A Reel Review: Oscar Night - The Good, The Bad, & The Glorious

The 96^th Academy Awards were last night, honoring the best in cinema in the year that was 2023. As expected, Christopher Nolan’s towering biopic OPPENHEIMER lead the way, winning seven of its 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Director for Nolan. There were only two other multiple-award winners: the horror/comedy POOR THINGS with four wins, and the historical drama ZONE OF INTEREST with two. 

 

Here is how the entire show landed in The Good, The Bad, and The Glorious. 

 

 

 

THE GOOD

 

-Host Jimmy Kimmel was perfect in the role once again. His familiarity with the celebrity audience kept everything in good sport, and he wasn’t afraid to poke fun at himself or the ceremony. The earlier start time was much appreciated by the East Coast, and the show finished in under 3.5 hours. 

 

-This Blogger has griped about the musical performances in the past, but this year things were different. The breathtaking performance of Wahzhaze (A Song for my People) from KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON was one for the history books, and Ryan Gosling’s thrilling showstopper I’m Just Ken (from BARBIE), brought down the house. Gosling was joined on-stage by surprise guests Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen (son of Eddie). 

 

-Billie Eilish made Oscar history. At 22 years old she is the youngest person ever to win two Oscars in any category. Last night she took home the gold for What Was I Made For, from BARBIE.

 

 

THE BAD

 

-In honor of the 50^th anniversary of THE GODFATHER PART II later this year, famed actor Al Pacino was chosen to announce Best Picture. There was no lead-up or recap of all the nominees, and Pacino did an awkward read which took the drama out of the room. 

 

-Emma Stone’s shock win for Best Actress (POOR THINGS), over the favored Lily Gladstone (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON), was the biggest surprise of the night. The Academy passed up a chance to make history (Gladstone would have been the first Native American to win), and the loss made FLOWER MOON the fourth straight Martin Scorsese film to get completely shut out at the Oscars. 

 

-Although the In Memoriam had a dazzling presentation, there were notable omissions, including the late great Burt Young (ROCKY). 

 

-With Pixar’s ELEMENTAL losing Best Animated Feature, this is longest the famed animation studio has ever gone without winning that category. They had never lost three years in a row. 

 

 

THE GLORIOUS

 

-In a terrific and long-overdue nod to the rich history of the Oscars, the acting awards were presented by winners from the past, with five presenters for each acting category. It was a thrill to see past winners like Nic Cage, Tim Robbins, and Rita Moreno back on the stage again. 

 

-GODZILLA MINUS ONE winning for Best Visual Effects, giving the big guy his first win! 

 

-Speaking of firsts, there were well-earned first-timers including Christopher Nolan, Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy (OPPENHEIMER), Wes Anderson (Best Live-Action Short), and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (THE HOLDOVERS). 

 

-And of course, OPPENHEIMER taking home Best Picture. This had been a lock since its premier in July, and maybe even before that. Despite the outcome being known so well in advance, the show was still the most entertaining ceremony in years. Predictable is okay as long as things are kept fun, because like any good movie…the journey is just as important as the destination. Wonderful night for Oscar. 

 

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See all the winners and nominees HERE