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By Eleanor Ringel Cater It ain’t over ‘till the fat lady speaks. At least, that’s what happened at the 92ndAcademy Awards as the cast, crew and creative team behind the South Korean movie
“Parasite” swarmed the stage to celebrate the history-making moment when a non-English-language film won Best Picture. After one producer, Kwak Sin-ae, spoke (a female which, given the
misogynist shadow hanging over the show, was a nice touch), she turned to let co-producer Miky Lee have her turn. Instead, the lights came down and a spot came up on Jane Fonda who was
standing over to the side and was supposed to give the evening’s final wrap-up. But then… Led by Tom Hanks and Charlize Theron, the stars on the front row began what looked like an
old-fashioned Braves wave. They raised their arms and began chanting “Up! Up! Up!” The rest of the audience joined them, the lights came up and, amid much cheers and laughter, Lee was
allowed her moment. Over on the other side of the stage, “Parasite’s” director, Bong Joon Ho, elected to let the ladies have their say and stayed silent. After all, he’d already given three
acceptance speeches earlier when he won Best Original Screenplay, Best International Film and Best Director. “Parasite’s” winning both Best International Film and Best Picture is a huge deal
and a huge step forward for Hollywood. Fellini couldn’t do it. Truffaut couldn’t do it. Bergman couldn’t do it. More recently, Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”) couldn’t do it. But Bong Joon Ho
could. And it’s not a pity award (though it does give the Academy a little more diversity cred). “Parasite” has somehow broken unimaginable barriers. People you don’t expect to see “artsy
stuff” like “1917” or “Little Women” made their way to this remarkable dark comedy/social commentary/outright thriller about how the rich may get richer and the poor may get poorer, but
sometimes, well, the unexpected happens. Frankly, after Brad Pitt won Best Supporting Actor for “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” (much deserved) and Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” lost Best
Adapted Screenplay (her best Oscar shot, having been shut out of the directing category) to Taika Waititi’s spritely but uneven World War II fantasy, “Jojo Rabbit,” I was ready to call it a
night. My distinguished guests bailed around 10, and my husband and dogs had packed it up even earlier. But somehow, I felt, well, a responsibility to make it to the end. A lot of
“beautiful, wonderful” wives were thanked (what is this? 1966? Guess that’s better than the Super Bowl half-time show taking place in 1961). Best Supporting Actress Laura Dern (“Marriage
Story”) honored her father and mother (actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd). Diane Keaton seemed a bit tipsy and flirted with former “Something’s Gotta Give” co-star Keanu Reeves. The Best
Actor/Actress winners, Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Renee Zellweger (“Judy”), gave too-long speeches that added up to…not much. His was a bit better than hers; he ended with a lovely quote
from his deceased brother, River: “Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.” However, Zellweger’s was so coolly professional you almost thought she was going to thank Judy Garland
for O.D.ing in 1969 so years later she (Zellweger) could win an Oscar. She kept referring to Garland as a hero. Well, kinda’. Martyr may be more like it. Anyway… Most entertaining: Steve
Martin and Chris Rock who could’ve been the evening’s co-hosts, and Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig (Ditto). And Best Actress nominee Cynthia Erivo singing “Stand Up” from “Harriet.” Most
disappointing: the “In Memorium” section – (though Billie Eilish sang “Yesterday” exquisitely). Left out, among many, were Luke Perry, Tim Conway and Michael C. Pollard. Also left out: the
incomparable Albert Finney who was Oscar-nominated five times: “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Under the Volcano,” “The Dresser,” “Erin Brockovich” and “Tom Jones,” 1963’s Best Picture and
as essential to the early ‘60s British Invasion as the Beatles or the Stones. History was made last Sunday. History was forgotten, too. _RELATED POSTS_