Reaction to the 2024 Oscars

Hey, would you look at this! I'm actually doing an Oscar ceremony reaction post for the first time in forever!

I didn't want to go in super extra detail like I used to, forgoing my phone's notes app as I watched the show, but I still at least wanted to jot down my thoughts and feelings right now while I still have the energy and spirit for it.

Jimmy Kimmel was fine. Standard bland and safe comedy. His Madame Web joke didn't hit at all like his Babylon quip last year and his Sandra Huller rib about her movies in Germany are treated as rom-coms was a complete and utter dud. And then he had to stink up the joint with the show's final gag by of course continuing his stale feud with Matt Damon. The Donald Trump tweet was a killer moment though.

The show was alright overall. I appreciate the early start time and how for the most part the show kept its momentum. However, I hated the return of the five individual presenters and their "you're beautiful, fellow actor" mini speeches for all of the acting categories. Those traditional Oscar movie clips sell the actors, the nominations, and the movies themselves to the public, not some sweet nothings! Plus, it cuts down on time, which the Oscar producers are always annoyed about.

The absolute worst presenter went to Al Pacino for pulling a Laurence Olivier circa the 1985 Oscars and his anticlimactic, rambling reading of the Best Picture winner.

Favorite presenter bit is a three-way tie between John Cena's near full monty, the Twins reunion that turned into a staredown with Batman, and John Mulaney spoiling Field Of Dreams.

The "I'm Just Ken" performance will certainly live on in future Oscar recaps.

I didn't absolutely hate the In Memoriam segment like everybody else but yeah, it could have been better. Didn't like how Treat Williams and Burt Young were relegated to some small text.

16-7 in my Oscar predictions.

I'm weirdly glad Emma Stone got Best Actress. Seems a lot more people were with me on the opinion of Lily Gladstone's performance. Very happy that Godzilla Minus One got Best Visual Effects, The Boy And The Heron easily nabbed Best Animated Feature, and The Zone Of Interest for Best Sound.

The only award I was sad for was when Barbie didn't get Best Costume Design. Man, the Academy just really didn't care for that movie beyond Best Song.

It could be worst. Barbie could have been Killers Of The Flower Moon. Another duck egg for Martin Scorsese as his latest was totally shut out. Just like The Irishman.

And that's all I have to say. See you all next year!

2024 Oscars Predictions

As always, these are my predictions to win, not who or what movie I wish would win.

Best Picture: Oppenheimer

Best Actor: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer

Best Actress: Lily Gladstone - Killers Of The Flower Moon

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer

Best Supporting Actress: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers

Best Director: Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer

Best Original Screenplay: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari - Anatomy Of A Fall

Best Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer

Best Animated Feature Film: The Boy And The Heron

Best International Feature Film: The Zone Of Interest

Best Documentary Feature: The Eternal Memory

Best Documentary (Short Subject): The ABCs Of Book Banning

Best Animated Short Film: Letters To A Pig

Best Live Action Short Film: The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar

Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson - Oppenheimer

Best Original Song: "What Was I Made For?" - Barbie

Best Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema - Oppenheimer

Best Film Editing: Jennifer Lame - Oppenheimer

Best Production Design: James Price, Shona Heath, and Zsuzsa Mihalek - Poor Things

Best Costume Design: Jacqueline Durran - Barbie

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, and Josh Weston - Poor Things

Best Sound: The Zone Of Interest

Best Visual Effects: The Creator

Man, I don't know if it's because of the easily expected Oppenheimer wins or airing in March, or even my slowly evolving disappointment with this year's Eurovision, but I am not very enthusiastic for the Oscars.

I have Oppenheimer walking away with 8 wins for the night. Film and Director are givens, and unfortunately for us Giamatti fanatics, Actor is also now a lock for Murphy.

Not much to say about the other acting categories. They are all locks. Still don't understand the contingents that think Emma Stone has a chance.

I think the Academy's lack of love for Barbie will continue with it losing out in Best Adapted Screenplay.

Oh how I wish for Past Lives to actually win for Best Original Screenplay. Please just grant me one wish, the Academy!

Easy locks for Animated and International Features. Moving on.

20 Days In Mariupol might likely win, keeping the trend of Best Documentary going to films focused on "current world developments and news stories" rather than actual documentary stories, but I put my bet on the more interesting offering.

Speaking of "current events", I went for that for Best Documentary (Short Subject).

Oh what to pick for Best Animated Short Film? Hmm? Letters To A Pig involves the Holocaust? Well hot dog, the Academy will eat that up!

Here's hoping Wes Anderson finally gets an Oscar.

Yep, Oppenheimer is going to get some of the tech awards but I strongly feel and really justifiably believe that Best Sound go to The Zone Of Interest.

Either Poor Things or Barbie in the artistic categories. Poor Things will most likely get all three but I think Barbie will sneak away with Best Costume Design.

I really wish the Godzilla Minus One team get Best Visual Effects over the very forgettable The Creator. However, the special effects of The Creator are pretty excellent, hence why the film's trailer was more focused on them rather than the story.

Well, enjoy the Oscars, if you still care about them like I do. I would say stay tuned for my reaction to the awards and the ceremony on Monday but I never seem to truly follow through with that anymore.