The 93rd Academy Awards
We have finally reached the end of a long, long, very long, exceedingly long, like "The Iliad" long awards season. The only surprise this year was that I should not have been surprised at the turns the Oscars took because every year there are frontrunners out the gates, who fall to the waistside and while some stay there (like Delroy Lindo, sadly), the other regain their lead (Frances McDormand who was losing ground to Carey Mulligan.
How did the 93rd Annual Academy Awards shake out?
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
*Sir Anthony's win was a shock to many who were sure Chadwick Boseman would win, but, while has won many critics circle awards, he wasn't a lock because he didn't win the awards that generally line up with Oscars. He lost the Spirit to Riz Ahmed and the BAFTA to Sir Anthony.
Someone else who was really shocked by this lost was Oscar's producer/director Steven Soderbergh who rearranged categories and instead of ending with Best Picture like what is traditionally the case, he ended with Best Actor thinking Boseman would win and we'd have a big emotional finish.
Soderbergh right about now
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Director
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Best Picture
Nomadland
Best International Feature Film
Denmark, Another Round
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Father (Christopher Hampton & Florian Zeller)
Best Original Screenplay
Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
Best Production Design
Mank
Best Film Editing
Sound of Metal
Best Visual Effects
Tenet
*I'm actually surprised by Tenet's win because Christopher Nolan was pilloried for daring to want to release his film during a pandemic. He was fighting for exhibitors, but people were too wrapped up in their anger to see that. People lambasted him and deemed him egocentric for wanting his film to be seen in the arena it was made for, but then those same people were cheering on the directors of the WB films who were upset to find out that WB will be releasing their films on HBO Max.
Best Costume Design
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
winners. Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson,and Sergio Lopez-Rivera
Best Live-Action Short Film
Two Distant Strangers
*Winners Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe wore the names of victims of police shootings in their jacket and shoes. Free also used his speech to call out violence by police.
Best Documentary Feature
My Octopus Teacher
Best Original Score
Soul
*Has Trent gotten ::ahem:: "refreshed"?
Best Sound
Sound of Metal
Best Cinematography
Mank
*SHOCKER! I wonder if it's a branch vote because NOMADLAND has been winning this category all season.
Best Original Song
“Fight For You" from JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette
Best Animated Short Film
If Anything Happens I Love You
Best Animated Feature Film
Soul
The most important thing, however, remains the fashion!
BEST DRESSED Lady and Gent
Regina King in Louis Vuitton
Lakeith Stanfield in Yves Saint Laurent
The Rest
This year's Cinderella story comes courtesy of Paul Raci. 74-years of age Vietnam vet turned jobbing actor, Raci long figured that he would never have a big break. The son of two hearing impaired parents who was their connection to the hearing world, was able to have his big breakthrough in SOUND OF METAL in a role seemingly crafted just for him as a Vietnam vet who lost his hearing in war and now runs a rehab program for hearing impaired recovering addicts.
Paul and wife Liz
Colman Domingo in Versace
Colman's Spirit Awards look
Lil Rel Howerey in Zegna
There's been much talk about how JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH reunited GET OUT's Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, but Lil Rel had a small, yet pivotal role in the film.
Alan Kim in Thom Browne
Aldis Hodge in Dolce & Gabbana
Glenn Close in Armani
*I generally love the pants under dresses look, and I don't even mind the gloves, but NOOOO!
Also disheartening is all the hate Close has received for HILLBILLY ELEGY. I quite enjoyed the film and I thought she was great. There's this odd thing that happens nowadays where filmmakers center on a certain subset and people are quick to deem it demeaning or poverty porn. I know women like her character. There is nothing demeaning about the portrait of that family. Not every character is going to be aspirational and I think if cinema wants to reflect life, it's important to show all walks of life.
Yuh-Jung Youn in Dior
*Love the texture, love the pockets, love how simple and understated it is. Although it photographs as black, it's navy.
With her MINARI costar
Steven Yeun in Gucci
Triple threat Emerald Fennell in Gucci
she was pregnant whilst directing PROMISING YOUNG WOMEN and she's pregnant again.
Leslie Odom Jr in Brioni
Olivia Cooke in Versace
Writer/Director Isaac Lee Chung (MINARI)
Singer Laura Pausini whose Io Si by Diane Warren is nominated for A LIFE AHEAD
Sorry Laura, your remix to "Entre Tu y Mil Mares" is still on my playlist but I'm rooting for "Husavik". Love the pockets, though.
Singer Celeste Wait (in Gucci) whose song is nominated for THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Daniel Kaluuya needs to GET OUT of here with this boxy Bottega Veneta suit!
