La La Land, Fred, Cyd, Steve, and Gilda

La La Land is going to win the Oscar this evening for Best Picture. I think that's great. I have been in love with Emma Stone ever since her punk tirade in her father's face in Birdman. Who would have thought, based on Superbad? And I am sure that many women are in love with Ryan Gosling.

But, for sheer choreographic romanticism, I don't think anything can top Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in Dancing in the Dark. With the New York skyline and Central Park in the background, Astaire, the greatest tap dancer, nay, the greatest dancer who ever lived, does not tap a single step in this scene, but instead humbly restrains himself in order to frame and showcase Ms Charisse. She has an air of classical balletic training about her, so graceful in her mere walking in the beginning of the scene, casting flower petals down on the ground. And that wonderful white dress, necklace, and flat shoes she is wearing are the paragon of elegant understatement. The natural escape into the carriage at the end of the scene is a wonderful post-climactic denouement.

And then, of course, there is the comedic takeoff by Gilda Radner and Steve Martin on SNL, a masterpiece in its own way.