Studies say that the average person prefers a taller man. Height matters in many opinions and if a man’s a nice dresser, that’s even better. A pleasing comportment catches the eye, too. But if he’s stoic, just over 13 inches tall, and clad head-to-toe in gold, well, most women — and men — would do anything for him. Those who’ve met that guy never forget him, as you’ll see in “50 Oscar Nights” by Dave Karger.
Imagine it: the lights are bright, you’re sitting in the midst of glitter and glitterati, and suddenly, everyone’s congratulating you and pushing you toward a stage and a golden statue. We cheer when our favorite stars live that dream, but what’s it really like to receive an Oscar?
As an 11-year-old boy, Dave Karger thought about that, and other Oscar-y things. His young “obsession with the Oscars” led to questions, some of which were never answered but some were: He grew up to meet and interview Oscar winners to talk about their big honors.
This book is the result. Karger begins with Nicole Kidman, who first won the Award for her role in “The Hours” in 2003. She had just gotten divorced from Tom Cruise then; after the ceremony, she told Karger, she “went to bed alone; I was in bed before midnight.”
As a child, Jennifer Hudson wanted Grammys and never dreamed of an Oscar. Jane Fonda struggled with how to leave activism out of an acceptance speech. Halle Berry gave a nod to Black women before her. Rita Moreno was so shocked to win that she gave the briefest speech. Dustin Hoffman kept his award in the closet for years. Lee Grant wore “somebody’s old wedding dress” to accept her Oscar. Hilary Swank remembers how much her feet hurt. Michael Douglas wrote his name down, in case he forgot it. Larry Hagman left neighbor Joel Grey a special award. And Octavia Spencer prayed not to fall down on her way to the stage.
Jaded fan, serious critic, or Two-Buck-Tuesday connoisseur, the facts remain that movies are special things and the awards ceremony always promises to be water-cooler fodder. Reading “50 Oscar Nights” will make you feel extra- smart on the morning after.
Yes, if you’re a movie fan, you’ve got shelves full of books like this one, but author Dave Karger adds an aura of intimacy to what you’ll read here. Of course, there’s a sense of breathlessness to each of the interviews, and some self-deprecation, but readers will also see a surprising wistfulness from some of the stars, as if the otherwise exciting presentation was eclipsed by heartache or regret. This lends a whole new aspect of the awards show that you’ll have to watch for now. New bets to lose. New gossip to collect.
Lush with color photos, delicious insight and quality paper, “50 Oscar Nights” may make you binge-watch all the movies mentioned in here soon. Before you grab the popcorn and dim the lights, before the ceremony starts, get this book now. Don’t leave yourself short.
— The Bookworm Sez