Tyler Perry
*Daniel's suit is too big and Tyler's too small! I'm just looking for a good fit, guys. Please.
Carey Mulligan in Valentino
*She needs a bit more flair in her attitude to complement this dress.
Carey's Spirit Awards look
Aaron Sorkin going red carpet official with Paulina Porizkova.
*I'm not saying the financial straits Ric Ocasek has anything to do with them dating, all I'm saying is she can do better.
Andra Day in Vera Wang
*Now as a Rihanna fan I am all the way down for baring skin, but there's a time and a place. I think this would be better suited for the Grammys. The look would have been better if she had a fuller bottom half as a contrast to the cutout.
Amanda Seyfried in Armani
*Next to Regina King, Seyfried has won fashion during awards season. She has not had one flop look.
Director (NOMADLAND) Chloe Zhao and her cinematographer/ rumored boyfriend Joshua James Richards
*Her red carpet look doesn't surprise me as all awards season she has dressed like she's going to a Lynard Skynard concert.
Viola Davis in Alexander McQueen
*How I wish this was in another color. I think the white washes her out, but I think it helps accentuate the cutouts against her skin, but still..not a fan.
Viola's Spirit Awards look
Marlee Matlin (who surprisingly wasn't invited to intro SOUND OF METAL) in Vivenne Westwood
Maria Bakalova in Louis Vuitton
Maria's Spirit Awards look
Riz Ahmed (in Prada) and wife Fatima
*I thought he was wearing a sash and sadly, he isn't. It would elevate the look.
Though Riz has said he and his wife married during lockdown, there are rumors that they've been married for at least 2 years. Why? :Kanye Shrug: Why did Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux pretend to be married all those years?
Riz's Spirit Awards look
Vanessa Kirby in Gucci
*I guess the severe hair and makeup is supposed to be a clever contrast to the soft pink, but this isn't it, chief.
Angela Bassett in Alberta Ferretti
Laverne Cox in Cristian Siriano
Rita Moreno
Laura Dern (in Oscar dela Renta) and Reese Witherspoon (in Dior)
Olivia Colman in Dior
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN producer Margot Robbie in Chanel
Halle Berry in Dolce & Gabbana
*Love the color. The hair is another thing.
Sacha Baron Cohen (in Ralph Lauren Purple label)and Isla Fisher (in Dior)
*That suit combo is as atrocious as THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY.
Zendaya in Valentino
H.E.R in Peter Dundas
Shades of Prince at the Oscars
How did the 93rd Annual Academy Awards shake out?
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
*Sir Anthony's win was a shock to many who were sure Chadwick Boseman would win, but, while has won many critics circle awards, he wasn't a lock because he didn't win the awards that generally line up with Oscars. He lost the Spirit to Riz Ahmed and the BAFTA to Sir Anthony.
Someone else who was really shocked by this lost was Oscar's producer/director Steven Soderbergh who rearranged categories and instead of ending with Best Picture like what is traditionally the case, he ended with Best Actor thinking Boseman would win and we'd have a big emotional finish.
Soderbergh right about now
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Director
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Best Picture
Nomadland
Best International Feature Film
Denmark, Another Round
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Father (Christopher Hampton & Florian Zeller)
Best Original Screenplay
Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
Best Production Design
Mank
Best Film Editing
Sound of Metal
Best Visual Effects
Tenet
*I'm actually surprised by Tenet's win because Christopher Nolan was pilloried for daring to want to release his film during a pandemic. He was fighting for exhibitors, but people were too wrapped up in their anger to see that. People lambasted him and deemed him egocentric for wanting his film to be seen in the arena it was made for, but then those same people were cheering on the directors of the WB films who were upset to find out that WB will be releasing their films on HBO Max.
Best Costume Design
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
winners. Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson,and Sergio Lopez-Rivera
Best Live-Action Short Film
Two Distant Strangers
*Winners Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe wore the names of victims of police shootings in their jacket and shoes. Free also used his speech to call out violence by police.
Best Documentary Feature
My Octopus Teacher
Best Original Score
Soul
*Has Trent gotten ::ahem:: "refreshed"?
Best Sound
Sound of Metal
Best Cinematography
Mank
*SHOCKER! I wonder if it's a branch vote because NOMADLAND has been winning this category all season.
Best Original Song
“Fight For You" from JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette
Best Animated Short Film
If Anything Happens I Love You
Best Animated Feature Film
Soul
The most important thing, however, remains the fashion!
