Hollywood host unfazed by all the chaos
Print Edition
FOR a few hours on Sunday, Jimmy Kimmel as host of the Oscars helped all within earshot laugh more than a little at America’s current discord.
Furthermore, he navigated the rocky final moments after best picture winner had to be corrected to “Moonlight” from “La La Land,” whose film’s producers were well into their acceptance speeches.
“I knew I would screw this show up,” Kimmel joked to viewers, heroically unfazed by the chaos raging around him on stage.
Hours earlier, Kimmel, during his uproarious opening monologue, cheerfully reminded everyone that not just the United States but the whole world was united in viewing the show: “This broadcast is being watched in 225 countries that now hate us,” he cracked.
He voiced his thanks to President Donald Trump for taking heat off the Oscars. “Remember last year,” Kimmel said, “when it seemed the Oscars were racist? That’s gone, thanks to him!”
The Oscars broadcast contained a steady stream of response to Trump’s infant presidency. “Opposing without hatred,” “tolerance being more powerful than fear of the other,” “a respect for diversity” were typical of sentiments voiced.
Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, whose movie “The Salesman” won best foreign film, boycotted the ceremony. “Dividing the world into the ‘us’ and ‘our enemies’ categories creates fear,” Farhadi declared in a statement read on stage.
It’s not unusual for an Oscars telecast to be at odds with itself: foolishness vies with dignity; glitzy excess wrangles with a sober-minded tribute to film artistry. Such is the nature of showbiz self-congratulation.
Fortunately, Kimmel was up to the challenge of keeping things comfortable while pertinent. Along with the usual jibes at Hollywood’s vanities, he never let Trump stray too far from his attention.
It was a welcome reminder that Hollywood can surmount its share of walls. No matter what the best picture might turn out to be.
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