When 2016's films were so
music-heavy, how appropriate is it to have Justin Timberlake open the
ceremony with an epic dance number? Why do I have the feeling Hugh
Jackman is somewhere being pissed off he wasn't involved? He always
kicks ass hosting the Tony Awards with opening musical numbers.
And that opening joke with Jimmy
Kimmel? Some of the best acting of year already.
If you missed the Oscars due to not
wanting to hear political commentary missed some truly intelligent
commentary and hilarious. Kimmel may believe he won't host the
Oscars again, but, after so many well-written, well-delivered jokes
that every Hollywood actor and producer Kimmel lovingly roasted took
in stride, don't be surprised if he's announced as next year's host.
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: MAHERSHALA ALI, MOONLIGHT
What an impressive career Mahershala Ali has had already! From
playing the main antagonist in Marvel's Luke Cage to a
wonderful turn in fellow Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures,
Ali shone the brightest of any actor in Moonlight. The trophy
could not have gone to anyone more deserving.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING: SUICIDE SQUAD
While
the film ranks among 2016 worst films, it's hard to deny Suicide
Squad
displayed some great achievements in this category. While I can make
jokes about Jared Leto as the Joker, it's not quite appropriate.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN: FANTASTIC BEASTS AND
WHERE TO FIND THEM
Taking the first award away from La La Land, Colleen Atwood's
work in Fantastic Beasts was quite beautiful and eye-popping,
and deserved this award.
Introducing Taraji P. Henson,
Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae from Hidden Figures
as true superheroes before introducing Dorothy Parker on stage was
not only beautiful, but awe-inspiring. Kimmel is scoring some
serious points tonight.
BEST
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: O.J. MADE IN AMERICA
Twenty
years after the controversial murder trial that shook America, O.J.
Simpson has impacted our culture in a major way in 2016 with an epic
mini-series and now this award. This is quite interesting.
Lin-Manuel
Miranda is always a joy to watch in everything. Period. And setting
up the performance by Auli'i Cravalho of his Oscar-nominated song
“How Far Can I Go” from Moana
was
great. Cravalho's performance was breath-taking and gorgeous, just
as Moana
was.
The Oscar for Best Song is going to be a difficult one to predict.
BEST
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING: ARRIVAL
What I would have thought would have been an easy win for La La
Land goes to Arrival. Yet another first Oscar nomination
and win of the night, and, for anyone who saw Arrival will
tell you, this was a much deserved win.
BEST
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING: HACKSAW RIDGE
Well, damn. That is shocking.
Again, this award should have been a walk for La La Land,
but, on the other hand, this award typically goes to action and war
movies. La La Land
was neither. So, I suppose this isn't the biggest shock of the night
after all.
Seriously, folks. Mel Gibson is
taking all of Kimmel's jokes in stride. Good on him for being able
to take a joke.
BEST
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: VIOLA DAVIS
This category was anyone's game.
Viola Davis was snubbed hard for The Help
in 2012, and was so powerful, riveting, and amazing in Fences,
it's difficult for me to be disappointed in this win. Sure, Octavia
Spencer and Naomie Harris were both incredible in their own rights.
But Davis is consistently breath-taking in everything she does on the
big and small screen. And holy shit, does she know how to give a
good speech!
This new segment of celebrities
talking about their favorite performers and movies is beautiful.
Charlize Theron talking about Shirley MacLane and then having them
present together is wonderful, and they need to do this segment in
future broadcasts.
BEST
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: THE SALESMAN
While
I haven't had a chance to see any of the films nominated in this
category, I want to take the time to demand theaters nationwide to
show these films. If we can have multiplexes show films like Suicide
Squad and
Rogue
One
on multiple screens, those same multiplexes can allow one screen for
a film like The
Salesman.
And
the director's absence in protest for the way Trump is denigrating
other Iranians and Middle Easterners was a brave one, but I fear one
that will fall upon deaf ears.
Sting's
song “The Empty Chair” was short and simple, but profound. In
this time of journalist shaming, it's important to acknowledge those
journalists who have risked their lives and lost them in order to let
the truth be heard and seen.
BEST
ANIMATED SHORT FILM: PIPER
Pixar does wonderful work in this category, and this film was no
exception. This was so adorable and precious, it's no wonder it won.
But those other nominees? Man, I clearly need to watch those shorts
programs next years.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: ZOOTOPIA
Am I disappointed Kubo and the Two Strings didn't win in this
category? Absolutely. But am I disappointed that Zootopia won?
