We watched the Academy Awards show Sunday night in its long entirety. I have always loved the movies, of course, but this year we had another reason to tune in. John Mark's college roommate, Sof Zhang, was up for an Oscar in the Animated Short category for his film, "One Small Step". Our son was proud of him, and so were we.

 

I had only seen three of the films nominated for Best Picture: Black Panther, Vice, and A Star Is Born.

 

I try to keep up with movies and stay informed as best I can, because they have the power to change attitudes and the culture -- for good, but also for bad. They teach history, too -- accurately, but not always. But even then they send us to Google to do more research. This year's winner, Green Book, did that for me a few weeks ago. What does the title mean, I wondered. Now I know!

 

Audrey and I often speak to each other in favorite movie lines, sometimes whole conversations right off a page in the script. We've done it our entire marriage and, by now, we do not always remember which film they come from.

Some favorites we can pinpoint, though--

 From Gone With The Wind:

"I heard your father's gone idiot and you can't pay your taxes".

"Have you no interest in what's become of your own husband?"

"You done had a baby, Miss Scarlett, and you ain't never gonna be 18 inches again."

"You should be kissed. And often. And by someone who knows how."
 

 From It's A Wonderful Life:

"Well, somebody's going to jail -- but it's not going to be me!"

And, from The Princess Bride:

"You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."

"So, it has come down to you and it has come down to me".

"A nice MLT -- mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich -- where the mutton is nice and lean".

"Good-bye boys. Good luck storming the castle".

"As you wish."

 

Well, Sof's film did not win the award Sunday night. But, as they always say, it really is a great honor just to be nominated.

I was happiest all night when a film won in the Documentary Short category: Period. End of Sentence. It was produced by a group of high school students in the Hollywood area -- and it has literally changed the world for good.

 

My favorite moment in the evening was the duet by Bradley Cooper and Lady GaGa, Shallow. Talk about chemistry! I was mesmerized.

 

There was no single host this year -- and I don't think anybody missed having one. But there were speeches. Some were too long and rambling (cue the music), and they occasionally veered to the political (I wish they wouldn't do that). I was amazed a few times at how unprepared to speak the winners were. One group couldn't seem to read their own scribbled notes. Awkward.

Still, there's the need to say "thank you". And to so many people. No one gets where they are in life, atop any mountain of success, without the help of a mentor or a grandmother -- somebody who believed in them early on.

 

If you were giving a speech like that, and had only a quick moment or two to do it, who would you thank?  Maureen Stapleton, winning her Oscar in 1982, breathlessly said: "I want to thank everybody I have ever met in my entire life".

 

A wasted evening of entertainment? I don't think so. There was that duet. But I did think, more than once, about how insignificant man's awards really are -- in the light of eternity. One day we will each stand before God and have our work as Christians evaluated. And there will be crowns for this and that (1 Cor.3:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Tim. 4:8). Life time achievement -- maybe with short clips to see. I want to hear Him say: "Well done, good and faithful servant". And, if I get one, it won't go on my mantel in heaven but will be placed at Jesus' feet (Rev.4:9-11). 

 He is the one responsible for every good thing in my life.