I have to say that keeping in perspective with what is going on in the world. The Oscars were unbelievably restrained this year and for the better in my opinion. The Oscars started around 5:30PM and ended a little bit after 9PM PST, which is not a bad run for a show completely built on pomp and circumstance. Steve Martin was charming, but again, in light of the current war it was obvious he held himself in check. This, however, did not restrict him from taking some remarkable potshots at Jennifer Lopez (a.k.a. J.Lo.). I counted just two remarks, but I used the restroom at one point so there may have been more. After the second remark they actually caught her reaction on camera, which was a mixed expression of, "Why are you picking on me Steve?" and "My backup dancers will be waiting for you outside, Mr. Martin."
I know in a recent article I had complained about the conservative looks of the stars at past awards shows, but I think the respectful way they dressed at the Oscars was the correct tone to take. I don't think celebrities' political opinions make much of difference to the public, and the hysterical buzz and news stories about the Oscars being postponed was almost comical. The Academy Awards, however, did the right thing by toning down the event as much as they could. The Oscars don't have that much impact on the world, but I do think there would have been something strangely macabre about heavily bejeweled women smiling and waving to the crowds, while women and children were (and still are) being bombed out of their homes in Iraq. The color of the night was mostly black. Other stars like Julianne Moore wore green and Renee Zellweger chose a thrilling red for the show, though the colors were vibrant the styles they chose were not too flashy to seem inappropriate. Meryl Streep, Catherine Zeta Jones and Julia Roberts wore more toned down black ensembles. Everyone was doing their best to be respectful, but glamorous at the same time. Nicole Kidman was the best symbol of a dress that stands on the fine line between respectful and glamorous. The dress was a multi-strapped navy blue silk jersey gown by Jean Paul Gaultier. Her restrained allure was the best look of the night.
No Curls for the Girls Most stars like to show off their locks with a new haircut and sometimes even a new color, but this year the hair was as restrained as the dresses. There were no free flying curls for Nicole Kidman as she had worn them at last year's ceremony. This year she wore her hair in a tightly pulled back bun. Other stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julianne Moore, and Jennifer Lopez wore their hair up in nicely upswept and strangely similar chignon styles too.
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