Pre-Reviewing The Oscars

I'm back!!!! Hopefully, I would have enough optimism by tonight that I would give a far better rating than last year's embarrassment. (I was not alone, many agree) They listened for this year: they got a comedian (Chris Rock) and they made better movies (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant). Of course, this might be the most controversial Oscars in my memory of watching the ceremony. For the second year in a row, we have an all-white roster. Last year was laughable, but this year, it was not funny anymore. Everybody was up in arms about the whitewashing of this ceremony.

Rightfully so. True, we have to vote by merit, not merely on the color of their skin. But, there are so many great minority actors out there (I hate using that word, but America being America, that's what they like to call them), it's a shame actors like Idris Elba, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mya Taylor were not nominated.

Anyway, some things to look out for in this year's event:

1. Chris Rock WILL address the race issue....and hilariously brutalize it.

Prior to this hullabaloo, when I heard he was hosting, I thought, "Cool. He's funny, he can tell some good jokes." When the whole OscarsSoWhite deal happened, I thought, here's an incredibly opportunity for Chris Rock to address that topic in his trademark social style. He will go after the nominees....let's face it, he might make every single white person in that room feel uncomfortable just on the basis on their complexion (and I am sure for the white audiences as well).

2. Could this be the year that Leonardo DiCaprio finally gets their gold statuette?

Okay, HATERS, enough being cynical, enough being pessimistic, this is Leo's year. He will get that Oscar. His performance in The Revenant was not only the best performance that he had ever given, but one of the most physical performances I had ever seen. Consider, he had to grow a "Duck Dynasty" beard and have it for nearly a year, he spent a good part of the shoot in BUTT-FREEZING water, and he contracted pneumonia. If those are not reasons to get a hearty pat on the back from the Academy, what do you want him to do to get an Oscar, do gay porn?

(On second thought, no. Please Leo. You still have plenty of money).

3. Low Oscar turnout....again.

It seems like it more than ever. A number of stars are boycotting the ceremony and there are those that are planning a turnout. Last year's ratings were the worst in six years as a result of that very race issue and the fact that a majority of people did not see the nominated movies. I would not be surprised if there might be an equally dismal performance in the ratings.

Well, we shall see.

Tonight.

Navid Sitarian