Wisdom Gleaned from the 83rd Academy Awards

There are life lessons to be found everywhere, including the 83^rd Academy Awards, which took place on February 27, 2011.

I’m not here to pass judgment on who won or who should have won; what gowns I liked or didn’t like; or whether the evening was boring or not. There are enough people critiquing and criticizing the hosts, the presenters, the performers, and the winners. I’d much rather share with you those Oscar moments that in some way inspired, informed, or touched my heart. Perhaps they will yours too.

Anne Hathaway – Co-host of the Academy Awards

If there was a list of “The 10 Most Frightening Things,” I’d say hosting the Academy Awards would rank right up there with death. Yet 28-year-old Anne Hathaway, the youngest to ever host the awards, took up the challenge and stood on stage in front of Hollywood’s Who’s Who and and 37.6 million viewers around the world.

She did it with style (she changed eight times, which seems excessive, but come on, who wouldn’t love the chance to wear all those gorgeous gowns)which she did with poise and humor.)

On top of that the girl can sing. What she didn’t do was write the jokes or the comedic skits, so if you’re hell-bent on blaming someone because you didn’t like the show, blame the scriptwriters, or better yet, don’t tune in. No matter what you think, I give Anne an A for effort.

LIFE LESSON: Instead of slinging barbs and jabs from the safety of the couch, it’s more productive and rewarding to focus on accomplishing something we can be proud of.

Kirk Douglas – Presenter – Best Supporting Actress

When Anne Hathaway introduced Kirk Douglas, she said, “We promised you Hollywood stars tonight, and it doesn’t get more iconic than this.”

The younger generation may not know Michael Douglas’ father Kirk, was nominated for three Oscars—Champion (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and his portrayal of the tormented artist Vincent Van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956). He also starred in the title role of Spartacus (1960) the precursor to films like Gladiator and Brave Heart.

Like the characters he’s played, Kirk is no stranger to tragedy. In 1991, at the age of 75, he survived a helicopter crash that killed two people. In 1996, he suffered a stroke that left his speech impaired, in 2004 his youngest son Eric died of a drug overdose, and in 2010, he saw his oldest son, Michael, battled throat cancer and thankfully recovered.

At this year’s Academy Awards, 94 year-old Kirk Douglas was basking in the glory of being a presenter, saying “It’s an evening I’ll never forget.”

Still there were those folks who couldn’t help but make snide remarks like, Why did the Academy chose an old man who can’t even talk to present the award for Best Supporting Actress?

Here is a beautiful speech by Steven Spielberg presenting an honorary Oscar® to Kirk Douglas for his fifty years as a creative and moral force in the film community at the 68th Annual Academy Awards® in 1996.

LIFE LESSON: In the Native America culture, elders are revered for their wisdom, while our society worships at the Altar of Youth. We will all age, unless we die young. There’s no need for us to become irrelevant when we get older. I plan to embrace the journey with grace.

I got Up Close and Personal with Kirk Douglas for the November 2007 issue of Luxury Las Vegas magazine. Though he has trouble talking, his mind is sharp as a tack and he had some great stories to share. Check out the interview.

David Seidler – Best Original Screenplay – The King’s Speech

Josh Brolin said, “The Oscar goes to David Seidler,” and a 73 year-old man with white hair came on the stage and accepted his first Academy Award saying, “My father told me I would be a late bloomer. I believe I’m the oldest person to win this award. I hope that record is broken quickly and often. I accept this on behalf of all the stutterers in the world. We have a voice, and we have been heard thanks to the Academy.”

LIFE LESSON: We’re never too old to realize our dreams, even if we have a disability. It’s important to feed our minds, stay active, challenge ourselves to try new things, be willing to step out of our comfort zone, and believe in ourselves.

Tom Hooper – Best Director – The King’s Speech

It was Tom Hooper’s first nomination. In his acceptance speech, he told how in 2007 his mom was invited by some friends in London to see a fringe theater reading of an unproduced, unrehearsed play. “She almost didn’t go because it didn’t sound promising, but thank God she did because she rang me up afterward and said, ‘Tom, I think I found your next film.'”

Best Documentary – Inside Job

The Oscar for Best Documentary went to Inside Job, which shines a light on the global financial crisis of 2008 that cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia.

The film was produced by Jeffrey Laurie, who bought the Philadelphia Eagles football team in 1994, and directed by Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs.

LIFE LESSON: Oprah said, “We go to the movies to escape.” But complacency and ignorance don’t solve anything. We have to hold those corporate executives and politicians who lie and steal accountable. I applaud Charles Ferguson and all the other documentary filmmakers who try to wake us up from our deep, self-destructive sleep.

Natalie Portman – Best Actress – Black Swan

nominees: Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right) Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) and Natalie Portman (Black Swan.)

