This isn't really a review of the Academy Awards since I watched the whole show in about an hour thanks to the magic of Fast Forward. Basically, I skip the awards themselves and most of the thank-you speeches. But I thought Chris Rock's opening monologue was dead-on to the point where it made most of the later talk about racism in Hollywood seem hollow and repetitive. As causes go, it was eclipsed in the latter half of the program by Joe Biden's awkward speech and Lady Gaga's powerful song about sexual victimhood. (I'm not suggesting a contest. They're both important issues and not inappropriate to the Oscar ceremony.)
Funniest speech I saw all night not counting Rock's monologue was Louis C.K. talking about the financial non-rewards for the Documentary Shorts makers. The most disappointing speech went with the most surprising win — to great audience delight — of Mark Rylance over the expected Sylvester Stallone. Rylance gave two of the most wonderful, non-traditional acceptance speeches when he won his two Tony Awards. How odd to see him give a conventional "thank you" at the Oscars. (Actually, the oddest thing in the whole telecast was hearing them play "Fight the Power" at length over the interminable closing credits. That was when it really felt like pandering.)
As these ceremonies go, it seemed fine to me…and I would suggest that anyone who calls it the worst Academy Awards show ever, as some always do, is expecting the Oscars to be something they cannot be and probably never were. I hope they have Rock back but he might not be as effective next year when, no matter what, they're gonna nominate some black people. For the wrong reason.