James A. Molnar: I love the Oscars

This is the first column in a weekly series, counting down to Oscar Sunday on Feb. 26, 2012. By James A. Molnar TGK Editor I love the...

This is the first column in a weekly series, counting down to Oscar Sunday on Feb. 26, 2012.

By James A. Molnar
TGK Editor

I love the Oscars. There. I said it. Now you know.

Then again, do you think I would have created The Gold Knight Blog if I didn’t love the Oscars? My love borders on an obsession. I tape all the ceremonies, buy all the posters and talk about the Oscars now year round.

Because I know I’m not the only one who love the Oscars, I’ve decided to start this weekly series, in anticipation of next year’s Academy Awards — in 11 weeks. Every Sunday, a different Oscar fanatic will be featured. He or she will write a brief introduction and then dive into the following 10 questions, which I will also answer.

I hope you enjoy this new series. Send me your feedback at james-AT-thegoldknight-DOT-com, or comment below.

1. How did your love for the Oscars begin?
My love for the Oscars started when I was a kid. If I was lucky, my parents would let me stay up to watch the whole show. My love grew more and more over the years — from a one-night affair to a year-long obsession. Interestingly enough, the Oscars got me fascinated with movies, not the other way around. I guess I’d have to “thank the Academy” for that.

2. When did you know you were in love?
I was bitten by the love bug early on. With such an amazing and extravagant production, who wouldn’t love the Oscars and that 8.5-pound statuette? Our world is fascinated by the Oscars. Everyone can find an aspect of the show for them: from the Red Carpet and the couture gowns to the nominees and winners. At a young age, I was also intrigued by the show and the production. I purchased my first ceremony poster in 2001, the year I knew I was in love.

3. What is your first memory of the Oscars?
I vaguely remember when “Titanic” swept the night in 1998 at the 70th Academy Awards, but my first vivid memory was that next year in 1999 when Whoopi Goldberg came out as the African Queen in her opening skit at the 71st Academy Awards.

4. What is your favorite Oscar moment?
What I look forward to most every year are the speeches and music performances. My favorite moment is when Halle Berry won the Actress Oscar for “Monster’s Ball” at the 74th Academy Awards. Her speech was inspiring. While wearing her classic Elie Saab dress, the actress became the first black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. “This moment is so much bigger than me,” she said in her speech, which you watch here.

5. What is your favorite aspect of the Oscars?
I have always been amazed at the technical aspect of the Brobdingnagian ceremony. Every year, I anticipate the producers revealing the set design for the show. I love that the production designer gets to work with a blank canvas and create an outlandish set and stage filled with 20-foot-tall versions of the golden statuette rising to the rafters. David Rockwell’s design for 81st Academy Awards is one my favorites, the epitome of elegance.

6. Who has been the best host?
The popular answer is Billy Crystal or Bob Hope. From my experience, I would say Whoopi Goldberg. The comedienne has a no-bullshit kind of attitude. As an Oscar winner, she gets what the show is about and is fun to watch.

7. How does your life revolve around the Oscars?
Covering the Oscars year round, my life stops when Oscar news breaks. I am always attuned to the latest updates and press releases from the Academy. When an update or tweet comes out, I stop and I figure out what I need to do about said update: blog about it, tweet it or whatnot. I watch movies with the thought “could this be an Oscars nominee” in the back of my mind.

Being known as an Oscar fanatic, I am always asked about what movies to see and which ones have Oscar buzz. Some people say to me, “I can’t believe you go to the Oscars.” I respond, “I don’t actually go to the Oscars and sit in the theatre. I cover the Oscars. And I love it.”

8. Do you have any suggestions for the producers and/or host of the Oscars?
Sometimes the producers try too hard. As was the case last year, the producers were trying so hard to make the show young, hip and cool, the result was the opposite, in my opinion. I would suggest hiring some younger writers and the show will feel younger. But don’t try so hard.

My other suggestion to them: ALWAYS have performances of the Original Song nominees and have at least one musical number. Music helps liven up the show and there is no question that Oscar always puts on a good musical number.

9. What category would you add or subtract and why?
At 24 categories, the Academy Awards is chock full of specific technical awards and honors for performances. Some critics have suggested cutting some of the categories, but I love trying to predict the smaller categories such as Animated Short.

I think “Title Design” (or opening credits) would be the perfect category to add. This may fall under the Best Art Direction category, but I think title design in movies has become a huge art form and something that would be very cool to honor. (Kyle Cooper from Prologue Films would be an instant shoe-in.)

10. What are you looking forward to at next year’s Oscars?
As is the case every year, I’m looking forward to finding out the nominees and eventual winners. This year, the most fascinating story is how many movies will be nominated for Best Picture. With the new rule change, that number can be five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten. I’m guessing it will be six. We’ll find out Jan. 24.

James A. Molnar, editor of The Gold Knight Blog, is also film editor of Toledo Free Press, a twice-weekly newspaper in Toledo, Ohio.