OMG! How much do I love Sean Penn?!?! I got so excited as I typed today’s Manly Monday entry — weekly celebrations of M-E-N — because I was 100% all about awarding it to Spicoli. (The Fast Times at Ridgemont High reference isn’t a backhanded compliment, by the way; I geniunely think it’s a testament to Penn’s talent as an actor that he’s grown to do flicks like At Close Range, Mystic River, I Am Sam and Milk.) Nevertheless, instead of only giving Sean Penn (ahem, ahem) the Manly Monday love, I decided to pick out a few male attendees, presenters, nominees and absentees of the 81st Annual Academy Awards who are equally deserving.
- The Rebels. Johnny Depp. Mickey Rourke. And, of course, Sean Penn. Over the past few years, it’s been fun to see The Academy finally dole out nominations and awards to independently-minded men who take daring, unconventional roles and turn them into something special as only they can. How can you not love a guy who starts his acceptance speech: “You commie, homo-loving sons of guns [...]“???
- The Winner. Will Smith. No, he didn’t win anything last night. But, according to Forbes, Smith commands higher box office and bigger “blockbuster paychecks” than any other actor in tinsel town. Folks, we have a winner!
- The lover. I got really choked up when I heard Dustin Lance Black‘s tender, honest and heart-felt speech. As sex & relationships writer who happens to be a spiritual person, I kind of think got what he was trying to do. (But, I could be wrong.) I get the impression he was really trying to drive home the point that the word “CHRISTIAN” and the phrase “HOMOPHOBIC, SEX-NEGATIVE, RACIST, RIGHT-WING NUTJOB” aren’t always symonymous. I don’t know; form your own opinion about his speech. You can read the transcript on GlAAD’s blog, but it’s worth it to watch the video instead.
- The Guy Who Should’ve Been There. Benicio del Toro. Am I missing something or was someone missing from last night’s show?
Okay. So, I’m curious to hear what you all thought of last night’s show. Did you love or hate the Broadway musical inspired influence? Was it too long? Too boring? What would it take to make the Oscars more interesting? Pssst … If you liked Sean Penn’s portayal of Milk, you can watch a feature-length documentary about the real Harvey Milk free at Hulu.
Mr Del Toro…. from San Diego….. is getting ready for his promo tour for ” Che ”
and the way he tours…. the fella needs all the rest he can get…. have seen both
movies( there is two of them: Parts 1 and 2 shown separately 2 hrs. apiece) and
it’s a shame that the release date is now, ’cause this film has Oscar all over it…
and it may not be in the mind’s eye of the Academy next year in time for the vote
who know…. it may get a re-run….. and a shot at the title….
lamesabassman….. wait ’til you see him in ” Wolfman “….. hellacool….
Funny, I missed Benicio Del Toro too. He also oozes a sexy self-confidence that makes me a bit weak in the knees. Johnny Depp is my perennial favorite all-time guy to see though. He can do no wrong IMHO.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Oscar show last night because I was not watching it. I *hate* awards shows – they bore the bajeebers out of me. I leave the watching of them to Mrs. Doodlius and just look up the winners on that intermanet thingy the next morning.
I’m no huge fan of Sean Penn, but he completely deserved the win for Milk. Should have won best picture too – I liked Slumdog, but best picture? No way. (It was better than Frost/Nixon, though.) Didn’t see The Reader. I figured Streep as a shoe-in for best actress because she wins every year, doesn’t she?
i love movies, but i don’t care about the oscars too much. honestly, when i heard ‘slumdog’ won best picture, my first thought was ‘even hollywood is outsourcing.”
I actually loved the show last night. I liked the changes that they made and I especially liked the segments where they had 5 prior winners of certain awards come out and present the the new recipient. Musicals are back, so those that don’t like them will probably not be too interested in the coming year. They’re even re-making Fame! Fame, people!
Benicio did need to be there. Men who are pure sex with an accent need to be seen and heard as much as possible. But, I was happy to see my secret lover Will Smith there. I’d lick him from head to toe…like a giant chocolate Easter bunny.
*correction
I didn’t mean accent, I meant scruffy, scratchy voice. I was typing about Benicio while looking at Javier Bardem on TV. Hmmm….that would be quite the threesome…
@ lamesabassman: He’s such a good actor.
@ livingsexuality: I had a Johnny Depp folder with pics clipped from Teen Beat. LOVED him in his Nightmare on Elm Street and 21 Jumpstreet days. Still do.
@ Baba Doodlius: Surprisingly, Streep didn’t win this year.
@ dan-E: You’re too much!!!
@ Amiyrah: INDEED!!! They’re both really sexy. I think I remember Javier was in this pseudo-psychotic porn-like Spanish flick a few years back. Can’t remember the name of it, but it was HOT. Totally unrelated but “Second Chance” is another hot Spanish flick. Cougar-cub action as the teacher hooks up with her student.
I definitely like Sean Penn but I wish they shared the love and gave it to Mickey. Sean won already!
Zen….. you’re on point…… just check out two of his best works: White Sands and
the Pope of Greenwich Village…..
lamesabassman……. he is long overdue…..