Welcome back to the blog readers. Well, it feels like an eternity since the Oscar nominations were announced, but the ceremony is over, we have new winners and a hell of a lot of juicy content to talk about. Who stole the show, who tripped on the red carpet, and who got themselves knocked up? Stick around to find out. Actually, we are here to talk about the winners, so who won big? Did Oppenheimer (2023) clean up like I thought it would, were we in for some big surprises, and just HOW many men did Ryan Gosling have on stage for his performance? Stick around to find out.
NOTE: This post will follow each award in the order in which it was presented.
Best Supporting Actress - Da'Vine Joy Randolph, "The Holdovers"
Even Helen Keller could have told you this one guys. Randolph swept awards season, winning the Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, BAFTA, and SAG. I have not seen The Holdovers (2023) as of yet, but now this film is definitely on my radar. Congratulations Da'Vine, and I cannot wait to see you in more projects.
Best Animated Short Film - "War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko," Dave Mullins and Brad Booker
I did not have a bone in this fight, but congratulations to Sean Ono Lennon on winning an Oscar, and happy Mother's Day to Yoko!
Best Animated Feature Film - "The Boy and the Heron," Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki
I was hoping that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) would take this award, but the love for The Boy and the Heron (2023) was too loud to deny. I had a feeling this team would take the award, but my gut was correct in this prediction. All hail Miyazaki, I guess? I still don't plan on watching the film, and it has nothing to do with him, I just don't like animated films all that much.
Best Original Screenplay - Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, "Anatomy of a Fall"
Here lied the first real toss-up of the night. There was a chance that Past Lives (2023) took it here, and I even said Celine Song's name before Triet and Harari's names were actually said. Anatomy of a Fall (2023) has been on my radar, but a win for Original Screenplay and a show-stealing appearance from Messi the dog make me want to watch the film now.
Best Adapted Screenplay - Cord Jefferson, "American Fiction;" based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett
The first real big surprise of the night for me. I was convinced this was one of the six Oscar nominations Oppenheimer was destined to get, but I was wrong. People have raved over Cord Jefferson's script, and I congratulate him on the win for his first film. American Fiction (2023) is definitely on my radar now.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling - "Poor Things," Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, and Josh Weston
One I did not think Oppenheimer had a shot at, but it would have been nice after not getting Adapted Screenplay. Congrats to the Poor Things (2023) team. At least from all the vignettes, the makeup and hairstyling looked like it deserved to win. That's really all I can say.
Best Production Design - "Poor Things," Production Design by James Prince and Shona Heath; Set Decoration by Zsuzsa Mihalek
A second Oscar for the Poor Things team in a row. Did Yorgos pay off the Academy after basically getting snubbed for The Favourite (2018)? Jeez man, save some for the rest of us. All kidding aside, I echo the same sentiment that I did for the last award.
Best Costume Design - "Poor Things," Holly Waddington
Another category I thought Oppenheimer wouldn't win, but one I did not expect Poor Things to win. It cannot be more official than this guys, the fix is in. Call the police! Oppenheimer was robbed! For the third time in a row, I echo the same sentiment.
Best International Feature Film - "The Zone of Interest" from United Kingdom; directed by Jonathan Glazer
Justice for Godzilla Minus One (2023)! Japan couldn't even submit that as their own film! All kidding aside, I actually thought Perfect Days (2023) would take this one, but The Zone of Interest (2023) would win its first award of the night. Well deserved, I guess.
Best Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr., "Oppenheimer"
It couldn't have happened to a better person! Iron Man finally won an Oscar! Like Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Downey had swept awards season and emerged as the clear favorite to take this award home. When Ke Huy Quan called his name, and I know it was going to be him, it could not stop the rush of euphoria I felt seeing a deserving actor get recognized by his peers in the Academy. We thank your terrible childhood too RDJ! You deserve this!
Best Visual Effects - "Godzilla Minus One," Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, and Tatsuji Nojima
Long live Gojira! The first time a Godzilla film has ever been nominated for an Oscar, the bastards are able to cash it in for paydirt. I will admit, the visual effects in Godzilla Minus One are absolutely insane, especially knowing what the budget on the film is. Congratulations on the team for catching lightning in a bottle.
Best Film Editing - "Oppenheimer," Jennifer Lame
I was honestly convinced that Poor Things would take this award, because of all the insane shit that...I had seen in trailers and vignettes and stuff like that. But Oppenheimer winning this made me feel damn good, especially since it didn't win Best Adapted Screenplay. Another deserving win for the good guys.
Best Documentary Short Film - "The Last Repair Shop," Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
A category that I had no consequence in, since I honestly could give a fuck about documentaries.
Best Documentary Feature Film - '20 Days in Mariupol," Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, and Raney Aronson-Rath
Another category that was of no consequence to me. But I appreciate the message that Mr. Chernov said, because it is a relevant one. Russia will pay for what it has done to Ukraine, as will Israel for what it has done to the people of Gaza.
Best Cinematography - "Oppenheimer," Hoyte van Hoytema
The only other nominee that I think could have given Oppenheimer a chance was Poor Things, especially because they were warring for the technical awards. But the cinematography of Oppenheimer was masterful and Hoyte van Hoytema absolutely deserved this award.
Best Live Action Short - "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar," Wes Anderson and Steven Rales
Another category that had no consequence for me. But I guess congrats are in order for Wes Anderson, who finally makes a film short and concise enough to win a damn Oscar.
Best Sound - "The Zone of Interest," Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn
I half expected The Creator or Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (both 2023) to win this award, so you can imagine my shock when The Zone of Interest won a second Oscar for this. Based on the sizzle they played, it sounded like there was no sound. This was another surprise for me, in my opinion.
Best Original Score - Ludwig Göransson, "Oppenheimer"
You could have told me this time last year that Göransson would have won this award, and I would have believed you. This was locked in as soon as the film came out. Göransson's score was masterful in every way, especially the piece "Can You Hear the Music?." Good for you on your second Oscar Ludwig. You are a force, and I know you have more in you.
Best Original Song - "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie," Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell
Well deserved. The best song out of the five, and the only one that had a real chance of winning. So what the hell did you guys act surprised for? Congratulations to Eilish for being the youngest person to have two Oscars, breaking an 87-year record.
Best Actor - Cillian Murphy - "Oppenheimer"
YEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!! This was the one I was worried about, because apparently everybody loves Paul Giamatti and there was a slight chance, but my boy persevered and doubted all the naysayers. He absolutely deserved this award and all of the success that will follow for him.
Best Director - Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"
Now we get into the final three categories, and all of them were locks. I could not see another person winning Best Director over Nolan, who directed the shit out of Oppenheimer. And to answer a point he made in his speech: we absolutely do believe you to be an essential piece of filmmaking history. And we are fucking lucky to have you man.
Best Actress - Emma Stone, "Poor Things"
This category was less of a lock than Best Actor, but the war grows fruitful fruit. Congratulations to Emma Stone for a second Academy Award, and I am surprised that you were surprised that you won. I will pour one out and watch Poor Things for you.
Best Picture - "Oppenheimer," Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan, producers
The most deserved award of the night. You guys know how much I have come to love Oppenheimer and how I regard it as one of my favorite films of all time. What I do not like is how Al Pacino delivered such an anticlimactic presentation. Look at how they massacred my boy! Regardless, congratulations to everyone involved in this project, because you deserve it.
HE FUCKING BROUGHT OUT SLASH!!! Greatest ceremony ever! All kidding aside, this was a solid and entertaining ceremony that celebrated the best of Hollywood over the last year, and made us excited over what is to come. Thank you all for reading this post, and I will see you for the next one.
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