Oscars Wrap Up 2025

 Here we are, the last of the blog posts for 2025. So many wonderful movies, and I'm just getting started! While I love the Oscars, the true joy is seeing movies, and one of the best parts of the night was the refrain to go to theaters. I also love Los Angeles, and my favorite theater is the Laemmle - any one of them - it's truly one of my happy places. I hope you have a theater that you love and that you patronize on a regular basis. We would all be the losers if movie theaters go out of business. And on to the show...

To begin with Cynthia and Ariana was an inspired choice. I was crying at the 3 second mark - what a tribute! But the homage to the James Bond films bothered me. The songs they chose were iconic, but if you have time to sing four songs (three from James Bond and one other), why not simply allow the nominated songs to be sung? The show didn't end any earlier than it usually does, and I thought this was a shame, though I did like the interviews with the songwriters.

I also appreciated the multiple times that speakers honored the craftspeople - those who make movies great and don't get the recognition nor the large paychecks. They are the artists who bring the movies to life, and you could see the bond that develops among cast and crew when the system is working.

Finally, for the first time in so many years, they finally got the In Memoriam segment right. They didn't play around with the camera angles and camera tricks, they focused on the screen and you could see the pictures and the names. Kudos, it has taken forever to realize that if someone is watching this segment, he or she doesn't care about the musical performance nor the camera angles. We just want to see who is being honored.

Some observations about the actual awards, in a semi-alphabetical order. Also, my apologies for my abysmal predicting performance this year - my worst ever! Only 15 right. I'll try to do better next year.

Actor (Winner, Adrian Brody, The Brutalist): I am very unhappy about this one. Timmy deserved it, I'm not sure Bob Dylan could watch this film and know that it wasn't him on that screen, and that performance was incredible. Boo Academy, boo! Brody's speech was well intentioned but disorganized, and he kind of "All Lives Matter"ed his condemnation of anti-Semitism. When one is playing a Holocaust survivor, and anti-Semitism is portrayed so openly in the movie, you don't need to add in a general "all discrimination is bad" clause.

Supporting Actor: (Winner, Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain): While the award was certainly well deserved and the speech was a delight (does it count if his wife has twins?), most people who star in a Holocaust film at least bother in some capacity to honor those who died in the camps. Especially when the film is about visiting the camps, no?

Actress (Winner, Mikey Madison, Anora): I'm still surprised that Demi Moore didn't win, but I think Mikey Madison was a deserving recipient. Her appreciation for Brooklyn and the Lower East Side felt like a tribute to her Jewish roots in an odd way.

Supporting Actress (Winner, Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez): The film had 12 nominations and won 2. Saldana's speech was gorgeous honoring her immigrant family and those who came before her to give her a better life.

Animated Film (Winner, Flow): While this was a beautiful movie, I really thought The Wild Robot should win. But I do love seeing first time nominees win awards, and this film's message was all about how being in community means helping each other. A fine message for these times.

Animated Short Film (Winner, In the Shadow of the Cypress): This is literally the only animated short that I watched and still have no idea what the hell it was about. It was the worst of the group, not the best. Ridiculous.

Cinematography (Winner, The Brutalist): Meh, I don't know guys. I went with my heart on this and even if you're not a vampire film person (as I'm not) there's really no arguing that the award should have gone to Nosferatu.

Costume Design (Winner, Wicked): I absolutely loved hearing people talk about the quality of the work. I also love firsts, so the first black man to win this category was thrilling. It makes you wonder how that is possible in 75 years of this category existing. Hard to win an award when nobody will give you the opportunity to even do the work.

Directing (Winner, Sean Baker, Anora): History was made last night - Sean Baker is the first person ever to win 4 Oscars for the same film. The film had a total of 6 nominations, and he won 2/3 of them.

