The Oscars – winner!
The Academy organizers promised a brief and lively event, but many of us were skeptical. Haven’t they promised that every year? However, this time they delivered on their promise, presenting a ceremony that felt carefully planned when necessary, but also relaxed and enjoyable when appropriate. The result was one of the most engaging Oscars ceremonies in recent years, filled with mischievous and fun moments, such as John Cena’s streaking and I’m Just Ken, without taking away from the meaningful moments. It certainly helped that many big names were in attendance, for the most part, although it’s worth asking, where were you, Wes Anderson? You just won your first Oscar! Most of the stars seemed eager to participate as well. Finally, the Oscars feels like the Oscars again.
Lily Gladstone – loser!
It has become a well-known characteristic of Martin Scorsese’s films to receive numerous nominations for the Oscars but to ultimately not win any awards. The Irishman, Gangs of New York, Taxi Driver, and The Wolf of Wall Street have a total of 29 nominations, but none of them came out victorious. Initially, it seemed like Killers of the Flower Moon would follow suit, with Lily Gladstone’s nomination making her one of the most prominent and well-known stars of the awards season. However, despite making history with her nomination, Gladstone did not end up winning, as Emma Stone unexpectedly took home the award. This was the only major surprise in a night that was mostly predictable.
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Baftas – winner!
Last year, there was a noticeable difference between the Baftas and the Oscars. In London, Cate Blanchett and Austin Butler won the top acting awards, while All Quiet on the Western Front won multiple awards. Two weeks later, in Hollywood, Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser, and Everything Everywhere All at Once were the big winners. However, in 2024, the awards were almost identical, except for the visual effects category (which went to Godzilla at the Oscars and Poor Things at the Baftas). It is expected for the British to dominate on their home turf, but no one could have predicted their success 6,000 miles away.
Brits – winner!
Seven out of the 23 categories were dominated by British winners (excluding Cillian Murphy, who is Irish). However, the atmosphere of the night had an extra spark to it. This was due to an irreverent and carefree attitude that was almost chaotic. Many winners acknowledged their loved ones, acquaintances, and colleagues in the seats high up in the audience, receiving enthusiastic and boisterous responses in return.
Many of the speeches had a subdued tone, which was noticeably different from the emotional Hollywood presentations. There was a sense of humility, moments of uncertainty, and a feeling of jet lag. Nadia Stacey, from the movie “Poor Things”, expressed gratitude towards her loved one named Caroline at home. It’s safe to say that we all have someone like Caroline at home.
Fall awards season – unsuccessful!
In the past, it was straightforward: release your high-quality, serious drama anytime between September and December and you had a good chance of winning best picture. However, in recent times, this desirable timeframe has become less attractive. Four out of the last five best picture winners premiered before the fall season: Oppenheimer was released in July of the previous year, Everything Everywhere All At Once was first shown at SXSW in March 2022, Coda debuted at Sundance in January 2021, and Parasite premiered at Cannes in May 2019. With one of the potential frontrunners for next year’s Oscars, Dune Part 2, already released in March, will this lead to studios reconsidering their release strategies? And what impact will this have on the fall festivals (Venice, Toronto, Telluride), which may be feeling the pressure?
The champion of Mother’s Day has been announced!
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The Oscars this year served as a helpful reminder that Mother’s Day in the UK is celebrated earlier than in the US, on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Several British winners mentioned the holiday and their mothers during their acceptance speeches, such as Sean Ono Lennon and the sound designers for “The Zone of Interest,” Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers. When she received her award later on, costume designer Holly Waddington thanked her spouse, Andrew, for taking care of the children while she works. Ironically, by the time most of the Oscars aired in the UK, it was already early Monday morning after Mother’s Day. However, it’s the thought that counts.
Barbie – loser winner!
Emily Blunt commented during the awards ceremony that the competition was not as intense as expected. She was joined by Ryan Gosling, who nodded along while also promoting their new film, The Fall Guy. While Oppenheimer received all the awards, Barbie captured the affection of the crowd and even earned an Oscar for Billie Eilish. Gosling’s rendition of “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie was a standout moment, and the lively performance, which included a surprise appearance by Slash for a guitar solo, was a homage to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes that left even the most cynical audience members dazzled.
Twins 2 – winner!
