This article contains spoilers!
On March 15, comedian Conan O’Brien hosted the Academy Awards once again. What is often called film’s biggest night surely did not disappoint. Films with the most nominations spread a breadth of genres and categories: dramas such as Frankenstein, Bugonia, and Hamnet; blockbusters such as F1; international films such as The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value; sports dramas like Marty Supreme; and action-comedies such as One Battle After Another.
With so many amazing films released in one year, the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences surely had their work cut out for them. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another was arguably the favorite for some of the night’s biggest awards. The film came away with a whopping six Oscars most notably in Best Picture and Best Director. One Battle After Another follows Pat Calhoun, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, an ex-revolutionary who has to return to his violent lifestyle as he is pursued by a corrupt military officer. The film is praised for its thought-provoking portrayal of violence, activism, and conflict which have many ties to our world today.
Besides a great showing from One Battle After Another, the 98th Oscars had many other remarkable moments. These Oscars marked the first time an award for Best Casting was given. Cassandra Kulukundis of One Battle After Another was the winner of this inaugural award. In another first, Autumn Durald Arkapaw was the first woman ever to win the award for Best Cinematography for her work in Sinners. Sinners, which was produced, written and directed by Ryan Coogler, is set in the Jim Crow South and follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Michael B. Jordan, as they encounter vampires and other supernatural elements. The story explores themes of race, family, heritage, and the power of music. In another historic win, Michael B. Jordan took home the Oscar for Best Actor, joining only five other African-American men to have won in the category. Another noteworthy win included one of the only ties in Oscar history, with both “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” taking home awards for Best Live-Action Short.
Aside from the winners, the show had other captivating elements. In the opening monologue, Conan O’Brien took part in a comical and entertaining skit about how boastful he would be if he won an Oscar. In a mock acceptance fit for a king, O’Brien donned a cape and crown and was serenaded by Josh Groban. Other funny show elements included a skit about how certain production studios will require filmmakers to explicitly say, and repeat, the plot of their film to accommodate the modern phone-scrolling movie viewer. In the sketch, O’Brien and Sterling K. Brown starred in a remake of Casablanca, except, the plot and character names were comically reiterated and explained.
This year’s Oscars also had stunning musical performances. Miles Caton showcased his extraordinary voice by performing the blues song “I Lied to You” along with his castmates and dancers from Sinners. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami also took to the stage to sing their hit song “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters. Their song took home an Oscar for Best Original Song and KPop Demon Hunters also won for Best Animated Feature.
With amazing films, actors, directors and visionaries taking home awards, hilarious sketches, and captivating musical performances, the Academy Awards was an entertaining watch and an excellent portrayal of all the amazing cinematic art put forth this year.