Documentary Feature (Winner, No Other Land): Kind of interesting that these speeches about coexistence fail to mention that one of the Israeli filmmakers was murdered on October 7th, eh? You read that right - no talk of their friend and peer being brutally murdered while at a music festival. I too dream of a future where two peoples live side by side in peace (as Palestinian Israelis DO in Israel), but may I point out two things? First, the title No Other Land - for the Jews, that is true, this is the one and only Jewish state in the world. For the Palestinians, there are plenty of other lands of origin - Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, as well as dozens of other Muslim countries. Second, right in the charter of these terrorist organizations like Hamas is the goal to eliminate all Jews. How do you have compromise, only murder half of the Jews? For those who believe that they mean just the Jews in Israel, why don't their spokespeople who teach so much hate use the word Israelis? Why is the word "Yahud" meaning Jew? Wake up.

Documentary Short (Winner, The Only Girl in the Orchestra): All of the films were wonderful in this category, but there were shorts that felt more important than this one.

Film Editing (Winner, Anora): Sean Baker did a magnificent job in all of his speeches, so I'll just note that The Brutalist was also nominated for this award, which is a bit ironic for a three and a half hour film.

International Feature (Winner, I'm Still Here, Brazil): Phew, what a warning about a totalitarian regime where the country is divided between loyalists and those who are not loyal to the dear leader. Should be a lesson to us all.

Makeup and Hairstyling (Winner, The Substance): Frankly, this is the only category where this film should have had nominations (and maybe actress). But this was incredible makeup and hairstyling.

Original Score (Winner, The Brutalist): I think this could be the vast amount of music that the writer had to produce for this incredibly long film. I thought the score from The Wild Robot should have won.

Original Song (Winner, El Mal, Emilia Perez): I can't deny it, while I'm always rooting for Diane Warren, this was the perfect song for this moment in the film. Even those who didn't love the movie, loved this song.

Best Picture (Winner, Anora): As you know from the blog, I loved this movie - it was purely original and the characters were so well drawn. Kudos. (but I still loved A Complete Unknown the most.)

Production Design (Winner, Wicked): Was there EVER any doubt?

Live Action Short (Winner, I'm Not a Robot): Here's another instance where the film was absolutely clever and original, but I thought there were others - two others in particular - that were more important. I hope you'll see A Lien and The Man Who Could Not Be Silent. See the blog post about the Live Action shorts for why.

Sound (Winner, Dune 2): A film that was well on its way to many noms, settled for some technical awards. 

Visual Effects (Winner, Dune 2): See above.

Writing/Adapted Screenplay (Winner, Conclave): While I knew this one would win because of its close race with Anora for Best Picture, my heart belongs to Sing Sing for this award. Please see Sing Sing!

Writing/Original Screenplay (Winner, Anora): And while I knew this one would win, my heart belongs to A Real Pain. Please see A Real Pain!

And that's a wrap on another year for fabulous films and stories that stay with us for a lifetime. See you next year at the Oscars!

Oscars 2024 Wrap Up

Wow, so much to say about this year's Oscars. I got 19 out of 23 right which I consider a pretty good year. If you won your Oscars pool and I helped, let me know!  I know at least one person viewed my picks and he won!  Let's spread the word about the blog. :)

Obviously there were some serious highlights of the evening - 
I thought Jimmy Kimmel was a great host (again) though he had a couple of cringy jokes, he did a great job. His final joke where he asked former President Trump, "aren't you up past your jail time" slayed, in the room and at my house.

Ryan Gosling and the Bar-boys with their tribute to Marilyn Monroe were a huge highlight of the night. Mark Ronson warned that the song would be a huge spectacle, and it was in the best way! I've watched it back already many times, and I can't stop! Go Ryan Gosling!

The best speeches of the night were given by Da'Vine Joy Randolph (it's good to be different) and Cord Jefferson (take a risk, make smaller films that tell many kinds of stories, make more movies with smaller budgets rather than huge movies with larger budgets). I love when winners use their speeches for inspiration rather than a list of thank you's, though Da'Vine Joy Randolph's publicist and Robert Downey Jr's entertainment lawyer both got kudos that were meaningful, rather than just a list of people. As always, when one person hogs the acceptance speech time and doesn't let his/her fellow winners get a word in, I always wish that they had just practiced a bit and written down what they were going to say. (You're one of 5 nominees out of everyone on the planet, there is at least a chance you'll be on the stage.  PREPARE.)