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response to the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito reunion, along with Michael Keaton’s impressive performance as the deadpan villain, chances of a long-awaited sequel to the beloved 1988 comedy Twins have significantly increased. Although a potential Triplets with the addition of Eddie Murphy was previously in the works, it appeared to be scrapped after director Ivan Reitman’s passing in 2022. In an interview last year with the Hollywood Reporter, Schwarzenegger revealed that Jason Reitman put a halt on the project after his father’s passing, even though everyone involved was eager to make it happen. However, fans can still look forward to seeing Schwarzenegger and DeVito team up again in a different project currently in development. Keep an eye out for Twins 2, possibly hitting theaters in the summer of 2026.
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Jimmy Kimmel – winner!
After some years of expressing strong disapproval towards the Oscars, including griping about the movies, the event, and the highly-paid hosting job he accepted, Kimmel struck a more agreeable tone this evening. He simultaneously celebrated and playfully poked at the ceremony, resulting in genuine laughs. His opening speech was more concise than usual, with fewer forced attempts at creating a viral moment. His acknowledgement and support for hardworking behind-the-scenes staff was a timely and applaudable gesture. He also managed to both anger and mock Donald Trump, which is always enjoyable.
Al Pacino – loser!
While it did not reach the level of the Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty mix-up during the 2017 Academy Awards, Al Pacino’s lackluster announcement of the best picture winner still caused stress for live television producers. He hesitantly stated, “Best picture…uh, I have to check the envelope for that. And I will. Here it comes.” The audience was left wondering if he could actually see “Oppenheimer” written on the envelope or if he was about to share a bizarre story. Pacino then clarified by saying “Yes, yes!” which brought a sense of relief to everyone.
The envelope belonging to John Cena has been declared the winner!
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It’s about time the Oscars had a category to recognize inanimate objects, because this year, the clear winner would be the hilariously giant envelope that John Cena held over his private parts on Sunday night. The former wrestler turned actor had both the Oscars audience and viewers at home cracking up (seriously!) when he made his appearance on stage seemingly naked, his massive muscles on display as he shyly covered up his manhood. Cena and host Jimmy Kimmel’s skit about Cena streaking across the stage was a delightful touch of goofiness that didn’t feel forced like some of these awards show stunts often do. It was light-hearted and enjoyable, akin to watching a dog walk on its hind legs.
Streamers – losers!
The streaming companies had a disappointing night, as Netflix only won one award for Wes Anderson’s Roald Dahl short, and Apple received no awards at all. Despite having a combined total of 32 nominations, the evening was dominated by major studios such as Universal and Disney, with smaller companies like A24 and Neon following close behind. Netflix is still struggling to win the coveted Best Picture award and it appears this may continue for some time.
Congratulations to Bradley Cooper for being the winner!
Reworded: With the belief that 90% of success is simply being present, it’s no surprise that Bradley Cooper lands a spot in the winners’ section of this list. As the director and star of Maestro, Cooper has dedicated countless hours in pursuit of the coveted Oscar, despite the film being initially written off and facing widespread criticism online. His determination even led him to make a cameo appearance on the sitcom Abbott Elementary, which aired immediately after the Oscars. It’s exciting to imagine what Cooper will achieve with a film that is well-received by both critics and audiences.
Robert De Niro came close to victory, but ultimately fell short.
Although he was not a top contender for the best supporting actor award, Tim Robbins made a mistake when praising the star of Killers of the Flower Moon, inadvertently suggesting that he would be the winner. Robbins was embarrassed, while DeNiro appeared happy – especially compared to feeling upset after Jimmy Kimmel joked about the age difference between him and Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver. Despite this, DeNiro can still be seen as a winner in comparison to his longtime friend Al Pacino, even if Robbins was incorrect.
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Donald Trump – loser!
Could he not resist? It seemed we were close to an Oscars without Trump – no speeches about democracy’s end, small hands, etc. But then Truth Social shared a post. It asked if there has ever been a worse host than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars (incoherent CAPS and missing question mark are original). Luckily, this year’s ceremony was brief enough that Kimmel had a spare minute to respond with more brevity and wit than the former president. He simply said, “Isn’t your jail time over?”
First-timers – winners!
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Although a previous winner earned one of the main awards of the evening for the second time in a row, it was a pleasant shock for both her and the audience. However, the event was primarily dominated by first-time recipients. Among them were Cord Jefferson and Justine Triet, who won for their adapted and original screenplays, respectively. Other newcomers who took home awards included Robert Downey Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph for supporting actor and actress, Cillian Murphy for actor, Christopher Nolan for director, and Jonathan Glazer for international feature. While the Oppenheimer sweep added an air of nostalgia, the night was undoubtedly one of excitement and recognition for the up-and-coming artists.