Absolutely not. Zootopia was an incredible and important
film about humanity, tolerance, and acceptance, and is one that
should be treasured for all.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN: LA LA LAND
This was a category that could have gone to anyone. But having this
be La La Land's first win of the night is possibly one of the
most deserved. It had so many incredible sets and vivid designs, the
work on this film is so eye-popping and gorgeous, it's no wonder it
went to this amazing film and its designers.
As cute as the Hollywood Tours gag was, let's face it: there's a
reason why the Oscars are always over four hours long. It was cute,
but way too fucking long.
This segment of foreign people speaking about cinema in general, and
American cinema, is awe-inspiring and beautiful. This is exactly why
I have loved this art form since I was eight years old, and will
always treat Oscar Sunday like most people treat Super Bowl Sunday.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS: THE JUNGLE BOOK
Okay, so I'm really bummed Doctor Strange didn't take this one
home. But I can't say I'm shocked. The Jungle Book was pure
green screen and animation save for the little boy, and it was a
visual treat. Still a deserved win.
Seth Rogen talking about Back to the Future. This is so
glorious on so many levels. And Rogen and Michael J. Fox singing a
song from Hamilton in front of Lin-Manuel Miranda was awesome!
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING: HACKSAW RIDGE
Hacksaw
Ridge
beating Moonlight
and La
La Land?
Sorry. Bullshit. This is the first undeserving Oscar win of the
night.
BEST
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: THE WHITE HELMETS
Anyone else notice that all the nominees in this category were from
other countries? Let that sink in for a moment before agreeing with
anti-immigrant stances. Art and brilliance knows no country, border,
or color.
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: SING
I reiterate my commentary from above.
I could listen to Javier Bardem talk about anything. Listening to
him talk about Bridges of Madison County almost makes me want
to watch the film. Almost.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY: LA LA LAND
Once again, this category could have gone to anyone. But La La
Land was truly a sight to behold, and was so spectacular. This
was an amazing achievement for a musical, and can't help but feel
this earned it.
Even with John Legend singing the two nominated songs from La La
Land instead of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, “City of Stars”
and “Audition” are still amazing songs that take my breath away.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: LA LA LAND, JUSTIN HURWITZ
I'm actually surprised by this one. When a musical comes out, most
of the time, the focus is on the songs that include lyrics. But
Hurwitz's score was peppy and melancholy at the same time, and spoke
as many volumes as the script did.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: “CITY OF STARS”, LA LA LAND
Holy shit! I would have thought these two songs would have canceled
each other out. I'm highly disappointed Lin-Manuel didn't complete
his EGOT tonight, but it's hard for me not to be disappointed by this
win.
Jimmy Kimmel mocks Matt Damon with talking about We Bought a Zoo,
which is hilarious. I'm not sure Damon has the same sense of humor
Mel Gibson has, but it's still glorious to watch. And watching Damon
and Ben Affleck be played off by Kimmel and the orchestra is inspired
lunacy.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: KENNETH LONERGAN, MANCHESTER BY
THE SEA
As much as I loved La La Land, Lonergan's script is a shining
example of a film that shows grief in an accurate and heart-wrenching
way. Bravo.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: BARRY JENKINS AND TARELL ALVIN
MCCRANEY, MOONLIGHT
This
is a great win, given the fact this movie was granted so little press
before now. A powerful script written by two amazing writers. It
may only be the second win of the night for the film, but these are
two major awards, and should be proud of them.
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING: DAMIEN CHAZELLE, LA LA LAND
The youngest director to win the Oscar for directing, Chazelle went
from directing the dark comedy Whiplash with such simplicity
to this whirlwind musical with such ease. This is the first major
award for La La Land, and an inspiring win.
BEST ACTOR: CASEY AFFLECK, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
In a category that was virtually impossible to predict, Affleck's win
is huge. Who was once a decent background actor in Ben Affleck's
movies, Casey Affleck earned this Oscar for his understated
performance in Manchester. Bravo, Casey!
BEST ACTRESS: EMMA STONE, LA LA LAND
HELL YES!!! Easily one of the finest young actresses of our
generation, Stone has demanded all the attention she deserves for the
movies she's starred in, from the goofy comedies like Superbad and
Crazy Stupid Love to her more powerful films like Birdman.
Holy shit! What a deserved win for such a remarkable actress.
BEST PICTURE: MOONLIGHT
What the fuck just happened?!?
While that was truly the biggest fuck up in Oscar history, Moonlight
is a gorgeous film, and, if there was any film that deserved to
to win over La La Land, it's this film. While I'm still
reeling from how awful an upset this has to be for the producers of
La La Land (seriously, people, what the fuck?!?), I'm not
fully disappointed by this win.