Most annoying moment of the night - once again this award goes to the In Memorium segment, otherwise known in my house as the Necrology Report.

1. You don't need dancers.

2. If you do need dancers to entertain the people in the room because you think this segment is boring, the people at home don't want to see them.

3. We want to see the names and pictures on the screen.  The long shots do not lend themselves to the millions of people at home who can't see a damn thing on the screen. These long shots only serve to frustrate the viewers.

4. This was even more evident with the final slide which only had names with no photos - I couldn't read a single name and I'll bet neither could anyone.

5. No fancy camera work is needed. Set up on the screen and don't fucking move.

My message: either honor the people who died and the viewers at home so that they can be properly seen, or cut the whole damn thing.

And now, for the worst part of the night.

These "Artists for Ceasefire" people - I'm assuming that they are speaking to Hamas, who has rejected multiple ceasefire offers? Also, does the pin remind us that there was a ceasefire in place on October 6th that HAMAS VIOLATED? I am also assuming that they are calling for the innocent Israeli hostages to come home? Plus there's always this, just a little pesky fact about murdering Jews:

And then there's the truly disappointing and horrifying speech by Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest filmmaker and Director. So let's do a little clearing things up because I like facts. Glazer is being criticized for renouncing his Judaism. It's a poorly worded sentence but that's not actually what he did and it turns out that sentence construction matters.  What he did was renounce the use of Judaism and the Holocaust in order to justify... well, I'm not sure, the state of Israel existing at all as a Jewish state? (Yep, that's the one.) The Israeli-Palestinian conflict? The bombing in Gaza? But even that is disgusting.  

First, Hamas wants all Jews dead, they don't care what you renounce, you idiot. Second, you can't act like the bombing of terror tunnels in Gaza isn't justified and no mention of hostages or context or history... well, if 45 seconds isn't enough to do it properly (or a single blog post about the Oscars), then maybe keep your mouth shut. Finally, you don't get to insinuate so many things about the Holocaust when you make a film about the Holocaust that has not one Jew in it. Did you know that Germany lost about 1.5 million civilians in World War 2 and England lost about 69,000... does that make Germany right and Great Britain wrong? No, we don't determine morality based on losses, and the fact that Gazans are dying in larger numbers (provided by the Gaza Health Ministry, so SUSPECT) than Israelis is irrelevant, and very sad but is - ABSOLUTELY - Hamas' fault.  And the thing I'm most angry about? That I'm having to address this conflict at all in a damn blog about the Oscars.  Thanks for ruining my favorite night of the year, dumbass.

And for one last word on the subject, it was disappointing not to see one person with yellow ribbons to symbolize bringing innocent hostages home. Steven Spielberg - arguably one of the most powerful Jews in Hollywood - doesn't have enough power to risk being open about his support? Not one Jew in the audience could speak for the innocent hostages being held and sexually abused by their captors?  Where is Michael Rappaport when you need him?

Having said all of that, I loved the show. I am an easy audience, and I come to the night ready to enjoy it (and scoring about 82% with my picks never hurts), but I thought it was a fun night.  I was sorry to see Lily Gladstone and Spider Man lose their categories, and the historic win of 20 Days in Mariupol for Ukraine was exciting. I loved the revival of including past winners (and there you can see, WHOA, lots of white people, no?) to present the new winner his or her trophy, which hasn't been done since 2009. 

And now, back to watching terrific movies!  If you would like to take a listen, Rabbi Yechiel Hoffman and I deliver our Best of 2023 list on our podcast 2 Movie Jews this week - get it most places you get your podcasts.  So many movies, so many more opinions.

Oscars Wrap Up 2023

Another year, another Oscars! I thoroughly enjoyed the show and I thought Jimmy Kimmel was a fantastic host.  I hope he is back next year.  Some general observations:

More of the speeches were about something inspiring rather than lists of thank you's. I cried over and over again! So many beautiful thoughts about believing in your dreams, about storytelling, and even about animation as true cinema.