Thirty-year-old winner, Natalie Portman, said that to prepare for her role as a ballerina, she endured five to eight hours of dance training each day for six months and lost 20 pounds. Such dedication is inspiring.

LIFE LESSON: If we want to achieve our goals, we have to put in the time and effort. If we’re not willing to do that, we shouldn’t knock those who do.

In Memoriam Tribute

LIFE LESSON: Each of touches the lives of others. Who will remember us when we’re gone and for what? We only have this life, so make it count. Random acts of kindness and small gestures can make our little corner of the world better.

Gwyneth Paltrow – Nominated song, Country Strong

Talk about stretching beyond your comfort zone. Imagine the courage and self-confidence it took for Gwyneth Paltrow, an accomplished actress who was married to musician, Chris Martin of Coldplay, to take on the role of a country singer in the movie Country Strong.

In this video Gwyneth is singing at the 2010 Country Music Awards with Vince Gill, who I interviewed with his wife, singer Amy Grant.

LIFE LESSON: No one wants to look like a fool. Gwyneth Paltrow may have been worried people would ridicule her for thinking she was a singer, but she took the risk. What are you willing to risk?

I’ve done some daring things, and I continue to challenge myself. Despite tremendous fear I went sky diving. I’ve climbed 12,000 feet to the top of a mountain, sung karaoke badly in a bar, forced myself to try scuba diving, and walked on fire – and I’m not the adventurous type! Don’t limit yourself. Try something new that scares you a bit!

Halle Berry – Narrates tribute to Lena Horne

I had the pleasure of meeting Lena Horne years ago when she performed with Vic Damone at Caesars Palace. Here’s what Hallie said about Miss Horne.

Lena Horne blazed a trail for all of us who have followed. In 1943 she became the first black performer to sign a long-term contract with a major studio like MGM. But that was a very different time in Hollywood, and trail blazers rarely walk an easy path. Lena paid the price for leading the way, both professionally and personally. Yet with guts, grace, and beauty Lena Horne survived all the Stormy Weather that came her way. She forever paved the way for many of us to walk in the sun today. We love you and will never forget you.”
– Hallie Berrie

LIFE LESSON: Blaze a trail, go against the grain. Be a Rosa Parks or a Lena Horne. Speak up in defense of what is right, for someone who is being discriminated against or bullied, for those who can’t speak for themselves. Equality is a God-given right.

Colin Firth – Best Actor – The King’s Speech

Last year Colin Firth was nominated for an Academy Award for A Single Man, and he lost to Jeff Bridges who won for Crazy Heart. This year Jeff Bridges, who was nominated for True Grit, lost to Colin Firth who won for his brilliant performance as the stuttering King George VI in The King’s Speech. That seems fair!

Here is Katie Couric talking with Colin Firth about King George VI. I love learning about people and moments in history.

Best Picture of The Year – The King’s Speech

The winner was The King’s Speech—a movie without violence and sex that tugs at your heartstrings. It’s about the man who reluctantly become England’s King George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth II) after his brother abdicated to be with the twice-divorced woman he loved, Wallis Simpson.

Suffering from a stammer from the age of 5, young Prince Albert, as he was named at birth, dreaded public speaking. Over the years he tried different therapies, but it was only after his wife introduced him to Lionel Logue, an unlicensed speech therapist, that he began to overcome his impediment. Through a variety of techniques and hard work, he learned to speak in a way that minimized his problem. At the end of the movie he delivers a faultless speech over the radio heard around the world in 1939 as England declares war on Nazi Germany.

LIFE LESSON: All the movies nominated are winners. There are no losers. So too, we are all winners. There are no losers, only a loser mentality. Don’t buy into negative self-talk that has you doubting your worth. We’ve all seen movies about the underdog who wins against all odds. Those are the people we root for and cheer on. It doesn’t just happen in the movies, it holds true in real life.

Public School 22 Chorus

It was a special moment for the choir of fifth graders from Staten Island who were invited to close the Academy Awards with the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Unfortunately the next day lots of folks were shocked by the mean-spirited comments made by Andy Cohen, director of programing development for Bravo when he said “It was just awful. A public school chorus singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow?” It was the worst. I was looking for a knife to stick in my eyes. It was so terrible.”

Andy did apologize afterward, but his initial response was so completely the opposite from the one the kids received from Oprah who invited the choir to come and perform on her show.

LIFE LESSON: I can’t understand why Andy Cohen would pick on young children who are enjoying a shining moment? We all have a choice about who we are and how we show up in life. We can chose to be jaded, arrogant, egotistical, and critical, or we can choose to be compassionate, loving, accepting, and supportive.

Well that’s my take on the 2011 Oscars. If you’ve stuck around to read this rather long post, you’re probably a sensitive soul like me.

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