It looks like I missed out on my review last year for some reason or other, but hey, I’m happy to continue the tradition now. Did they deserve the award, or was someone snubbed? No one was slapped, at least, so that’s something.
Best Picture – One Battle After Another
Nice. I did really enjoy a lot of the other candidates on here (not you, F1. How did you even get on the shortlist, by the way?), but I’m happy with this win. The chances of foreign films like The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value getting the gong were pretty darn low, but it was nice that they featured here nonetheless. Oh yeah, and in a pretty rare Nancy first, I’ve actually watched every single film on the nominees list for once. Hooray for me. But again, I still can’t fathom what kind of lobbying/campaigning/chicanery took place to get F1 on this list. It’s the Pokémon equivalent of putting Magikarp on your elite four team. And then putting it in prime place for battle. You know that fool of a Took’s going to get slaughtered/’fainted’, no matter how much you’ve levelled it up. It’s just like they’ve put F1 there for the memes. Anyway, OBAA is a deserved win here. (๑ > ᴗ < ๑)
Best Actress – Jessie Buckley
Yeah, I’ll take this. She was definitely the strongest element of the film. Apparently Rose Byrne was really good too, but I couldn’t find the time to see If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (goshdarn you, antisocial Curzon showing times). I also didn’t get round to seeing Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue, as that film didn’t feel like my vibe. My personal choice would’ve been Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value, but the Oscars rarely go for the quiet performances. I mean, Jessie Buckley’s role was fairly quiet, apart from the grieving scene, which is rather loud and probably played a big part in getting her the Oscar. But I’m still maintaining that Arrival has the best use of On The Nature of Daylight, and that Amy Adams got done dirty with her lack of awards attention for that inspiring masterpiece. ( •̀_•́ )
Best Actor – Michael B Jordan
YES. I was really expecting the jury to cave and hand the Oscar to Chalamet (no offence Timothée, you were great too), but they’ve pleasantly surprised me by giving it to Jordan instead. I thought Wagna Moura was rather awesome in The Secret Agent, but I’m still super happy with this choice. I didn’t see Blue Moon anywhere in cinemas, but hey, I’ve watched all the other big players. And I’m glad to see that nobody tried to shoehorn Brad Pitt into here from F1 (no offence, Brad Pitt, you’re great, but F1 one was, uh, to put it lightly…not great). Leo was great in OBAA too, but I’m happier to see Jordan get his first Best Actor Oscar. Weird to think that I first saw this guy as Wallace all the way back in The Wire. But yeah, his double performance in Sinners is pretty damn good, and he’s well deserving of the big prize. ✧｡◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜✧*｡
Best Supporting Actress – Amy Madigan
YAAAS QUEEN. ✺◟(＾∇＾)◞✺ I genuinely never thought they’d go for Amy Madigan, what with the Oscar’s traditional aversion to anything horror related. But I’m glad they’ve seen sense for once and given Madigan the recognition she deserves. Sure, all the other candidates in this category are great too, but it’s just so darn refreshing to see the Oscars be a bit different for once. This is a win for creepy mystical life-absorbing witches across the globe. ٩(^ᗜ^ )و´-
Best Supporting Actor – Sean Penn
It would’ve been cool to see to see Benicio get the win for OBAA, since this is one of his best performances, but I also can’t deny that this was one of Sean Penn’s best performances, so I’ll take that. It’s weird to think that Penn got the Best Actor gong for his portrayal of gay activist Harvey Milk over 15 years ago and considering how Penn’s crazed gunslinger in OBAA would’ve despised everything Milk stood for. Anyhoo, it’s just evidence that Penn’s got range. And it’s great that the Oscars have recognised that. It was a lot a fun to see how unhinged Penn could go in OBAA, and he’s well deserving of the prize. ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧
Best director – Paul Thomas Anderson
Cool. It would’ve been nice to see Ryan Coogler get this one, but PTA’s well-deserving of the win nonetheless. OBAA’s a chaotic odyssey that’s well worth the ride, and it takes plenty of unexpected turns along the way. Every candidate on here’s deserving of the prize, except Chloé Zhao. While Hamnet did have a couple of strong lead performances going for it, the whole film wasn’t worthy of this category. Too much emotional manipulation for my liking, even despite its strengths. Anyway, I think Kleber Mendonça Filho should’ve got that spot for The Secret Agent, even though it wouldn’t have won the Oscar anyway. Just ‘avin my say, y’know. ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
Best Animated Feature – Kpop Demon Hunters
I managed to watch pretty much all of the nominations here, which is nice. I personally would’ve gone for Zootopia 2 here, but hey, I know KDH was a big one for a lot of folks, so I’m willing to take the L here. ദ്ദി◝ ⩊ ◜.ᐟ
Best International Feature – Sentimental Value
The Secret Agent would’ve just inched it for me here, but Sentimental Value is a very well-deserving second place choice, a gorgeous film that deals with trauma in a refined and refreshingly subtle way. I wish more US/UK films could produce weighty original stuff like this, but we’re mostly still stuck in our superhero/sequel ways. Anyway, Sentimental Value’s a great film with a lot of heart. -`♡´-
Best Documentary Feature – Mr Nobody Against Putin
I’ll level with you here, I’ve seen precisely none of the nominees. To quote my spiritual successor Johnny Tightlips, I ain’t seen nothing. So I have nothing to contribute here. Hooray. ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́)ᕗ
Best Original Screenplay – Sinners
This is a fine choice. Sinners just felt like something new and unseen when I went to see it for the first time, and I’m glad the Oscar panel have acknowledged its rare originality. Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value would also have made strong winners, but hey, it’s nice just to just celebrate flicks that aren’t processed sequels or dull superhero joints. Sinners is super without needing to follow all of that commercial haze, and it’s all the better for it.
