Oscar morning hangover

Just got in from Elton John's post-Oscar party and, boy, are my lips tired.

Wanted to thank everyone for stopping by last night. Sorry I wasn't a better host but the cupcakes were burning, if you know what I mean. I haven't had that many blog visitors since the test results came back positive, or ever since the doctor told me the results weren't mine.

Thanks to Daly and Spears -- a good firm if you need your taxes done -- for keeping the fire kindled while I steamed. Sorry to everyone in the office for that. You know how temperamental we artistes can be.

Banged out an Oscar autopsy column for tomorrow. Here's a sampling, after which I'll be knocking out a Gasparilla Film Festival advance, an interview with opening night film producer Jeff Balis and an interview with Blood Feast creator Herschell Gordon Lewis that was the most fun I've had on the phone since Princess Di blocked 900 numbers.

Enjoy, and thanks again.

Choosing Marion Cotillard as best actress reinforced a recently noticeable Oscar voting codicil: lovely young women ditching all vanity to play unattractive characters deserve Oscar gold.

Without wearing a severe fake nose, Nicole Kidman (The Hours) wouldn’t have an Academy Award. Charlize Theron (Monster) plumped into serial killer Aileen Wuornos to win. Hilary Swank posed as extreme tomboys in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby to get the academy’s attention. Renee Zellweger (Cold Mountain) won by channeling Grizzly Adams.

That trend is becoming nearly as fool-proof for winners as playing mentally and physically challenged characters. Cotillard had both factors in her favor.

In case you didn’t notice, Cotillard is a stunningly beautiful woman with an ooh-la-la accent that could charm the killer in No Country for Old Men. Her role model, singer Edith Piaf, was a withering hag with a memorable voice. Makeup artists who won Oscars for transforming Cotillard into a convincing crone deserve lifetime achievement awards.

The academy cheers when such attractive women dial it down for their art.

But that still doesn't explain Tilda Swinton's best supporting actress win for Michael Clayton.

Comments

[Marissa]

Tilda Swinton: Nothing 40 lbs and eyebrows won't fix. And for fashion's sake, get a new stylist! Or, just get one. Eeesh!

[jane]

Much fun last night -- looking forward to the Oscar Autopsy tomorrow.

And after all the upsets, et al, I ended up finishing a close second in my Oscar pool. Not bad for a broad who saw NONE of the nominated films this year.

[Steve Persall]

Meeee-yow, Marissa! I thought Daly and Sharon pegged her properly with the Eric Stoltz comparison. I wound up 13-11 with my picks, Jane, so I bow to your prognostication skills.