I renew my objection to the In Memoriam segment (known to my family as the Necrology Report) and the Director moving the camera around so much so that we can't see the name and picture of the person on the screen. I get it, nobody wants viewers to check out and get bored, but that's going to happen no matter what the camera shot looks like, and surely there is a way to produce movement without making it harder to see what's on the screen. Have we considered putting the screens on a rotating display, and the movement of the display could supplant the moving of the camera so much?

Finally, I'd like to renew my advice to the nominees, especially those with multiple people accepting the awards. Write something down. Practice and time it. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing someone approach the microphone only to be played off the stage. There are 5 nominees on the whole earth and you know you're one of them, and everybody's mom wants to be thanked. There's nothing worse than the microphone hog taking up 94% of the time and then another person losing their (perhaps) only chance to accept the award publicly. While I'm on a rant, there was one team who appointed a spokesperson, and that person thanked everyone's children and mothers and dogs on the whole team by name.  That's how you do it.

Best Picture

Everything Everywhere All at Once

I was thrilled to see this film win, and though the Daniels didn't seem to be prepared for more than one speech, I just loved seeing Harrison Ford and Ke Huy Quan hug.  

Director

"The Daniels" - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once

I loved that they took every opportunity to talk about something lofty, and to thank their teachers!

Actress

Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once

It's a historic win with Yeoh being the first Asian woman to win this award. Her speech was magnificent and she is definitely not past her prime!

Actor

Brendan Fraser, The Whale

Ok for the record, I'm utterly thrilled but I was a little bit worried about him last night! He seemed like he was about to hyperventilate. I know there are a lot of big feelings about this film, but there is no denying that Fraser gave a gut wrenching and beautiful performance.

Supporting Actress

SHUT UP! she says as her name is announced, and I'm pretty sure we all just won that Oscar.  Isn't it nice how many long time actors with their first nominations have also won the big award.  Go Jamie Lee.  You've never seen anyone so happy for others, as happy as she was for herself.

Supporting Actor

Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

This guy has been on incredible run, and to win this award with Harrison Ford and Stephen Spielberg right there in the audience, I mean hello tears-fest 2023. I hope his phone is ringing with numerous projects and that this wasn't just a one-off. Is there anyone who seems to appreciate his career more? (and for an extra plug, listen to his interview on WTF, Marc Maron's podcast.)

Adapted Screenplay

Women Talking

Sarah Polley's got jokes! Yes, I was thrilled to see the words "Women" and "Talking" so close to each other, and this film was one of my favorites of the year. She owned that room and I can't wait to see more more more from Polley.

Original Screenplay

Everything Everywhere All at Once

It's not often that the Best Picture winner will win this category, but the exception proves the rule. This was a wild, wacky ride and I loved every minute of it.

Cinematography

All Quiet on the Western Front

I don't have much to say except that I appreciated how the film makers have acknowledged the key role that Cinematography played in their success.

Costume Design

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

It's rare that a sequel will win the same award twice, but you can't argue with Ruth Carter and her spectacular costumes that somehow outdid the first film. (I still think that teddy bear shirt in Everything Everywhere needs its own award.) Those costumes were transcendent in so many ways.  Thrilled for Ruth Carter and her double win.

Film Editing

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Funnily enough, when I was counting my list, I had forgotten that I chose correctly and so I have updated my tally to 19/23. Not too shabby! This movie owes everything to the technical categories, as much as the performances and the writing. There's a scene which quick cuts through a bunch of multiverses that is unforgettable (and uncountable... I was trying to see how many multiverses were presented in the film, and I gave up the ghost after that scene.)

Makeup and Hairstyling

The Whale

I didn't realize how incredible the production of that makeup was, over and above the fat suit.  I still think that Elvis should have taken this one.

Production Design

All Quiet on the Western Front

I'm still in shock that Everything Everywhere wasn't nominated in this category and I think several people started getting nervous when All Quiet took this category.  Would All Quiet be the Parasite of 2023 and sneak into Best Picture? Nope.

Original Score

All Quiet on the Western Front

I would still like to have seen Banshees take this category, but those strong, low banging notes make this anti war film anything but quiet.