BEST DRESSED Lady and Gent
Regina King in Louis Vuitton
Lakeith Stanfield in Yves Saint Laurent
The Rest
This year's Cinderella story comes courtesy of Paul Raci. 74-years of age Vietnam vet turned jobbing actor, Raci long figured that he would never have a big break. The son of two hearing impaired parents who was their connection to the hearing world, was able to have his big breakthrough in SOUND OF METAL in a role seemingly crafted just for him as a Vietnam vet who lost his hearing in war and now runs a rehab program for hearing impaired recovering addicts.
Paul and wife Liz
Colman Domingo in Versace
Colman's Spirit Awards look
Lil Rel Howerey in Zegna
There's been much talk about how JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH reunited GET OUT's Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, but Lil Rel had a small, yet pivotal role in the film.
Alan Kim in Thom Browne
Aldis Hodge in Dolce & Gabbana
Glenn Close in Armani
*I generally love the pants under dresses look, and I don't even mind the gloves, but NOOOO!
Also disheartening is all the hate Close has received for HILLBILLY ELEGY. I quite enjoyed the film and I thought she was great. There's this odd thing that happens nowadays where filmmakers center on a certain subset and people are quick to deem it demeaning or poverty porn. I know women like her character. There is nothing demeaning about the portrait of that family. Not every character is going to be aspirational and I think if cinema wants to reflect life, it's important to show all walks of life.
Yuh-Jung Youn in Dior
*Love the texture, love the pockets, love how simple and understated it is. Although it photographs as black, it's navy.
With her MINARI costar
Steven Yeun in Gucci
Triple threat Emerald Fennell in Gucci
she was pregnant whilst directing PROMISING YOUNG WOMEN and she's pregnant again.
Leslie Odom Jr in Brioni
Olivia Cooke in Versace
Writer/Director Isaac Lee Chung (MINARI)
Singer Laura Pausini whose Io Si by Diane Warren is nominated for A LIFE AHEAD
Sorry Laura, your remix to "Entre Tu y Mil Mares" is still on my playlist but I'm rooting for "Husavik". Love the pockets, though.
Singer Celeste Wait (in Gucci) whose song is nominated for THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Daniel Kaluuya needs to GET OUT of here with this boxy Bottega Veneta suit!
Tyler Perry
*Daniel's suit is too big and Tyler's too small! I'm just looking for a good fit, guys. Please.
Carey Mulligan in Valentino
*She needs a bit more flair in her attitude to complement this dress.
Carey's Spirit Awards look
Aaron Sorkin going red carpet official with Paulina Porizkova.
*I'm not saying the financial straits Ric Ocasek has anything to do with them dating, all I'm saying is she can do better.
Andra Day in Vera Wang
*Now as a Rihanna fan I am all the way down for baring skin, but there's a time and a place. I think this would be better suited for the Grammys. The look would have been better if she had a fuller bottom half as a contrast to the cutout.
Amanda Seyfried in Armani
*Next to Regina King, Seyfried has won fashion during awards season. She has not had one flop look.
Director (NOMADLAND) Chloe Zhao and her cinematographer/ rumored boyfriend Joshua James Richards
*Her red carpet look doesn't surprise me as all awards season she has dressed like she's going to a Lynard Skynard concert.
Viola Davis in Alexander McQueen
*How I wish this was in another color. I think the white washes her out, but I think it helps accentuate the cutouts against her skin, but still..not a fan.
Viola's Spirit Awards look
Marlee Matlin (who surprisingly wasn't invited to intro SOUND OF METAL) in Vivenne Westwood
Maria Bakalova in Louis Vuitton
Maria's Spirit Awards look
Riz Ahmed (in Prada) and wife Fatima
*I thought he was wearing a sash and sadly, he isn't. It would elevate the look.
Though Riz has said he and his wife married during lockdown, there are rumors that they've been married for at least 2 years. Why? :Kanye Shrug: Why did Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux pretend to be married all those years?
Riz's Spirit Awards look
Vanessa Kirby in Gucci
*I guess the severe hair and makeup is supposed to be a clever contrast to the soft pink, but this isn't it, chief.
Angela Bassett in Alberta Ferretti
Laverne Cox in Cristian Siriano
Rita Moreno
Laura Dern (in Oscar dela Renta) and Reese Witherspoon (in Dior)
Olivia Colman in Dior
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN producer Margot Robbie in Chanel
Halle Berry in Dolce & Gabbana
*Love the color. The hair is another thing.
Sacha Baron Cohen (in Ralph Lauren Purple label)and Isla Fisher (in Dior)
*That suit combo is as atrocious as THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY.
Zendaya in Valentino
H.E.R in Peter Dundas
Shades of Prince at the Oscars