⎝ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎠
Best Adapted Screenplay – One Battle After Another
Well deserved. A great narrative with a whole lot of interesting stuff going on. On a different tangent, I’m glad to see Bugonia getting snubbed here there and everywhere. I hate that film. Bleugh. Anyway. It’s a shame to see Train Dreams getting ignored; it’s the kind of film that might have performed better in a different year, but there are too many strong candidates in the competition for it to make much of an impact, I suppose. ◝(ᵔᵕᵔ)◜
Best Original Song – Kpop Demon Hunters
I would’ve liked to see Nick Cave get the win for Train Dreams here but hey, I’ll allow it. KDH made a pretty big impact. Yeah. (๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑)
Best Original Score – Sinners
Ah, Ludwig Goransson’s at it again, this time jumping the Christopher Nolan ship and working for Ryan Coogler. It’s all good. And, in typical Goransson fashion, the soundtrack’s great. OBAA definitely would’ve been my runner up, because Jonny Greenwood also knows how to compose a damn good soundtrack. But hey, it’s all good. Bugonia got snubbed again and so the world is in balance. ( ๑ ˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و ♡
Best Cinematography – Sinners
Yep, this would’ve got my vote too. Shout out to Autumn Durald Arkapaw for crafting some major league aesthetics that contributed to a damn good film. I do remember Frankenstein having some good visuals too, but I also remember those visuals being at the expense of narrative, so that’s a Neddy no-no. Train Dreams would’ve been a strong runner up for me, but hey, there’s no denying the amazing work that Arkapaw’s created. ♡〜٩( ˃▿˂ )۶〜♡
Best Film Editing – One Battle After Another
Good stuff. Editing an essential guy in the whole rigmarole of the emotive response and all that (see: my book ^_^), and Michael P Shawver does some fine work. The scene where Leo jumps out of a car and rolls pathetically on the ground after Benicio’s Tom Cruise comparison is a great bit of slapstick, but those moments are always created by a fine attention to detail in terms of the editing process. Bravo. And fuck you F1, get outta this category. Get outta this whole awards ceremony, for that matter. You and your Magikarp splashing. Goddamn.
(╥﹏╥)
Best Sound – F1
Ew. EWWWW. Any of the other nominees were more worthy of this award than you, F1. How much did you pay to get this gong? BEGONE. Imma’ hit you dead with a weak ass Pikachu thunder shock. Because that’s how weak you are, Magikarp. I’m sending your feeble body straight to Giovanni. ‘Cause that’s what you get, weakling. ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ
Best Visual Effects – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Really? Nah, this should have gone straight to Sinners. This feels like a pity vote. On the plus side, though, at least this didn’t go to F1. That’s a positive, I suppose. (˶˃ ∇ ˂˶)
Best Production Design – Frankenstein
Hmm, yeah, I guess it was good, but it doesn’t feel right handing this over when the rest of the film was so shoddy. Sinners, OBAA and Marty Supreme would’ve been more worthy winners. Heck, even Hamnet. Come on, now, this is an insult. (ง •̀_•́)ง
Best Casting – One Battle After Another
Good choice. Everyone in this film was pretty stellar, whether they were playing big roles or smaller ones. And it’s nice to see Cassandra Kulukundis win out over BNOC (Big Name on Campus, for those not in the know) heavyweight Nina Gold. Sinners would be my strong runner up, but hey, it’s all good. (๑>◡<๑)
Best Make-up and Styling – Frankenstein
Meh, I would’ve gone for Sinners over this. That’s my final word on the matter. ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ
Best Costume Design – Frankenstein
Ah, come on now. Down with this sorta’ thing. Sinners is the superior candidate. ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪
Best Animated Short – The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Yeah, I’ve watched none of these lads. Soz. 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Best Live Action Short – The Singers AND Two People Exchanging Saliva (TIED)
Same as above. Hmm, interesting to see a tie, though. I’ve never heard of that in the Oscars.
( ദ്ദി ˙ᗜ˙ )
Best Documentary Short – All the Empty Rooms
Again, I can’t help ya here.
•ᴗ•
All in all, a very satisfying result. Good good. If you want to check out any of my previous Oscar thoughts, see the articles below.