Original Song

Naatu Naatu, RRR

You know it baby! If you haven't see the film, see it. If you refuse to see the film, at least watch the YouTube clip of the scene in the film.  They couldn't nearly reproduce how thrilling it was on that stage and the song is a banger. BUT, I have to talk about Lady Gaga's performance of Hold my Hand. The woman arrived in a ball gown and gorgeous makeup, and removed all of that and gave the performance of a lifetime.

Sound

Top Gun Maverick

War films, sci fi films, and musicals always do well in this category, and I guess you could call Maverick war film adjacent.  Close your eyes and listen to those fighter jets flying and you'll know why this is the winner.

Visual Effects

Avatar: The Way of Water

James Cameron productions continue to dominate. This is a guy who has invented so much tech for the movies, he's even discovered new species living in the ocean during deep dives. He is the reigning king of all that is visual effects.

Animated Feature

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Ok, I've done all my complaining about Pinocchio and I'll just say nice things about del Toro's advocacy on behalf of animation. But still, MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON should have won.

Documentary

Navalny

Folks, this is about the fight for democracy. Could we try to keep ours, at least? Seeing Julia Navalny there and speaking on behalf of her husband, well, let's just hope this keeps Alexei alive, even if he is never getting out of jail.

International Film

All Quiet on the Western Front

This year's crops of International films were excellent (though EO was especially difficult to watch), and with 9 noms, there's no way this wasn't going to win.

Animated Short

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse

This was their first film! Whaaaaaat?

Live Action Short

An Irish Goodbye

You gotta love the live action category. They so often go with the funny and heartwarming over the more serious, and I'm here for it (as the kids say).

Documentary Short

The Elephant Whisperers

I really hope you take the time to watch this film which I believe is streaming on Netflix. I love elephants and this one got me. What a sweet one.

Oscars Wrap Up

 

Let's start here - I'm not going to talk about it.  I think the issue is complicated, though I am certain that no person should ever put their hands on another person.  Ever.  Like never ever ever.  It's not a damn playground with 5 year olds, it's the Oscars.  The rest I will leave the involved parties to talk it out and make peace and have the rest of the world butt out.

Beyonce opened the show dressed as a tennis ball, and that's how you start a show.  Incredible.

I was thrilled to see how many African American artists were hired to make the show - music director, producer, director, performers, and behind the camera.  I like this way of starting a show with one of the nominated songs - we haven't seen that done since Justin Timberlake and I loved it then too.

My yearly rant - there are 5 nominees in all but one of the categories and if you're one of them, practice your speech.  Write it down.  As anyone who has ever been in an overwhelming moment can tell you, extemporaneous speeches don't go well when your heart is beating out of your chest.  Not only that, but every winner (individual or team) gets 45 seconds.  When there are 5 team members who win and one person takes up 44 seconds and leaves the other 4 one second to split, it really aggravates me.  KUDOS to the Encanto team who prepared, who divided up the time, and who delivered a perfect combination of thank you's to fellow professionals and their families.

Here's my other rant and it's about the In Memoriam segment.  I didn't have any issue with the uplifting nature of the music.  In many cultures, celebration is wholly appropriate when it comes to honoring those who have died (try a funeral in New Orleans or Ireland).  But the GODDAMN FLYING CAMERA SHOTS meant that we missed about half the names and titles of those who died, which is the real disgrace and misses the whole point of the segment. (which incidentally my dad calls, "the necrology report.") Unless they were actors, the majority of the people in the slide show are people to whom movie lovers owe a debt of gratitude for their work, and we'll never know who they are thanks to a Director who loves to mess around with the camera angles while the slides are progressing.  NOT OK.  The point is honoring people who have passed, let's do that by being able to see them.  Do a split screen top to bottom if you really insist on showing what is happening on stage.

I thought the co-hosts were terrific - all three funny and charming.  But, if an Oscars hosts were to feel up a couple of women on stage as a "COVID test," that would never fly.  I appreciated the humor (who doesn't want to grab Jason Momoa's calf?) but not the execution.

A final note about my darling Lady Gaga who is always a queen, but who handled an aging Liza Minnelli with such incredible grace.  I'd love a little more "I got you" energy and a little less "GI Jane/Keep my wife's name..." energy, please.

