I went into this year’s awards expecting a “Sinners Sweep” as some have predicted. I was wrong, but for the first time in a long time, the ceremony was a fun and smooth ride. So, how did my other predictions turn out?
First things first, this award season was so drawn out. This show should have been done by the end of February. I understand the Academy’s concerns about competing for attention against the Olympic Games but I really hope that this does not become a trend.
The red carpet was filled with amazing outfits — from Javier Bardem’s pin against war, the same one he wore to protest the invasion of Iraq in 2003, to Chase Infiniti’s stunning purple dress. I don’t usually pay attention to the red carpet, but this ceremony’s outfits have stayed on my mind.
“Sinners” was the most Oscar nominated film of all time with 16 nominations, including Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Director, Cinematography, and more. To my personal shock, “One Battle After Another” (“OBAA”) won more awards, as “Sinners” won four and “OBAA” won six.
When I made my prediction about Best Supporting Actor, I was really hoping to be incorrect. Delroy Lindo has been completely ignored by award shows even after getting nominated for an Oscar for the first time in his career at age 73. His performance as Delta Slim was generational, though evidently the Academy did not see it that way. The award was given to Sean Penn, who didn’t even bother to show up. I really hope that there are more nominations coming Lindo’s way, as his career deserves to be recognized by his peers.
Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Weapons.” I do not think I saw anyone predicting a win for her. I think Madigan’s performance was good, but not the best performance from this year’s nominees. In my predictions article I said that Chase Infiniti was snubbed, and I still believe that. In my heart, she won.
Best Original Song was won by “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters.’” I do not know how to feel about this win. I think “I Lied to You” from “Sinners” was deserving of the win. I’ve seen some argue that the sequence of “I Lied to You” within the movie is messing with how people view the song by itself, and that as a song, “Golden” deserved to win. I do not agree with this view. I think the way a nominated song is utilized within the film — in terms of story, choreography, and more — should influence how Academy members should vote on this category.
Best Actor was won by Michael B. Jordan, a well deserved award for someone who has put his heart and soul into his career since he was a preteen. In the upcoming days to the ceremony I actually wanted Wagner Moura to win for his performance in “The Secret Agent.” However, I’m not disappointed by the Academy’s decision here.
Best Picture was won by “OBAA,” another well-deserved award for Paul Thomas Anderson and the entire cast and crew. There was a lot of controversy online about the competition between “Sinners” and “OBAA,” as both movies are phenomenal and topical. I think the reason the anticipated “Sinners” sweep did not take place was because the non-American members of the Academy probably just couldn’t relate to the messages and themes of “Sinners.” A vaguely anti-fascist movie with a tough-love father-daughter relationship is much more relatable for a white non-American Academy voter (and presumably even some white American members) compared to a movie about Black culture and resilience in the South that becomes a vampire horror film halfway through.
Overall, I wasn’t too surprised with most of the winners this year. I liked Conan O’Brien as the presenter (again), and it was nice to hear an uncensored “Free Palestine” from Javier Bardem (take notes BAFTAs). I’m excited to see the films coming out this year like “Dune: Part Three,” “The Odyssey,” and the newly released “Project Hail Mary.” I’m already making new predictions for next year (stay tuned).
Featured image: The New York Times
Leave a Reply