and Zoe Saldana. Mulligan's earrings are trying to take over her head, and Saldana's dress looks like a series of small explosions.
Carey Mulligan and Zoe Saldana. Mulligan's earrings are trying to take over her head, and Saldana's dress looks like a series of small explosions.- Most in need of grooming: Keanu Reeves
Absolute Worst Dressed: 
Barbra Streisand. What on earth happened there?
Barbra Streisand. What on earth happened there?
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