Here is my annual take on the most recent Academy Awards broadcast.
Conan O'Brien may not be a household name outside of North America so I can't say how much that factor played into international enthusiasm for the broadcast. But in my humble opinion, O'Brien was very impressive, especially since he had confided beforehand that the responsibility of hosting the event was making him quite nervous. (Who could credibly say otherwise?) O'Brien's comedy shtick was old school, and I mean that in a positive way. The jokes weren't obscene and the punch lines landed more than they fell flat. Additionally, it was welcome to experience a broadcast that was (almost) devoid of political humor. The U.S. is currently going through a traumatic time in terms of political developments and every day brings a legitimate "Breaking News" story that pleases some people and alarms others. Additionally, the non-political atmosphere extended to the presenters and the winners with the exception of the filmmakers behind "No Other Land", which won for Best Documentary Feature Film. Probably due to its examination of the current crisis in Gaza, the movie has not been released theatrically in the U.S. but the winners did make an acceptance speech which was loaded with political overtones. However, as the film was made by both Palestinians and Israelis, the comments were at least "bipartisan" among the winners.
"Wicked" stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande started the show off with a rousing, enthusiastically received musical numbers, appropriately "Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz" and "Home" from "The Wiz". This format is so much more enjoyable than those grandiose but lumbering opening production numbers from years ago. Speaking of which, Conan O'Brien indulged in a misstep by headlining a satirical production that mocked those production numbers as having been "a waste of time". Ironically, the segment dragged on to long and became a waste of time itself.
A highlight was the sober reflection of Conan O'Brien regarding the devastating California fires. This was followed by introducing a contingent of firefighters to represent those who fought so heroically to combat the blazes. The Academy also set up a fund through their organization to raise money for the many victims of the fires.
The trend toward old-style elegance was evident in the fashions. There were, of course, some dresses that were a bit over-the-top but for the most part the female winners and presenters looked dazzling. Similarly, the male winners and presenters seem to be continuing the welcome trend of getting away from the "straight necktie with tuxedo" look that I never warmed to. Instead, the classic style tuxes were favored. Cary Grant always looked great in that style and that alone provides a reason for emulating it.
The Best Picture Award for the small, unheralded indie film "Anora" took the audience by surprise, as did the film's star, unknown actress Mikey Madison, who won Best Actress over sentimental favorite Demi Moore. The evening was a big win for Sean Baker, who took home the Best Director award. I was glad to see a "little" movie so honored, as the awards were clearly based on merit and I welcomed Sean Baker's passionate plea for movie fans to patronize theaters.
I had no problem with Zoe Saldana's Best Supporting Actress win for "Emilia Perez", as she gave a fine performance. However, I was also glad that the once-favored Netflix crime flick was denied the major awards, as it's one of the most ridiculous thrillers I've ever seen. Kieran Culkin's Best Supporting Actor win for "A Real Pain" led to one of the more memorable acceptance speeches of the evening, with him reminding his wife that she once said they could have another child only when he wins an Oscar, a possibility that seemed remote at the time.
Adrien Brody's won Best Actor for the 3 1/2 hour production "The Brutalist". His win was a popular one, but probably not so in terms of his acceptance speech which droned on for so long I feared it would eclipse the running time of the film itself.
The tribute to the music of the James Bond series was appropriate and three good songs were chosen: "Live and Let Die", "Diamonds are Forever" and "Skyfall". Fortunately, no one was tempted to include the dreadful "Quantum Of Solace". Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson were in the audience, having been honored by the Academy with special Oscars last year. Given the concerns about the future of Bond, now in the hands of Amazon, the segment did seem like a way of the Academy saying "Thanks for the memories".
The "In Memoriam" segment is always much-anticipated and much-debated. This year, the segment started with Morgan Freeman's on stage, moving tribute to Gene Hackman. The rest of the segment played out as tastefully constructed as usual. However, on this occasion, I made no attempt to chronicle the artists who deserved to be included but weren't. I suppose the annual ritual finally proved to be too annoying for me to indulge in. Suffice it to say that Turner Classic Movies presents a far more inclusive tribute to those we lost during the year.
In summary, this year's presentation was well-produced and directed, which ensured that the running time seemed to pass relatively quickly compared to years past. Starting the show at an earlier hour also helped prevent fatigue. From this viewer's perspective, despite some reservations, the show was a winner. (For a complete list of winners, click here.)