Louis Vuitton’s zips – loser!
Nothing makes a moment more unforgettable than a mistake in one’s wardrobe, and Emma Stone’s wardrobe malfunction while accepting her Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Poor Things” is a prime example. The actress sported a custom strapless dress by Louis Vuitton on Sunday, which seemed to hold up well during most of the show, until Ryan Gosling’s performance of “I’m Just Ken.” It seems that Gosling’s energetic dancing caused Stone’s dress zipper to break. In a hilarious turn of events, Stone joked that Gosling could now add “peplum popper” to his impressive resume, while she was left to accept her award with a dress in need of fixing.
Godzilla – winner!
The biggest surprise of the evening came when Godzilla Minus One took home the Oscar for best visual effects. This low budget film beat out big-name competitors such as Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, proving that a $15 million budget can produce results that rival those of a $200 million film. The Japanese team, consisting of Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, and Tatsuji Nojima, joyfully made their way onto the stage wearing matching Godzilla claw-inspired shoes. Yamazaki then passed off his Godzilla toy as he gave a heartfelt speech. He shared that his career started 40 years ago after being inspired by Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. As someone so far from Hollywood, the possibility of standing on that stage seemed unattainable. Yet, upon receiving the nomination, they felt like Rocky Balboa.
Fans of Josh Hartnett – victorious!
Although Josh Hartnett’s comeback in Hollywood may mostly benefit millennials, it is something that can be appreciated by all. His role in Oppenheimer led him to the Oscars stage on Sunday, where he happily accepted the award for best picture. Fans were thrilled to see him and are hopeful for his presence at future award shows.
The likelihood of Spielberg winning an Oscar for his acting performance – victorious!
Move over Martin Scorsese: there’s a new veteran director currently killing it in front of the cameras. Steven Spielberg’s reaction shots over the course of the evening demonstrate that he, too, could wipe the floor with many of the performers in his employ. First there was the wafer-dry nod when the camera cut to him after Kimmel said: “This is what the kid from The Fabelmans looks like now.” And later some absolutely beautiful looks to camera as it apparently emerged he was the recipient of Kate McKinnon’s tasteful nudes.
“Victorious in the Field of Dreams!”
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Be careful, Kimmel: John Mulaney is vying for your job and may even perform it better. Mulaney’s brief 90-second performance on stage was a remarkable audition – with clever use of the best sound design category to launch into a great ramble about the 1989 film Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner. He ended with the line: “I suppose there’s a rule in ghost baseball that states if you leave the field to become an elderly ghost and perform the Heimlich maneuver, you can never return to the field. I adore Field of Dreams. It deserves to win best picture! But they’ll likely choose one from this year.” It was lighthearted, genuinely enjoyable, and not typical of the usual preferences at the Oscars. Maybe we’ll see Kimmel hosting again next year.
Jonathan Glazer – winner!
Jonathan Glazer, a filmmaker with a modest output of only four feature-length films over the past 24 years, has never appeared to actively pursue an Oscar. While Ben Kingsley snagged a nomination for his role in Sexy Beast and, in a perfect world, both Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson would have been recognized for their performances in Birth and Under the Skin, Glazer’s movies have never fit into the mold preferred by Academy voters. Even when he chose to tackle a second world war story, a genre often favored by the Academy, Glazer created a film that was unapologetically stark and challenging, bordering on an art installation rather than a traditional narrative. Against all expectations, a more artistically-inclined voting body surprisingly awarded The Zone of Interest for its sound and international feature. Glazer did not actively campaign for this recognition, but it is a well-deserved moment in the spotlight for someone who has always succeeded in the shadows.
Winner: Messi
Loser: Matt Damon
There have been rumors that Messi may not attend the Oscars, but the dog featured in a disturbing scene in Anatomy of a Fall did make an appearance and was given its own seat. During his monologue, Kimmel joked about Messi’s overdosing scene, comparing it to French actor Gérard Depardieu’s eating of vomit.
The winner of the Palm Dog award was also a fan favorite last month. They developed a liking for actors Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, and Billie Eilish at the nominees luncheon. However, their opinion on Matt Damon is still undecided.
Source: theguardian.com
