Even normally capricious Hollywood stars are on their best behavior on Oscar night, so you’re not likely to see the wackiness Jacqueline Bisset exhibited at the Golden Globes. Still, there were enough peculiar moments to warrant a mention.
Kim Novak
She presented an award early in the evening with a gallant Matthew McConaughey. Novak left films long ago — or maybe they left her. But what was going on with her face? What substance lived in her lips? Looking like Cesar Romero on “Batman” and sounding like Jimmy Durante, the hoarse Novak got through the presentation, but left us wondering whether extreme plastic surgery shouldn’t be illegal in Hollywood.
John Travolta
Did he make it to rehearsal? He introduced Idina Menzel, who sang Best Song nominee (and winner) “Let It Go,” as Adele Nazeem. Huh?
Bono
Totally missed the high notes on his own performance of the song “Ordinary Love.” And he has been wearing those tinted glasses — thank God they’re not orange anymore — for far too long.
Charlize Theron
Another gaffe. The Oscar winner missed her cue to read the nominees for sound mixing and started laughing at her mistake. “Is that me?” she asked. Thankfully, she’s not doing a play on Broadway.
Whoopi and Pink
In introducing Pink before she sang “Over the Rainbow,” Whoopi called the singer Alecia Moore, her real name. “Or what I call her back at the house.” Which house, Whoopi? How close are you two, really?
Bette Midler
Midler was so moved by her own (mediocre) performance of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that she cried at the end.
John Ridley
In his acceptance speech for the screenplay for “12 Years a Slave,” Ridley did not thank director and producer Steve McQueen, and McQueen seemed to clap with little enthusiasm when Ridley’s name was announced. Later in the night, McQueen didn’t thank Ridley when he accepted the award for best picture. Hollywood insiders say the chilly air between the two Oscar winners is related to a dispute over the screenplay credit for “12 Years.”
Cate Blanchett
Gamely saluting the performances of the other actors in her category, Blanchett hit the odd off note when she said to “Gravity” star Sandra Bullock, “I could watch your performance til the end of time and sort of felt that I had.” Ouch.