Monday, February 25, 2019

2019 Oscar Results

Just like that, another awards season's come and gone. So what'd I think? I was more or less satisfied with last night's Oscars, even if I disagreed with certain winners, but the ceremony went pretty smoothly without a host. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that it was one of the better-paced ceremonies in recent years. It was evident that Academy leadership wanted the ceremony to be as short as possible. This was especially glaring when they muted the mic during speeches and basically forced the talent offstage. I deemed that tactic to be a bit disrespectful as opposed to playing them off. However, I wouldn't be upset if The Academy decided to forgo having a host again next year.

As for the awards themselves, I'm going to list out the nominees, my predictions, what I was rooting for, and the actual winner with additional commentary for the major categories. I'll also include some images and videos of my favorite moments from the night where appropriate, so this is basically a cliff-notes for the Oscars if you didn't tune in. For the most part, things played out as expected and I even correctly predicted 16 winners of the total 24 categories. Lastly, I don't want to beat a dead horse, so I'll keep my Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody commentary to a minimum. 

2019 Oscar Results


Best Picture

"Black Panther"
"BlacKkKlansman"
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
"The Favourite"
"Green Book"
"Roma"
"A Star Is Born"
"Vice"

Predicted Winner: "Roma"
My Choice: "Roma"
Actual winner: "Green Book"

I mean... it could have been worse, and Bohemian Rhapsody could have won... While I don't think Green Book was even deserving of the nomination, I find it difficult to be upset or angry over this when I did admittedly enjoy the film, and it had widespread industry support. I can't say I didn't see this coming. I was just optimistic Roma would prevail.

Best Director

Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma"
Yorgos Lanthimos, "The Favourite"
Spike Lee, "BlacKkKlansman"
Adam McKay, "Vice"
Pawel Pawlikowski, "Cold War"

Predicted Winner: Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma"
My Choice: Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma"
Actual winner: Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma"

It was a precious moment to watch Guillermo del Toro present this award to his longtime friend. Otherwise, great to see Cuarón win three Oscars throughout the night including his second Academy Award for directing.

Best Actor

Christian Bale, "Vice"
Bradley Cooper, "A Star Is Born"
Willem Dafoe, "At Eternity's Gate"
Rami Malek, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Viggo Mortensen, "Green Book"

Predicted Winner: Rami Malek, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
My Choice: Bradley Cooper, "A Star Is Born"
Actual winner: Rami Malek, "Bohemian Rhapsody"

I'm just going to leave this tweet of mine here that sums up my feelings pretty well...

Best Actress

Yalitza Aparicio, "Roma"
Glenn Close, "The Wife"
Olivia Colman, "The Favourite"
Lady Gaga, "A Star Is Born"
Melissa McCarthy, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Predicted Winner: Glenn Close, "The Wife"
My Choice: Yalitza Aparicio, "Roma" or Olivia Colman, "The Favourite"
Actual winner: Olivia Colman, "The Favourite"

This was one of the most pleasant surprises of the night. Not even Olivia Colman saw it coming and her speech and reaction to winning felt so genuine and darling. Like Richard E. Grant, her enthusiasm was infectious.

Best Supporting Actor

Mahershala Ali, "Green Book"
Adam Driver, "BlacKkKlansman"
Sam Elliott, "A Star Is Born"
Richard E. Grant, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Sam Rockwell, "Vice"

Predicted Winner: Mahershala Ali, "Green Book"
My Choice: Richard E. Grant, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Actual winner: Mahershala Ali, "Green Book"

This is the second Supporting Actor Oscar Ali's received within two years, so this I'm indifferent towards this win. It would have been nice to see another actor win here, but whatever...
In other news, Richard E. Grant finally met Barbara Streisand (click that hyperlink if you'd like to read the story behind it)! Here's his reaction to watching her onstage introducing BlacKkKlansman.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, "Vice"
Marina de Tavira, "Roma"
Regina King, "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Emma Stone, "The Favourite"
Rachel Weisz, "The Favourite"

Predicted Winner: Regina King, "If Beale Street Could Talk"
My Choice: Emma Stone or Rachel Weisz, "The Favourite" (All deserving)
Actual winner: Regina King, "If Beale Street Could Talk"

Another win that wasn't all too surprising, but a great moment and well-deserved win nonetheless. Also, shoutout to Chris Evans for being such a gentleman when Regina was having difficulties getting up to the stage in her dress.

Best Original Screenplay

"The Favourite"
"First Reformed"
"Green Book"
"Roma"
"Vice"

Predicted Winner: "The Favourite"
My Choice: "The Favourite"
Actual winner: "Green Book"

Samuel L. Jackson's face reading Green Book says it all.

Best Adapted Screenplay

"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"
"BlacKkKlansman"
"Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
"If Beale Street Could Talk"
"A Star Is Born"

Predicted Winner: "BlacKkKlansman"
My Choice: "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Actual winner: "BlacKkKlansman"

Contrasting the previous award, Jackson's excitement for Spike Lee's win and their subsequent embrace onstage just about won the night for me. Another incredible moment and well-deserved win!