This show was my best prediction payoff rate ever.  21 out of 23 categories correct, and in the two I got wrong, blog readers will note that I said if I was wrong, the winner would be the winner.  I'm mostly mad at myself for picking Power of the Dog for Cinematography - I KNEW it would be Dune.  Why did I do that???  Well, I guess not getting 23 right always lets me strive for better in coming years.  Thanks for being on this journey with me for another year, and I'll see you next year for the Oscars!

Oscars Wrap Up!

That's it for another glorious year at the Oscars.  As it did last year, the hostless Oscars worked for me!  Janelle Monae, y'all.  Steve Martin and Chris Rock (who, when they came out I immediately said, "they've both hosted before.  Oscars historian - boom!) and Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig and James Corden and Rebel Wilson and EMINEM.  Great surprises.  The Idina Menzel jokes were amazing.  The midway show rap!  Ok, all of it.  I loved it.  I found it highly entertaining.  

And I loved that they didn't play off the speeches.  Let the people talk (especially when one jerk takes up all 45 seconds and suddenly is like, oh ok, you can talk too.) Did you find that the best of the speeches came at the end when they stopped thanking people and got to the why of making art?  (Marshall Curry!)

Let's go to the awards.

Best Picture:

Well, they called it.  An International Feature film has won the Best Picture Oscar.  It was just too original.  And I'm guessing Bong Joon Ho has one hell of a hangover today.

Lead Actor:

Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) was the most lucid I've ever seen him.  What a beautiful speech and well deserved award.

Lead Actress:

Renee Zellweger, also a lovely speech.  But both Joaquin and Renee need to take my advice, as do all other Oscars nominees.  There are 5 people in the entire world of people who are nominated for your award.  WRITE THE FUCKING SPEECH DOWN.  It would save time, the long pauses, and I can guarantee that when you are writing it down, your heart won't be racing and your ears won't be ringing and you won't be freaking out that you just won an Oscar.  OK?

Supporting Actor:

Of course, Brad Pitt.  Good on ya, Brad.

Supporting Actress:

Laura Dern - and her mom Diane Ladd was there with her!  What an acting dynasty.  She, her mom, and her dad have all been nominated for multiple Oscars.  Take that, Academy.

Director:

Bong Joon Ho - this is when we started to have an inkling that it was Parasite's night.  And each time he spoke, he said such beautiful things.  I bet Martin Scorcese feels like he won something last night too.

Original Screenplay:

Parasite wins again, and I have to tell you... it's not often that the Best Picture also wins a screenplay award.  It's like the voters are saying, "you're both pretty."

Adapted Screenplay:

Jojo Rabbit - Taika Waititi please see notes above about writing down your speech.  This guy who had no words is a writer.  But I loved the movie and the child actors who came to the Oscars looked adorable in their tuxedoes.

Animated Feature:

Well, I would have had at least one more correct if I hadn't gone with my heart, but Toy Story 4 wins.  But please please watch Klaus on Netflix!

Documentary Feature:

American Factory - which again, is on Netflix.  It's a must see.

International Feature:

Parasite, a sweeper! (almost)

Original Score:

Joker - and I just knew that one would win.  That score was incredible.  But they all were.

Original Song:

I'm Gonna Love Me Again... love to see Bernie Taupin win his first Oscar but it really should have been Stand Up from Harriet, don't you think?  Or at least Til it Happens to You from The Hunting Ground (from 2 years back, I'm still mad.)

Sound Editing:

Ford v Ferrari - well, the winner is often the one with the Best Picture momentum when it's relevant, so I thought perhaps it would be 1917, but 1917 didn't have the momentum I thought it did!

Sound Mixing:

1917 - look it up, this award is won a lot by war movies.  It's a fact!

Makeup and Hairstyling:

Seriously Bombshell was a lock.  Now I'm not sure if Charlize Theron is Megyn Kelly or visa versa!

Costume Design:

If you read yesterday's blog, the winner is often the film that is portraying the farthest back in time.  Late 1800's was the winner.

