DeGeneres hosts Oscars with wit

by Sawyer Thomas, online editor

As a new year begins and the 2006 movie year comes to a close, the Oscars have all been passed.  With the Academy Awards behind us, this years movies were glorified with the little statue that seemed to make all of their efforts worthwhile.

Those who were fortunate enough to walk away with the little gold-plated man accepted the award in beautiful gowns and tuxedos alike.  This year, I was quite surprised to see what won the Best Picture award.

“The Departed,” a Martin Scorsese film, won Best Picture on the glamorous night, with its director accepting the award for best direction.  Overall, “The Departed” walked away with four awards, Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Film Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay.  I was slightly disappointed, because I predicted that “Babel” was going to take home the gold.

“Dreamgirls” walked away with several awards, including Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Jennifer Hudson, and Best Sound Editing.  I was pleased that Hudson won, because she was absolutely fantastic in that movie.  “Babel” won Best Score, while “Little Miss Sunshine” won best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Alan Arkin.

Ellen DeGeneres made the night truly interesting with her wit and unending charm.  She made the Oscars probably the most entertaining that they have been in years.  I think that she may have trumped Jon Stewart in the previous year.  Personally, she was probably 18 million times funnier than Stewart was.  It still astonishes me, but it pleases me in a sick way that DeGeneres was the first gay woman to host this prestigious event.

With the stunning gowns and the absolutely fabulous Joan Rivers doing her pre-game show, the event was attended by many of the glitterati.  The famous “Who are you wearing?” question was floating about as the night was getting ready to take off.  Everyone who is any one in Hollywood was there, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are my favorites in all of Hollywood.

The event was televised live on Feb. 25, and lasted about four hours.  Although I am slightly disappointed that this event has lost some of its prestige and glamour, DeGeneres made it truly enjoyable with such gags as vacuuming in the audience and shadow puppetry.  I believe it to be a ploy to get more viewers, and it seems to be working.  They had a large viewer turnout this year, despite the absence of controversy between “Brokeback” and “Crash,” as it was a year ago.

All in all, the event was fabulous.  One day I hope to be walking down the red carpet after I have achieved my fame and fortune.  I will be accepting my Oscar, and the famous line “I would like to thank the Academy” will be fortunate enough to grace my lips.