I’m watching the Oscar presentations of the big awards on tape.

How genuine and adorable is Anne Hathaway listening to Shirley Maclaine salute her? May we all remember to be so genuinely touched by kind words, so unafraid to show both our dark and our light sides. That this kind of authentic humbleness is notable says nothing good about our world, but that doesn’t take away from how endearing it is to see in Anne.

Holy emerald baseball on Angelina’s finger. And, I have to say, less authentic humbleness!

Kate Winslet’s acceptance speech has me crying. Okay, so I hate her dress, hate her hair, but I love her. She is so smart, so honest, so defiantly herself, so resolutely down to earth. I love this speech, this acknowledgement of both the other celebrity actors and the behind-the-scenes people who made it all possible. Ralph Fiennes and the hair and makeup team celebrated in the same sentence: I would aver that this is how it should be. Though I find myself confused about her childrens’ names – aren’t they Mia and Joe? Who are Anthony and Sidney?

Oh I do love Anthony Hopkins. This is an all-star lineup presenting the best actor award, wow. I like this new format of 5 former winners speaking tributes to the nominees, though it does take away from the tradition of last year’s winner presenting to this year’s winner.

Robert Deniro is just plain funny. I can’t look at him without thinking of him with the bra strapped on, faux-nursing his grandchild on an RV, in Meet the Fockers.

Sean Penn. What a speech. This is just unbeatable for humorous, self-deprecating candor:

“I did not expect this, and I want to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me, often.”

(to those dear ones who brave my craziness to stay close to me: thank you for sticking by me even though it is so very hard to appreciate me!)

And I stand by my choice of Marisa Tomei for best dress.