Best Film Editing

"BlacKkKlansman"
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
"The Favourite"
"Green Book"
"Vice"

Predicted Winner: "Vice"
My Choice: "The Favourite" or "Vice"
Actual winner: "Bohemian Rhapsody"

A video that sums up the issue with this win better than I ever could. Watch, and pay attention to the number of cuts in this simple scene of dialogue. Practically every dialogue exchange in the film is cut like this.

Best Cinematography

"Cold War"
"The Favourite"
"Never Look Away"
"Roma"
"A Star Is Born"

Predicted Winner: "Roma"
My Choice: "Roma"
Actual winner: "Roma"

Yay! Roma's gorgeous, so great to see Cuarón rewarded for being his own cinematographer.

Best Costume Design

"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"
"Black Panther"
"The Favourite"
"Mary Poppins Returns"
"Mary Queen of Scots"

Predicted Winner: "Black Panther"
My Choice: "Black Panther," "The Favourite," or "Mary Poppins Returns"
Actual winner: "Black Panther"

I've been saying since last February that Black Panther's best shot at winning an Oscar was in Costume Design. It wound up winning three Oscars total, but awesome to see Ruth Carter win here. Oh, and the bit with the presenters wearing amalgamations of the nominated costumes was hilarious.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

"Border"
"Mary Queen of Scots"
"Vice"

Predicted Winner: "Vice"
My Choice: "Vice"
Actual winner: "Vice"

Water is wet. Did not picture this playing out any differently.


Best Production Design

"Black Panther"
"The Favourite"
"First Man"
"Mary Poppins Returns"
"Roma"

Predicted Winner: "The Favourite"
My Choice: "The Favourite"
Actual winner: "Black Panther"

Happy to see Black Panther win here.

Best Visual Effects

"Avengers: Infinity War"
"Christopher Robin"
"First Man"
"Ready Player One"
"Solo: A Star Wars Story"

Predicted Winner: "Avengers: Infinity War"
My Choice: "Avengers: Infinity War," "First Man," or "Solo: A Star Wars Story" (All deserving)
Actual winner: "First Man"

I'm just glad First Man won something. It may have been snubbed from many categories, but seeing it win here made me very happy... and honestly, all the vfx nominees were deserving of the win.

Best Sound Editing

"Black Panther"
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
"First Man"
"A Quiet Place"
"Roma"

Predicted Winner: "Bohemian Rhapsody"
My Choice: "First Man"
Actual winner: "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Sound editing pertains to any sound effects created from scratch. In this case, that wasn't very much.

Best Sound Mixing

"Black Panther"
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
"First Man"
"Roma"
"A Star Is Born"

Predicted Winner: "Bohemian Rhapsody"
My Choice: "First Man"
Actual winner: "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Bleh.

Best Original Song

"All The Stars" from "Black Panther"
"I'll Fight" from "RBG"
"The Place Where Lost Things Go" from "Mary Poppins Returns"
"Shallow" from "A Star Is Born"
"When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings" from "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"
Predicted Winner: "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born"
My Choice: "Shallow from "A Star Is Born"
Actual winner: "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born"

This was a lock, but the live performance I've embedded below was INCREDIBLE if you haven't watched it yet. 


Best Original Score

"Black Panther"
"BlacKkKlansman"
"If Beale Street Could Talk"
"Isle of Dogs"
"Mary Poppins Returns"

Predicted Winner: "If Beale Street Could Talk"
My Choice: "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Actual winner: "Black Panther"

I'm satisfied with this as the score to Black Panther is one of Marvel's very best.

Best Animated Feature

"Isle of Dogs"
"Incredibles 2"
"Mirai"
"Ralph Breaks the Internet"
"Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse"

Predicted Winner: "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse"
My Choice: "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse"
Actual winner: "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse"

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! This was the outcome I was most invested in, so seeing Spider-Verse win was amazing. 

Best Foreign Language Film


"Capernaum"
"Cold War"
"Never Look Away"
"Roma" 
"Shoplifters"

Predicted Winner: "Roma"
My Choice: "Roma"
Actual winner: "Roma"

Wish I'd seen the others, but was happy to see Roma win here.

Best Documentary Feature


"Free Solo"

"Hale County This Morning, This Evening"
"Minding the Gap"
"Of Fathers and Sons"
"RBG"

Predicted Winner: "Free Solo"
My Choice: "Free Solo"
Actual winner: "Free Solo"

Of the three documentaries I watched (Free Solo, Minding The Gap, and RBG), I considered Free Solo to be the most interesting and immersive. I had the pleasure of seeing it in IMAX, and it was quite nerve-wracking to watch Alex Honnold climb without any ropes, harnesses, or equipment. A well-deserved win!

Best Documentary, Short Subject

"Black Sheep"
"End Game"
"Lifeboat"
"A Night at the Garden"
"Period. End of Sentence."

Predicted Winner: "Period. End of Sentence"
Actual winner: "Period. End of Sentence"

Best Short Film, Live Action

"Detainment"
"Fauve"
"Marguerite"
"Mother"
"Skin"

Predicted Winner: "Marguerite"
Actual winner: "Skin"

Best Short Film, Animated

"Animal Behavior"
"Bao"
"Late Afternoon"
"One Small Step"
"Weekends"

Predicted Winner: "Bao"
Actual winner: "Bao"

 Bao is the only nominee I've seen here, and it was cute, so yay?
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