2021 Academy Award Winners
We made it! The much smaller Oscars are finally upon us. The new set up was a bit hard to get used to, but I thought it looked lovely....and then the ~choices~ started.
~choice 1~ The Best Song nominees played during the pre-show..and they were all staged beautifully! I didn't even see all of them because I didn't realize that's what they were doing. Who saw Husavik's set up and thought that needed to be on during the preshow?
~choice 2~ No time limits on acceptance speeches. Fine, I hate when people get played off, but this got seriously rambly, and probably contributed to..
~choice 3~ NO clips other than Animated, International, and Best feature. I hate it. SHOW the clips. At one point Halle Berry mentioned that people didn't know what cinematography was (lol) and they follow it up with not showing any of the clips??
~choice 4~ We don't have time for clips, but we have time for yet another dumb comedy sketch that all the loyal watchers hate.
~choice 5~ We're going to put the In Memoriam segment on 2.0x speed because reasons. If you blinked you missed 5 names
and finally, ~choice 6~ Let's not end the Oscars with the Best Picture winner, burying Chloe Zhao's historic night, and let's end it on Best Actor when the posthumous win everyone was expecting doesn't even happen.
Over all, I went 14/23 in my picks. Here's a list of the chaos winners + my thoughts.
Best Picture
“The Father”
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Mank”
“Minari”
“Nomadland”
“Promising Young Woman”
“Sound of Metal”
“The Trial of the Chicago 7″
I cannot believe they didn't let Zhao close out the night with this. Flabbergasted.
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg (“Another Round”)
David Fincher (“Mank”)
Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”)
Chloe Zhao (“Nomadland”)
Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”)
This was like the 3rd or 4th thing presented which was really weird placing and honestly should've prepared me for the BS they pulled later. I'm happy for Chloe and I'm happy that Bong Joon-ho presented this category mostly in Korean.
Best Actor
Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”)
Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)
Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”)
Gary Oldman (“Mank”)
Steven Yeun (“Minari”)
Look, Anthony Hopkins was excellent in The Father. But the fact that they put this category last, banking on Chadwick winning, making his widow attend the ceremony, then NOT awarding him? This is atrocious.
Best Actress
Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)
Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”)
Vanessa Kirby (“Pieces of a Woman”)
Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”)
Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”)
I love Frances but did she really deserve a 3rd Oscar for this? Imagine if we had the winning combo of Chadwick/Viola/Daniel/Yuh-jung. I really thought Viola was going to prevail here.
Best Supporting Actor
Sacha Baron Cohen (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”)
Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”)
Paul Raci (“Sound of Metal”)
LaKeith Stanfield (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)
Daniel Kaluuya's speech was something else. He said his mom gave him her "factory settings" which was so cute, then he ended the speech with "man, my mom and dad had sex" and she looked mortified. Basically, I loved it and I'm glad he's an Academy Award winner.
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”)
Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”)
Olivia Colman (“The Father”)
Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”)
Youn Yuh-jung (“Minari”)
She fangirled over Brad Pitt presenting the award to her, and honestly...I feel seen.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Sacha Baron Cohen and Co-Writers (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”)
Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton (“The Father”)
Chloe Zhao (“Nomadland”)
Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”)
Ramin Bahrani (“The White Tiger”)
This was a surprise. I know it wasn't a *huge* one because they won the BAFTA too but I thought Nomadland was going to take it. Florian Zeller already had his Oscar in Paris during his speech. I wonder if they just whipped that out or if he knew it was coming?
Best Original Screenplay
Will Berson, Shaka King, Keith Lucas, and Kenny Lucas (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)
Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”)
Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”)
Derek Cianfrance, Abraham Marder, Darius Marder (“Sound of Metal”)
Aaron Sorkin (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”)
This was expected but I still had so many problems with PYM's screenplay. But it's been 13 years since a woman won in this category so we're long overdue.
Best Animated Feature
“Onward”
“Over the Moon”
“Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon”
“Soul”
“Wolfwalkers”
#JusticeForWolfwalkers. My Twitter feed was blowing up with love for Wolfwalkers, so that made me happy at least.
Best International Feature Film
“Another Round” (Denmark)
“Better Days” (Hong Kong)
“Collective” (Romania)
“The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia)
“Quo Vadis, Aida?” (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! And the clip they used was Mads dancing and that was perfection. Thomas Vinterberg's speech was so touching. One of the decisions they made was to not play anyone off during their speeches, and his was the one I am most thankful didn't get interrupted.
Best Documentary
“Collective”
“Crip Camp”
“The Mole Agent”
“My Octopus Teacher”
“Time”
I tried watching this but I fell asleep. It was no match for Pfizer shot #2.
Best Cinematography
Sean Bobbitt (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)
Erik Messerschmidt (“Mank”)
Dariusz Wolski (“News of the World”)
Joshua James Richards (“Nomadland”)
Phedon Papamichael (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”)
Mank was actively ugly in my opinion. Just because something is in nostalgic black and white doesn't make it better.
