Why do we do this?

Oscars Reaction

Seriously, why? I’m so tired and I’ve got work in two hours. If you read the previous blog, you’d know I used my spare time and over-excited mind to predict the Oscar winners, and after boasting about an 80% successful nomination rate, I’ve fallen to just a 70% correct on the big night. A B- if you’re kind, a C+ if you’re a realist and an F- if you used my predictions to influence and satisfy your gambling appetite. FYI, I do not do payouts.

So, let’s run through this.

BEST PICTURE- CORRECT

OBAA

Naturally.

I think this is the best film of this year mostly because of how, like Sinners, we will be discussing its themes, performances, technical ability and enjoyment for years to come. Another stellar film in the pantheon of Paul Thomas Anderson.

Hard luck on Sinners, with such great momentum, the air was crackling before the announcement, but it was not enough, maybe the loss will add to the legacy of it. I think it might become the most popular ‘Cult Film’ of the last couple of years and a sure-fire staple of Midnight Screenings.

Hamnet? Finally Mescal gets a tissue. In reality, it was a beautiful film and, if it had picked up a couple more awards in the televised ceremonies, could have swept it all. Chloe Zhao what an incredible director you are.

BEST DIRECTOR- CORRECT

Paul Thomas Anderson

Finally, PTA gets his Oscar. His speech for the win was classy, humble and charming and I wonder, now that he’s won the highest honour, just how weird can he get?

BEST ACTOR- CORRECT

How did Adrien Brody make the announcements for nominations feel this long too?

That being said…

MICHAEL B. JORDAN- SINNERS

GODDAMN IT YES! I gotchu all. I nearly cried, most likely due to delirium when I saw Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan hug after the initial cheer. Two kids, who grew up together and burst onto the scene together and do their best work with each other, at the pinnacle of it all.  He is so bloody cool, too, isn’t he? A heartwarming acceptance speech that in his calm hands didn’t become preachy. Where will he go now? Toward action blockbusters again or challenge himself in harder and harder roles?

Timothee? I think the fat lady just sang…

BEST ACTRESS- CORRECT

JESSIE BUCKLEY- HAMNET

What is it about women of the British Isles and cackling when they win? Olivia Coleman became iconic for hers, though Jessie Buckley managed to wrangle herself and thank ‘The beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart’. A win so early into her awards career, and with the independent, off-kilter role she picked up in The Bride, could she be the next half-indie/half-blockbuster actress of the second half of the decade?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- WRONG

SEAN PENN- OBAA

We were all fooled. I should have stuck with my heart. I know it will come off disingenuous, but I really wanted him to win. I hope that was clear in my previous blog. He really was the most incredible actor in terms of transformation last year. I’m sad for Delroy, and for those that banked on him, his performance was the heart of that film. I can’t wait to see his next steps. Sean Penn, get out of the smoker’s area, for God sakes.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS- CORRECT

AMY MADIGAN- WEAPONS

The first award of the night. I cheered as my stamina was high at the time and my defence against Jonathan Ross and over-joked skits was strong. So proud, she looked so cool and she really deserved it. I know people are saying her performance was the showiest of the roles in the competition, where the other performances were more intimate and didn’t grab your attention by the long-nailed hands, but that minimises her performance. It’s easy to be over the top, it’s near impossible to make it entertaining.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY- CORRECT

RYAN COOGLER

Coogler felt very practiced in his speech, speaking quickly and with little stutter, it was clear that it would be the best original due to how, and forgive me for this, original it was. The idea of racism and bigotry being tackled by the genre of horror is anything but new, but to then turn it to a hot, action-packed, jump-scare ride with some of the best dialogue in the category is wonderful. I can’t wait for his next project, provided he escapes Marvel’s clutches.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY- CORRECT

PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON- OBAA

What a wonderful speech. I love how much PTA stares at his Oscar, it puts me in his eyes, standing alone on a screen in front of an alleged billion viewers, staring at his next paper weight. I long to be that Oscar, cradled in his hands. He said he wrote OBAA for his children and that puts the film in a whole different light, how sorry he was for the world he is leaving to them. Congrats, PTA, you’ve more than earned it.

Now that the main six are out, let’s do some quick-fire ones:

COSTUME DESIGN- WRONG

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH

Grrr. Really? Not enough peacock feathers in Mia Goth’s hair?

MAKE UP AND HAIRSTYLING- WRONG

FRANKENSTEIN

GRR! Not enough traditional Japanese makeup? Fine, it was eight hours in a chair being encased in a second skin and it is incredibly impressive. Never doubt Guillermo.

PRODUCTION DESIGN- CORRECT

FRANKENSTEIN

I never doubted Guillermo in fact. I love how much Dr Frankenstein’s lab looked like a set; I loved how it leant into the slight absurdity and didn’t try to give us a ‘realistic Frankenstein’. No, the vats are RED, a bad RED, because Victor is EVIL.

VISUAL EFFECTS- CORRECT

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH

Avatar’s back. Please do not resist the three and a half hour run time.  

ORIGINAL SCORE- CORRECT

SINNERS

Goodness Ludwig, calm down, you’re becoming the new Hans Zimmer, but with less subwoofers and Saudi alliance. That’s three in seven years, incredible form and perhaps a new guarantee in a minor category in which the Academy might not pay too much attention to.

SOUND- CORRECT

F1

What did I say? Car go zoom.

EDITING- WRONG

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Ach, I thought maybe… but if… oh, come on that final chase scene of OBAA is like motion-sickness crack, it’s truly astonishing how it blends.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

SINNERS

What an amazing moment and thoroughly deserved. Although there is an oral scene, perhaps the Academy found insemination took it too far. That being said, I’ve never seen dark tones in a film look so good, and when the fire starts in the later parts, it’s warm and dangerous and beautiful.

CASTING

OBAA

Now that is a surprise, and a wonderful speech to back it. I suppose I failed to think about the amount this film cast. Perhaps a more classic Hollywood film winning an inaugural award seems fitting.

And now onto fashion…

Best outfit of the night? Paul Mescal's Yves Saint Laurent’s inspired alter boy.