Cinematography:

This is the real reason to see 1917.  I don't know how they did it but that movie was shot in what appears to be real time.  HOW?????

Production Design:

Groovy, baby.  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood wins as everyone thought it would.  I mean, the Ranch!  Manson history buffs will tell you, they must have shot on location.

Film Editing:

Ford v Ferrari - it's worth noting that FvF was only nominated for 4 Oscars and it won 2.  Not a bad night.  ("I have a Ford and I have a Ferrari.  It's no contest."  Chris Rock)

Visual Effects:

1917 - and I'm sorry, NO.  Watch Avengers End Game or even Star Wars.  You're gonna tell me a war movie had better effects?  No way.  I reject.

Documentary Short:

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you're a girl) is the winner, but I must ask you to watch Life Overtakes Me on Netflix.  If you're not ashamed of how we are holding children in cages after that, you can declare yourself soul-free.

Live Action Short:

The Neighbor's Window - I recommend seeing all of the live action shorts.  They were all excellent.

Animated Short:

Hair Love!!!!!!!  It was my favorite of all the films in the entire list.  Yes yes yes!

And that's a wrap for another year.  Thanks for reading, thanks for following, I'll see you at the movies!

Oscars Wrap Up

Normally, wrapping up the Oscars is exciting and fun, but there was just nothing to talk about this year.  Ha!  By now we know all of the winners, and here are my thoughts about the telecast.

I thought Jimmy Kimmel was funny and did a great job.  I liked all the cute bits about the candy and the tour bus.  He did a GREAT job poking fun at overrated Meryl Streep and Matt Damon alike.  I loved the montages of acceptance speeches (I once wrote an article about memorable Oscars speeches which you can read here.)  The idea of actors and actresses watching movies and talking about their inspirations was beautiful and not overdone.  Justin Timberlake set the tone right from teh beginning - can we get that guy an honorary Original Song Oscar?

It was a night of fun, even if the In Memorium montage featured the name and occupation of a person who died, but showed the picture of a very alive colleague.

My take on the winners:

Best Picture - I really loved Moonlight.  Envelope gaffe aside, it was a pleasure to see that film receive recognition, and I'm sorry that they didn't really get their moment in the sun.  I would have also loved to see Hidden Figures win the prize.  Like everyone, I was shocked to the core that the wrong winner was announced.  I can't imagine how heartbreaking it must have been for the LLL producers to have to put on their big boy pants and hand over the awards to other people.  But they did it with grace.  My heart especially goes out to Marc Platt (who I know a little bit), and who had a very similar experience at the Tony's as the producer of Wicked the year Avenue Q won.  (Not exactly the same, but similar.)  Jimmy Kimmel and Warren Beatty all handled the situation with class, and though I'm so sorry for the LLL folks, it proved once again that the more powerful stories are going to win.  Last year when we all thought The Revenant would win (a good, but not important movie), Spotlight pulled it out.  I'm starting to trust Oscar voters more and more.

Actor in a Leading Role - Well, add this to the percentage of time that the SAG winner did NOT match the Oscar winner.  A rarity indeed.  Casey Affleck was the frontrunner for most of awards season.  I had trouble deciphering why Denzel Washington didn't at least smile or nod when Affleck acknowledged him.

Actor in a Supporting Role - Mahershala Ali won, deserved it, and has given a series of wonderful acceptance speeches at every show.  What a class act.  I think his five day old baby was happy to give him the night off.

Actress in a Leading Role - Emma Stone was gracious and a shoo in.  

Actress in a Supporting Role - VIOOOOOOOOLLLLLLAAAAAAA!  I have supported her since her nomination for The Help, which she lost to Octavia Spencer for the same film.  Which also starred Emma Stone.  These three peas in a pod deserve the recognition they've gotten.  Now Viola's manager better be figuring out how to get Viola that Grammy so she can join the other EGOT winners.  And, she has officially joined my "favorite Oscars speeches of all time" list.

Animated Feature - I really hope that you'll see this film.  It has an important message about mistrusting the other, and what happens when the government foments fear among its citizens.  This film was a truly politically relevant film.

