Green Book (2018) wins BEST PICTURE, at the 91st Annual Academy Awards

The 91st Annual Academy Awards came and went, without a host, and without hitch (so I heard); BUT unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to watch it. This year’s Oscars were not telecast (LIVE or otherwise) on this side of the globe. Neither on Local Channels (which I normally don’t watch) nor on any of the foreign cable channels we get from India and the South East. I wouldn’t be surprised if the local cable operators sabotaged it’s telecast. So many instances where foreign channel’s schedule programs are blocked off and replaced with what these cable operators fancy!! BUT, I did check out highlights online, especially on Youtube, on Monday night!!

I was extra keen of watching this year’s show, as it was a Hostless show, for the first time in 30 years. My very 1st Oscars, was that particular Hostless Academy Award ceremony, from 1989. It introduced me to Rain Man (1988) and Jodie Foster. Of course, that wasn’t telecast LIVE (nothing non-Lankan back then was), but about a month later, on a local channel (most probably on Rupavahini, SL’s National television channel). If I recall correctly, it was after Lucille Ball passed away. AND Ball passed away on 26th April 1989 (The 61st Annual Academy Awards were apparently held on 29th March 1989, according to online sources). We use to watch The Lucy Show (1962 -1968) back then, I believe on ITN (Back in 80’s there were only two channels available here). I remember well, how Ball’s death was not announced, before airing an episode of the show, after her death, as is the custom. The network most probably had no idea who the star comedienne of the Lucy series of shows even was.

What’s more interesting, is 30 years after sitting through my Oscars, I learn the Oscars 1989, was supposedly the worst Oscars ever!!!! I wasn’t a fan of the corny Snow White, but I did enjoy the show. I remember Lucille Ball looking graceful, yet with her nutty laugh intact, in her final public appearance. Remember Walter Matthau, Roger Moore, Melanie Griffith with Don Johnson, Tom Cruise & Dustin Hoffman, and Jodie Foster walking up the stage, in her now famously known, off-the-rack, dress (of course, back then I didn’t know it was off-the-rack). It’s good though, Foster represented herself, today some people lose their identity representing a famous designer (especially if the fashion designer is more popular than star adorning their clothes).

Worst Oscars or not, it’s thanks to the 1989 Oscars, I’ve been following the Hollywood Stars, looking forward to catching the Oscar ceremony, every year, if possible!! Preferably LIVE!!

For more on Oscars 1989 & this Year’s Hostless Oscars……

Let the Pictures below do the talking!!!!!

Julia Roberts @ the Oscars (Year 2019)

Melissa McCarthy & Brian Tyree Henry present the Oscar Award for BEST COSTUME DESIGN to Ruth E. Carter (Oscars 2019)

Becky Neiman-Cobb & Domee Shi, bag the Award for BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM, for Bao (2018)

Chalamet & Mom
Timothée Chalamet’s absence (and the Oscar snub) was pretty conspicuous, at the 91st Academy Awards

Comedienne, Lucille Ball (1911 – 1989) made her final public appearance, at the 61st Annual Academy Awards (Oscars 1989)

Jodie Foster wins the BEST ACTRESS Oscar in 1989

From this year’s Oscar win’s, I have only seen a shabbily edited version of Bao (2018). From the rest of the nominations, I’ve only watched, the Feature Film, A Quiet Place (2018) and the Live Action, Canadian Short Film, Fauve (2018). BEST PICTURE winner, Green Book (2018) is the movie, am really keen on checking out the most!!

Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense