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Three wins for Frankenstein with Production Design
Sinners is lagging behind at the moment in regards to wins with just the one for Original Screenplay but the night is young and the big awards are still to come…
Looking ahead to Best International Feature
Check out my article about how to watch the International Feature lineup this year – which in my humble opinion is the strongest we’ve ever seen – and what I believe is the obvious frontrunner.
Sentimental Value hits all the Oscars checklists. A film about a film featuring a famous cast led by Stellan Skarsgärd and Elle Fanning giving incredible performances. It certainly helps having Hollywood names in the international category which voters will not be as familiar with, and it also helps that this film from Trier is a masterpiece which would rightly deserve to take home the trophy for Norway.
It Was Just an Accident is an incredibly timely movie, about the oppressive Iranian regime, and had a fascinating history with its director having served time in jail for speaking out and making films criticising said regime. It’s a meticulously crafted film which blends dark humour, suspense and real world horror.
The Secret Agent could be an outlier too so who knows…
Hollywood stars lead the extended tributes
It’s been a year of big losses and none were more felt in Hollywood than Rob Reiner.
A very touching montage accompanies this with the likes of Terrance Stamp, Diane Keaton, Val Kilmer, Robert Duvall, Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Catherine O’Hara also name checked by a visibly moved Rachel McAdams and then Barbra Streisand.
Coogler also wins his first Oscar!
PTA and Coogler both received a rapturous reception for their wins but judging from the room, Coogler may have captured the room in a way that PTA hasn’t…Is it too late for me to change my prediction for Best Director to the Sinners director?
Casablanca skit
They recreate Casablanca with this in mind and the now immortal line as Brown reminisces: “World War II? That’s the one with Hitler, right?”
Third Oscar Penn-ding…and accepted!
In a baller move, Sean Penn wins for One Battle After Another and doesn’t even show up!
He’s got two Oscars in the bag for Mystic River and Milk which may have acted in his favour – he now joins the three timer club with Frances McDormand and Daniel Day Lewis.
He had a sudden surge in award wins particularly after it looked like Stellan Skarsgård may be getting his lifetime achievement award moment and some interesting early momentum for Jacob Elordi which may have been crushed by the damp squib which has been Wuthering Heights.
Woahhhhh, it’s a tie!
It’s a tie! The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva both win the Best Live Action Short.
Kumail Nanjiani has to reiterate he’s not joking – people naturally think the comedian is having a laugh when he announces a tie. He quips it’s ironic that the live action short will take twice as long. Good stuff.
Oscar statisticians will be going into overdrive trying to work out the last time this happened and how many times it has, but it’s happened nevertheless!
One Battle After Another triumphs over Sinners
A slightly lengthy tribute-style presentation as each casting director gets a one minute monologue about how great they are. It’s long overdue to reward them but you wonder if the audience at home will have much interest.
One Battle After Another wins over Sinner in the first win for the PTA epic! It’s nice to see this film rewarding the casting of relatively new discoveries – Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor – alongside established legends – Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.
Sinners was the slight favourite and arguably Marty Supreme had the most interesting casting choices – the guy from Shark Tank and Tyler, the Creator! – but One Battle After Another triumphs over Sinners…will this be how things go tonight?
Frankenstein begins its technical Oscar sweep
Two awards in quick succession for Guillermo del Toro’s creation!
That wording would make more sense but technically it’s Frankenstein’s Creature that would do the lumbering, Frankenstein is the man behind the monster. Or is Frankenstein the real monster and the Creature just a victim? I digress.
Make sure you don’t miss any of the action wherever you are with our guide on how to watch it.
Sinners gets things off to a steamy start
And now a musical performance reminding everyone of the incredible music montage in the middle of Sinners to the live performance and nominated tune ‘I Lied to You’ with Miles Caton .
It’s a bit of a mishmash over the stage as they try and showcase all the dance styles and have some cameos from the Sinner cast in a way which makes you realise the skill of the direction and cinematography in the film which does this seamlessly.
It’s not quite the musical moment that I’m Just Ken was but it’s a welcome addition. Thankfully there’s just one more song – not all five nominated song performances this year – and it’s the one that’ll probably win: Golden from Kpop Demon Hunters.
Best Animated Short Surprise
It doesn’t go down too well with this writer who is one prediction for three so far.
A Golden start for KPop Demon Hunters
A very touching speech from the producers about representation and a dedication to Korea…and then they’re played off abruptly but continue anyway.
Amy Madigan takes Supporting Actress!
Wow, Amy Madigan wins! That rare thing happened that the Academy rewarded a genre film performance of a literal witch.
Prognosticators – and I – were having palpitations trying to guess who walked away with this golden statue. I’m 0 for 1 so far so not a great start.
Teyana Taylor looked like she was having a moment with her brief but memorable appearance in One Battle After Another’s opening…but then in swoops Amy Madigan’s delicious scenery chewing witch in the endlessly watchable sleeper hit of the year Weapons.
Conan ‘gives’ himself an Oscar
As certain as Jessie Buckley’s win for Best Actress later, was the chances of Conan indulging in a self indulgent skit and tonight was no different.
A montage of imagining himself receiving an Oscar is fun and doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Conan’s monologue kills
Jabs at Timothée’s Opera and Ballet comments, Netflix’s aversion to theatres and subtle references to political events, Conan O’Brien has proved once again why he’s the GOAT.
Cue Conan Parody montage!
Conan O’Brien gets things started off with a nod to Weapons, dressed up as the terrifying witch Gladys!
He’s being pursued by the murderous kids from the film going through the Best Picture nominated films in a fantastic and funny way to kick off the action and remind us of the films we’ve loved.
Let’s start the show!
Less than 2 minutes until the Oscars!
We’re nearly at showtime!
Strap in, and make sure you know how you’re going to watch the ceremony wherever you are with our guide.
Get yourself on NordVPN if you haven’t and don’t miss any of the action…
It’d be a Sin to give the Oscar to anyone else
But, let’s not forget Sinners leads with an incredible 16 nominations. Sixteen!
To put that in perspective that’s the most in Oscar history by not one but two nominations, albeit this includes a new category Best Casting but it’s incredible. A film which came out nowhere near the typical awards season window towards the end of the year and about bloody vampires is the FRONTRUNNER for the Academy Awards.
However, despite that and maybe due to the unstoppable juggernaut which One Battle After Another has been most of awards season with 13 nominations, it’s also managed to position itself as the scrappy underdog.
Cards on the table
Here’s my predictions so you can hold me to account later…
Best Actor – Timothée Chalamet
Best Original Score – Ludwig Göransson
One Sinner After Another
Not since the year of Barbenheimer have two films completely dominated the Oscar conversation. One Battle After A Sinner? One Sinner After Another? Hmmmm there’s not really a good portmanteau for them…
It’s pretty much the conventional wisdom that either Sinners or One Battle After Another will bring home the big prizes of Picture, Director, Writing and some of the other acting categories.
How to watch the Oscars wherever you are…
Whether you’re strapping in as we approach midnight with a strong coffee in Europe…or you’re watching as sunset rises with a strong coffee in Asia (that’s where this writer is) or you’re watching at a sensible time with a strong coffee in America…how do you watch the ceremony?
Well, thankfully we’ve got you covered! Find out how to watch it wherever you are with our handy guide here.
What does the ceremony look like?
For those new to Hollywood’s sacred annual ritual, here’s what the night looks like…
24 categories will be presented include this year’s newest one, Best Casting, just to boost that running time a little more.
Who will take home the most Academy Awards, stay tuned…
Welcome to the Oscars!
Hello from wherever you are in the world, and welcome to the biggest night in Hollywood!
Strap in for what’ll most likely be – if we’re being conservative judging by the ‘shortest’ ceremonies – one hour of pre-coverage and four hours of Oscar drama. And I’ll be with you through it all.
Stay tuned wherever you are as the action kicks off in less than an hour…
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