CleverDonkey.com …Musings, Commentary, Opinions, and Drivel

Oscar Arrives!

Argent de Poche

Strangely, pockets were a mini-theme this year… both Amy Adams and Sandra Bullock wore blossomy dresses with pockets, and both looked utterly relaxed. I guess a beautiful gown with pockets just makes you feel less stressed, like you’re just hanging out.

Amy Adams’s striped Carolina Herrera was gorgeous and elegant

Sandra chats calmly during the red carpet mixing

Pales in Comparison

It’s official, I will never like pale colors on the red carpet. Color, people, color!!

Naomi Watts was radiant as always, but that washed-out Givenchy did not do it for me… I actually liked the gauzy messiness of it all, but I just can’t stand that pale color on her!!

I had a really bad run-in with King Kong before the show

Naomi’s b.f. Nicole Kidman was similarly milk-toast in her ivory column.

Ice princess Nicole

Even Reese Witherspoon and Uma Thurman chose the pale look.

Reese paled it up as well

Uma… where’s Oprah?

Golden Girls

Going just one shade beyond pale were the gowns ranging from gold to goldenrod. Jessica Alba was radiant with beautiful hair and jewelry, even if her gown did make her look a titch naked at first glance. Michelle Williams’s mustardy dress wasn’t my favorite, especially with those cool, dark colors in her antique-y necklace.

Golden princess Jessica

Mustard princess Michelle

Even radiant Jennifer Garner chose an icy barely-gold sequined number.

Stunt princess Jennifer

And Bahar Soomekh of Crash is so beautiful, I was sorry she spent the night in yellow chiffon, even if it is Calvin Klein.

Persian princess Bahar

But it wasn’t just the young kids in shades of gold… Jane Seymour wore a pale gold gown that showed off her figure (perhaps a smidge too well).

I’m hoping to sub for Dolly Parton if possible

Back in Black

Of course, not everyone was brave enough to go for ivory or pale gold. Some had to get really brave and go with… black. Jennifer Anniston, Felicity Huffman, and Rachel Weisz all opted for black. Although Felicity’s Zac Posen look was a bit more daring than the other ladies.

I’m hoping to stand out as little as possible

Just in case you had any doubts from Transamerica

I think my pregnant belly leaves no doubt at all…

Charlize Theron also chose a blackish green gown whose puffy sleeve was almost matched by her hair-helmet hairstyle.

Well, I have a pillow to use if the telecast gets too boring

Color, although Not Very Much

The most colorful dress of the evening was Salma Hayek by far — in a radiant peacock blue. She was the only one in a bright, however. Keira Knightley was radiant, gorgeous, elegant, fabulous in a darker color — a knocked out burgundy Vera Wang.

Hello, Dahling

Precious, dahling

The Boys

Well, the men were into classic good looks, and hallelujah. The straight-tie look predominated, but there were enough bow ties to remind you that you really were at the Oscars.

Oscar-winner Clooney is charming and good-looking as ever

Matt Dillon is classic, showing up for his nomination for Crash

Eric Bana also shows the classic bow tie tux

Will and Steve both chose the charcoal / silver look for their ties

Giamatti sports the straight tie

Howard wears the straight tie as well as…a diamond brooch?

The documentarians from March of the Penguins showed the crowd how to really wear a tux

Of course, not all the men were classic. Some were against the trend, as with Gary Busey’s confused look and all-black tux. Oh, and Tim Burton was definitely Tim Burton.

Why am I here?

C’mon, Helena, you’re entirely too polished to be my date

Nominees and Winners for 78th Annual Academy Awards

Leading Actor

• Philip Seymour Hoffman, in Capote
• Terrence Howard, in Hustle & Flow
• Heath Ledger, in Brokeback Mountain
• Joaquin Phoenix, in Walk the Line
• David Straithairn, in Good Night, and Good Luck

Leading Actress

• Judi Dench, in Mrs. Henderson Presents
• Felicity Huffman, in Transamerica
• Keira Knightley, in Pride & Prejudice
• Charlize Theron, in North Country
• Reese Witherspoon, in Walk the Line

Supporting Actor

• George Clooney, in Syriana
• Matt Dillon, in Crash
• Paul Giamatti, in Cinderella Man
• Jake Gyllenhaal, in Brokeback Mountain
• William Hurt, in History of Violence

Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams, in Junebug
• Catherine Keener, in Capote
• Frances McDormand, in North Country
• Rachel Weisz, in The Constant Gardener
• Michelle Williams, in Brokeback Mountain

Best Director

• Ang Lee, for Brokeback Mountain
• Bennett Miller, for Capote
• Paul Haggis, for Crash
• George Clooney, for Good Night, and Good Luck
• Steven Spielberg, for Munich

Best Picture

• Brokeback Mountain
• Capote
• Crash
• Good Night, and Good Luck
• Munich

Best Cinematography

• Batman Begins
• Brokeback Mountain
• Good Night, and Good Luck
• Memoirs of a Geisha
• The New World

Best Original Song

• In The Deep, from Crash
• It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp, from Hustle & Flow
• Travelin’ Thru, from Transamerica