This past Sunday was the Oscars. Julia got four predictions right! So a round of applause for her! I am going to be going over my thoughts and comments on the show. I am only going to be discussing categories in which I have seen most of the films nominated.
First, best costume going to Paul Tazewell for Wicked was absolutely deserved. While the other nominees also did a great job, I thought Tazewell’s work was the best of the year and was truly remarkable. He really brought the world of Oz to life through the various number of costumes with such a huge cast.
Best Cinematography going to The Brutalist was definitely an interesting choice made by the Academy. The film did look great, but cinematography wise I thought Nosferatu was so visually interesting and different. The cinematography in that movie really brought that world to life and gave it such a haunting atmosphere.
For Best Visual Effects the Oscar went to Dune: Part Two. I think that is a very fair choice. As a horror fan I would have loved to see Alien: Romulus win, but all of the nominees in this category were all deserving of the Oscar. I also feel bad how rushed their speech was, one of the men didn’t even get to speak!
Best Makeup and Hairstyling going to The Substance was the most obvious choice. The practical effects and makeup in that movie had people talking months after its release. Wicked and Nosferatu were also amazing in their own right, but The Substance scored way too high for those two to catch up.
Best Production Design ended up going to Wicked for their second Oscar of the night. I thought pretty much all the nominees were deserving of this award.
Best Sound went to Dune: Part Two for their second oscar of the night as well. I would’ve liked to see Wicked win this award because the actors sang their vocals live on set and they were mixed into the movie very well. For an epic like the Dune series, I see why they won in the end.
Now this is where I have a bone to pick. For best Screenwriting, the award was given to Sean Baker for Anorra (which sweeped). While Anorra was a fantastic film, I think this award without a doubt should have gone to The Substance. Coralie Fargeat wrote and directed such an interesting and deep story about growing old in Hollywood and getting forgotten. This story was absolutely riveting and nothing I have ever seen before. Again Anorra was such a fabulous film, but it is something that is not new or different like The Substance.
Best Adapted Screenplay went to Conclave, and I totally predicted that it would win. I do think the Award should have gone to Sing Sing because it tells such an emotional and important story.
Best Director went to Sean Baker for Anora. I think that choice is totally fair. I was happy as long as Emilia Prérez did not win.
Now, the best original song. First and foremost Emilia Prérez had no business being nominated for anything. I kind of saw their win coming, but I really think ‘Like a Bird’ or ‘Never Too Late’ should have taken this oscar home. Not to mention the strange acceptance speech where the winners began to sing and wouldn’t get off stage.
Best Supporting actor went to Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain. I was so happy he won. He had a cute speech and his performance was very deserving of that award.
Best Supporting Actress went to Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Prérez. I like Saldaña as an actress, but this isn’t the movie she should have won an Oscar for. I think Ariana Grande should have won for Wicked or Isabella Rossellini in Conclave. I was happy for Zoe Saldaña as an actress, but it was undeserved.
Best Actor went to Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, again I kind of predicted he would win. I don’t really have another opinion of who the award should have gone to. However Adrien Brody’s acceptance speech took so long. He was basically talking just to talk, and then he told the music to stop so he could keep talking, It was a whole mess.
Best Actress went to Mikey Madison for Anora, I think this was a deserved award.I think this award could have gone to Demi Moore for The Substance and also Cynthia Erivo for Wicked and I still would have been satisfied.
Lastly, Best Picture went to Anora! I was actually so happy about this. There were so many films nominated but in the end I wanted Anora or The Substance to take the award home. Sean Baker gave such a great speech and it was a great end to the award ceremony.
I hope you enjoyed me rambling about my thoughts of last week’s Oscars!