Best Costume Design
“Emma”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
“Mank”
“Mulan”
“Pinocchio”
I'm really happy that I guessed both Ma Rainey wins in costume/makeup/hair correctly.
Best Film Editing
“The Father”
“Nomadland”
“Promising Young Woman”
“Sound of Metal”
“The Trial of the Chicago 7”
I'm very happy Sound of Metal won here. I had picked it, but I wasn't 100% sure I had this one right.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“Emma”
“Hillbilly Elegy”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
“Mank”
“Pinocchio"
I loved the speech they gave.
Best Original Score
“Da 5 Bloods”
“Mank”
“Minari”
“News of the World”
“Soul”
I think this was the shortest intro to an award of the night. Soul had an excellent score so I'm happy for them here.
Best Original Song
“Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
“Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
“lo Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”
“Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami”
Still mad about the preshow performances. I was rooting for Husavik but I thought Speak Now would win. H.E.R looked stunning in her dress and this song is very good, so I can't be made about guessing wrong.
Best Production Design
“The Father”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
“Mank”
“News of the World”
“Tenet”
Eww over The Father? What they did with that flat in the film was amazing.
Best Sound
“Greyhound”
“Mank”
“News of the World”
“Soul”
“Sound of Metal”
I'm so happy Riz got to announce this category. I saw a lot of people on Twitter hated that for some reason, but I think it's nice.
Best Visual Effects
“Love and Monsters”
“The Midnight Sky”
“Mulan”
“The One and Only Ivan”
“Tenet”
I mean...Tenet's visuals were great. I still don't fully understand that movie.
Best Documentary Short Subject
“Colette”
“A Concerto Is a Conversation”
“Do Not Split”
“Hunger Ward”
“A Love Song for Latasha”
I'm torn on this. I wanted A Love Song for Latasha to win. I think it was the strongest of the 5, but on the other hand, I'm glad Hunger Ward didn't win like I thought it would. Colette was fine. I think I'd rank it 4th in these 5, so I'm not too enthusiastic about it, but I did enjoy the short overall.
Best Animated Short Film
“Burrow”
“Genius Loci”
“If Anything Happens I Love You”
“Opera”
“Yes-People”
I'm so happy this won! It was my favorite of this category and so deserved it.
Best Live Action Short Film
“Feeling Through”
“The Letter Room”
“The Present”
“Two Distant Strangers”
“White Eye”
I'm sorry, but this is gross. Two Distant Strangers didn't add anything to the conversation about black men being murdered by police other than just showing it over and over again. Teasing something would change, then watching the lead die yet again. This was easily my least favorite of all 15 short films. Bummed it won when Feeling Through, The Present, and the Letter Room were so much stronger.
I have never been less invested in an Oscar ceremony since I started watching them back in the early 70’s. It wasn’t the setup which considering the circumstances was a fine accommodation. But with one thing and another but mostly the pandemic I had seen exactly one of the nominees, The Trial of the Chicago 7. I now feel like I jinxed since it went home empty handed, which is a pity I thought it was an exceptionally good film.
ReplyDeleteSo, I really had no purchase into the proceedings. Fortunately, I recorded them on the DVR so I could zip through but even doing that it was flat and boring. The resequencing was stupid and tacky. Placing bets on a dead person is gauche and cynical so with no disrespect meant to Boseman I had to chuckle when it blew up in their faces. I can’t be mad about it since Anthony freaking Hopkins won. I did not see his film yet but if there is anyone I don’t have a doubt gave a great performance sight unseen it’s him. I wasn’t surprised he was not there, he’s an old man and even if he’s fully vaxxed it would have been a punishing journey for someone of his years for what was thought to be no reward. I am however baffled that they didn’t arrange some sort of remote hook-up should something happen like what occurred. Once again hubris bite them in the smalls.
So since I didn’t have a dog in the race, though I was hoping that Carey Mulligan would win because I love her, I focused on the things I watch for…. stars, clothes and the In Memoriam segment.
All disappointed me!
Nobody’s look was a WOW. Viola Davis’s dress was intricate and interesting, and Rita Moreno looked fabulous but that was about it. Poor Angela Bassett’s dress was wearing her not the other way around!!
Several of the women looked like they were fresh from their stripper poles and Laura Dern was practically molting! Jeez!
The top of Glenn Close’s outfit (what does that poor woman have to do to get an Oscar already!?) was lovely as was her hair and makeup but the entirety of her look was a trifle on the frumpy side.
Regina King looked like she was about to take flight with those ridiculous sleeves!
Zendaya’s yellow bare midriff number was hysterically inappropriate, she looked like she had some sort of complex beach wraparound on!
But the worst of all was Frances McDormand! Look I think she is a sensational actress, even worthy of being a three-time winner (though I wouldn’t have chosen her for Three Billboards), and I understand that she is not and never will be a glamour puss. Fine, but damn it you know you are going to be on TV and there is a chance you might win…. get your hair done (or at the minimum wash and comb it!) and wear something that does not suggest a tattered trash bag!
