Queering the Oscars
Oscar night always has plenty of queer angles and last night was no exception especially with the Best Short Documentary Award being nabbed by Cynthia Wade‘s powerful indictment of homophobia, FREEHELD. Cynthia’s eloquent acceptance speech marked the gay high point of the evening (Jon Stewart‘s kissing Oscars joke not withstanding) when she proclaimed: ” It was Lieutenant Laurel Hester‘s dying wish that her fight against discrimination would make a difference for all the same sex couples across the country that face discrimination every day.” Wade and producer Vanessa Roth then acknowledged Hester’s partner Stacie Andree who was in the audience.
Other homo high points included wins by three beloved icons.
Daniel Day Lewis (who stole our hearts in MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE) took home Best Actor for his scary good turn in THERE WILL BE BLOOD (which also got Best Cinematography).
Javier Bardem (who played gay in BEFORE NIGHT FALLS) nabbed Best Supporting Actor for his psycho-killer turn in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (which also took home Best Picture, Director and Adapted Screenplay).
While the queen of queer indies, Tilda Swinton (THE DEEP END, ORLANDO, the films of Derek Jarman, etc.) got Best Supporting Actress for her role in MICHAEL CLAYTON. All we want to know is: Why are all the post-Oscar night commentaries so focused on dissing her dress, rather than making note of her eloquent acceptance speech or the fact that she is so stunningly beautiful?! Kudos to official Oscar Night blogger Joel Stein for his astute Tilda observation that ” if all the people from the Oscars walked into the restaurant you were at, you’d stare at her the longest.”
Meanwhile, the British press is all about giving her a hard time for her “unconventional” love life.
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