Cinematography - La La Land was a shoo in.  

Costume Design - It's nice to see that this category remains true to itself every year, and almost never follows the obvious "big film" choices.  However, if we're really awarding the best costumes, I stand by my assertion that Florence Foster Jenkins deserved it.  Check out the images online, you'll see what I mean.

Directing - Damian Chazelle spoke so beautifully, I almost don't feel badly about myself that he is only 31 and has already accomplished so much.  I loved how he acknowledged all of the important people who helped him achieve his vision.  PS, if you don't already know this - Mandy Moore is a choreographer who you can see on So You Think You Can Dance.  Not the Mandy Moore from This is Us.

Documentary Feature - There is no question that OJ was an unbelievable filmmaking accomplishment.  But 13th was the most important documentary of the year.

Documentary Short Subject - This year's batch was so strong it could have gone to anyone.  But these heroes from The White Helmets deserve recognition not just for the over 80,000 people they've rescued, but also for reminding certain people that ordinary humans value life, no matter where they are from. A rare moment when a Holocaust related story doesn't win.

Film Editing - Ugh, Hacksaw Ridge.  Ok, war movies win this a lot.  But seriously, could everyone stop acting like we love Mel Gibson again?  Seriously, it's distasteful.  How is it that we live in a world where Lena Dunham is more hated than Mel Gibson?  When did earnest and sometimes self righteous become more egregious than racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-semetic, misanthropic... oh wait, never mind. I know when.  Moving right along.

Foreign Language Film - Guys, I'm sorry to tell you that this was a political choice.  The Salesman was quite good, but it wasn't the most moving or the most impactful.  Land of Mine was a much stronger story, and A Man Called Ove was a much more touching one.  While we are at it, though the sentiments of the speech that the director sent were laudable, they failed to mention that Iran has some of the most stringent rules about travel there (if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport, you can't enter the country), and their human rights abuses are atrocious.  I suppose his life would have been in danger had he spoken openly about that, but let's keep his remarks in context, shall we?

Makeup and Hairstyling - Suicide Squad was a very mediocre film with great makeup.  Star Trek was a good movie with great makeup.  But, ya know, ok.  Suicide Squad for the win.

Original Score - La La Land was a lock from the beginning.  But I loved the speech that Justin Hurwitz gave.  Loved.

Original Song - City of Stars from La La Land is a good benign choice, but I gotta tell you, if my kids don't learn an instrument, they aren't skipping out on the JCC soccer team.  But now I'm thinking that they could win an Oscar and take me to the show, so I'm torn.

Production Design - I honestly think that Fantastic Beasts should win, but I can see how that last section of the movie really won the Oscar for LLL.

Animated Short Film - Piper has been my favorite since I saw it in the theater.  It was just too cute to ignore.  It's been a long time since I got this one right, so I was thrilled to see it win.

Live Action Short Film - I have to be honest, Sing is one of the last films I would have chosen for the big win, but it does have a strong values message.  I still really hope that you'll see Timecode.  Do everything you can to see it.

Sound Editing - The whole Arrival movie is about sound and language and these complicated layers.  I didn't expect the win, but I can see how it was chosen.

Sound Mixing - Seriously?  Hacksaw Ridge?  War movies are the second most chosen after musicals in this category.  (and it's a Cinderella story of finally winning after 21 nominations.) Still, if you're not going with LLL, can my beloved Star Wars get some love?  I was a little bit confused last night because I had read an article that 13 Hours was removed from consideration at the last minute due to illegal campaigning, but it was still announced in the package. Can we get some clarification on this?

Visual Effects - I know Jungle Book was an amazing feat, but go back and watch Dr. Strange.  I saw nothing like it last year.  It really deserved the win.

Adapted Screenplay - Moonlight had the rare screenplay and best picture win.  It was wonderful.

Original Screenplay - We knew Manchester by the Sea was going to win this category, particularly since Kenneth Lonergan actually wrote that dialogue to overlap on itself.  That's a rare thing.

Thank you to all you readers, tweeters, retweeters, reposters, and lovers of film.  We'll see you next year!