I skipped over Daniel What ’s name’s speech since I’m not familiar with his work or the film and after reading the recap am so glad I did. Tacky.
I was especially maddened by the In Memoriam. They always miss some people, so Jessica Walter and Honor Blackman not being included wasn’t a shock, and because of the extended time period I know there were more, but the thing moved at warp speed!! How about some respect.
Then there was the placement, yes everyone is of value and made contributions but come on to stick Olivia de Havilland, the last honest to God legend from the Golden Age of Hollywood, as a mere blip in the middle of the mix is appalling. It wasn’t just that the woman was 104 but she was a trailblazer, her fighting of the studio system made an impact that reverberates to this day and will into the future with the de Havilland Decision!! Pathetic. Then once again the shameless setting of the stage by putting Boseman last in a place that belonged to either Olivia or Sean Connery was another splurge of bad taste.
I need to stop now…. can you imagine how mad I would have been if I had actually cared about the films!!
I loved Kaluuya's speech. He's a fantastic actor. Really great in Get Out, Sicario,Widows, and Judas obviously. He's done great TV work in Black Mirror and The Fades as well.
DeleteCrop tops are very on trend at the moment, but there are cases where they don't work. I thought Carey Mulligan's dress was a great example of it working. Vanessa Kirby wasn't so lucky.
I reall liked Regina King, Angela Bassett and Amanda Seyfried's looks. They were stunning.
Frances DGAF attitude is always amusing to me but she should not have won for this.
The memoriam was gross. It went by so quickly I didn't even realize Walter was missing.
Don't apologize for long comments lol. I love them.
Joaquin Phoenix seemed underwhelmed and his snark about not being impressed by any film or whatever he said made me want to punch him...but I always feel like that with him. They never, I repeat, never should have changed it up and have Best Actor last. Keep Best Picture as the last. It reminded me how everyone thought Judy Garland was going to win for A Star Is Born. The reporters and Academy people were all in her hospital room(she just gave birth to her son, Joey). When Grace Kelly won for The Country Girl, Garland said that without a "how do you do" they just picked up their equipment and left like she was some old shoe. I wonder if people got "bored" that Boseman was winning everything so they voted for Hopkins(who was really good in the film).
ReplyDeleteI tried watching the short live-action films on Youtube and I don't remember the others except for Distant Strangers(bound to win because of the what it's about) and White Eye which was stupid.
I had no idea the best songs were presented earlier so I caught the end of the one that won(I think that was the last song) but I didn't get why it was on. I hope to watch it on the computer today. By the way...Audra Day looked like a hooker in that gold lame cutout and Laura Dern looked great until you got to the ostrich feathers. I was half expecting her to lay on some eggs.
I feel like there were probably too many people voting for Hopkins assuming that everyone else was voting for Chadwick. I'd love for someone to leak the margin between the two.
DeleteI remember reading that about Judy Garland. That's terrible.
I agree the Best Song nominees were all staged beautifully! I didn't care for the rambly speeches, esp. Daniel Kaluuya (oh his poor mom + sister were so embarrassed!)
ReplyDeleteI also got 14/23 right. Amazing that you've seen most of the shorts. I really should look for them, I haven't seen any though I watched a TON of shorts in April as I was one of the judges for a local intercollegiate film fest.
Kaluuya's was great lol. You can tell how nervous he was, yes but. That was a bit too long. I was able to find all the shorts online this year!
DeleteYaaaaas for Thomas Vinterberg! He did a really long speech at the BAFTAs too and at first I was cringing and hoping he'd wrap it up soon and then he started talking about his daughter and I was like no. Let this man say all he wants and needs to say!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy he won here. I wish Another Round had been nominated for more things.
DeleteI didn't watch the whole thing (thank goodness) but I read your live tweets as it went on and that made it fun. Yeah, what a shit-show that was.
ReplyDeleteI actually feel bad for Anthony Hopkins because he's getting all of the flack when he didn't do anything wrong. And I think he was like "wait, I won? Uh... I thought it was going to go to Chadwick! This doesn't feel right". Man, I think he didn't want to win the Oscar that night. To have that be the final award of the night was wrong.
I found out that Jessica Walters of Arrested Development wasn't in the memoriam. She was in Play Misty for Me by Clint Eastwood. That was a fucking diss.
Aww thank you for reading my mess of a twitter account. lol
ReplyDeleteI feel for him too. I don't blame him for not going and he was great in The Father, but the fault 100% lies with Academy producers.
Oh man I didn't even realize that! It went by so fast.
I'm glad I didn't stay up past 2am to watch this. The tweets I read were enough lol.
ReplyDeleteI am happy Hopkins won because that performance was the most devastating for me, as well as the best of the year, but they really did Chadwick dirty.
I hope you will give My Octopus Teacher another chance because it is terrific. It is such a heartwarming and touching documentary.
I will eventually, but it was no match for me that day. lol
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