Reactions to the Oscars
A great night for Anora!
It is rare when my favorite film of the year wins the Oscar for Best Picture. I think the last time was in 20111 when The King’s Speech won. I know some people will poo poo that detail but the fact is that the film was a very popular win at the time. Will Anora be viewed in the same light in the future or as a truly great win? That’s hard to say so soon after its win. The fact that writer/director Sean Baker won a record FOUR Oscars for the film is beyond significant. James Cameron won three. So did Billy Wilder. But four? That’s something for the record books. (Baker won for Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, and Editing.)
I’m thrilled with the Anora wins for sure. I’m also excited to see Flow win for Best Animated Feature. It may be the first time I’ve EVER been excited about that category. The fact is that the film depicted animals in a way that was much more realistic and relatable than those found in the favored to win Wild Robot.
Conclave deserved the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldana were the expected winners for their supporting performances, although think some may wonder why either of them were considered “supporting” and why they were the front runners for as long as they were. Surely, Guy Pearce, Edward Norton, and Yura Borislav were also worthy in the supporting actor category. EVERYONE was picking Culkin from the get go though. He was great and the others never stood a chance.
I was disappointed with a couple of the short film wins. On the animated side, In the Shadow of the Cypress was an interesting looking film but its message didn’t really click for me. I was happy for the Iranian animators who picked up the award though. Iranian filmmakers are often very daring and have a difficult time getting visas to travel to the U.S. The animated short I preferred, Wander to Wonder, was a bit more original in its visuals and theme but then stop motion doesn’t typically win this category.
Documentary Short winner, The Only Girl in the Orchestra, is fine but a bit conventional and not nearly as emotionally affecting as Incident or I Am Ready, Warden.
I was thrilled and surprised that I’m Not a Robot won the Live Action Short Oscar. This one was not expected to win as it is probably the lightest of the five nominees. However, it’s a pretty wild near-futuristic story about a woman who discovers she may be a robot. A fun win!
Conan O’Brien was great as a host although the show could have used a little more of him and less James Bond tribute. (This is the third one they’ve done in the past twelve years!) All in all, a decent show with some of my favorite films (Anora, Flow, Conclave) earning significant wins.
What did you think?
Hi, I’m super late to the discussion, but I just saw a film screening of all the short, live action films and had to respond, since I haven’t seen any of the feature films outside of A Real Pain. I thought that A Lien was the most powerful of the 5 and the most important consider what’s happening in the country. It’s too bad that didn’t win, IMO. I’m Not a Robot was fine but I didn’t think it was anything special and it was probably my least favorite of all of them. Although, the man who could not stay silent, felt a bithalf-baked, so I’m happy that didn’t win. But the one in India about the two sisters, and the one in South Africa about the people who try to stop rhino tusk poachers were truly excellent and heartbreaking.
I liked 'Anora,' and I am fine with it winning. But I didn't feel this was a particularly strong year for film. 'Anora' was, however, a very good story and entertaining movie. So it deserves its time in the spotlight.
Maybe the writer's strike had something to do with this year's lack of brilliance. Or maybe last year's Oscar crop was just really strong?
Mikey, however, was excellent. For a young LA kid to nail the deep Brooklyn accent, learn Russian, and believably play a sex worker... hats off to her! She deserves the nomination and win. That said, I also wouldn't have been disappointed if Demi finally got her award.
I liked the twists and turns of 'Conclave.' It doesn't surprise me that the BAFTAs absolutely loved it.
I also wasn't blown away by the short documentaries. It seems odd that out of five nominations, four, I think, were American. Having seen the Manhattan Shorts Festival in September, there's a greater balance between US and international entries, which I like. I also agree that 'The Only Girl in the Orchestra' was a nice feel-good story that won, but it wasn't my fave, either.
I was rooting for 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' to win Best International Film. I felt the story was brilliantly told, took many risks (creatively and politically), and was everything I love about film. I am glad it was nominated, but I wish it had won, and I hope more people see it. But again, I wasn't disappointed with 'I'm Still Here' winning.
This, of course, is all subjective, and I accept that. On a different day with different judges, you will have different outcomes.
Side note: Have you seen the Indian/German film 'Santosh?'