April 26, 2021

THE OSCARS 2021: SURPRISES, DISAPPOINTMENTS, HITS AND MISSES

A fairly unpredictable set of results, and a very different show itself, the 93rd Academy Awards left quite a bit to be desired. But I will commend the organizers and the Academy for pulling it off in times like these. Here are the key highlights of the awards and what was lacking

 

The starkest difference between the Oscars, as we know the event, and this year’s edition was the venue itself. While the Dolby Theatre (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre) has also evolved over the decades, the basic richness that it presents has stayed intact—at least in the way it looks on-screen. Other TV events, such as AMERICAN IDOL’s Hollywood week, and even AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, look more premium because of this venue. And the look of the theater at the Oscars is usually phenomenal. This year though, probably because of the limited audience this time, the organizers wanted a more intimate venue, and they decided to have the main show at Los Angeles’ Union Station. The art deco venue was quite charming and had a character of its own, but it lacked the grandeur of the Dolby Theatre, which was missed sorely. It kind of made the Oscars look like a preliminary event, such as the nominees’ luncheon.

A VERY LONG SHOW, DESPITE THINGS THAT WERE LACKING

The smaller venue, and the more intimate gathering should have also been reflected in the duration of the main event, but it went on for three hours and an extra 15 minutes. Especially with the original song performances shown during the pre-show, and with the lack of a host, it seemed unnecessarily long. While the decision to go without a host hasn’t had a huge impact in the previous two editions of the Oscars, this year, I think a host would have been good. I think with things so different this time, they would’ve done well to have an emcee as a hook for the audience throughout the event. Instead, the show went on—for really long. This was in part due to the freedom given to winners to take their time with their acceptance speeches, which was quite respectful and polite. However, with some people, it is a good idea to give them limited time—and a faint music to signal time running out—because not everyone is naturally inclined to keep things concise. And speaking of music, I really did miss a live orchestra. A DJ behind a console just wasn’t very ‘Oscars’ in my opinion. I mean, if you’re organizing an event with a live audience, getting everyone tested for COVID and all, across gatherings in other remote locations as well, why cut corners when it comes to having a full orchestra of musicians!

PRESENTATIONS THAT KEPT THINGS INTERESTING

There was however, a little game where audience members were quizzed about songs that may or may not have been nominated in the past. It seemed a little random as the only such break in the midst of the proceedings. Yet, Glenn Close doing that little dance was everything. The presentations themselves were not too bad. It was sweet how presenters such as Riz Ahmed, Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon had little personal anecdotes to share related to the categories they were announcing. Regina King was a strong way to start, with her big stage presence. Riz Ahmed did well with his interactive introduction of the live-action short category, asking the audience if their careers began with short films, to drive home the point that short films can set strong foundations. Angela Bassett’s presentation of ‘in memoriam’ lent the moment some liveliness—a celebration of the departed artists rather than mourning them. And it was good to see the Dolby Theatre briefly, when Bryan Cranston presented one of the humanitarian awards. I wonder why they didn’t present both together, with Viola Davis presenting Tyler Perry his humanitarian award later in the show.

THE BEST ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES

Perry delivered one of the better acceptance speeches of the night, with his anecdote about how he helped a woman in need with some shoes to ‘take her feet off the ground’, eventually urging everyone to do away with hate, and help people take their feet off the ground. Emerald Fennel was a breath of fresh air when she won the Oscar for adapted screenplay for Promising Young Woman. Winning the supporting actor Oscar for Judas and the Black Messiah, Daniel Kaluuya was whimsical and weird and made us all laugh, with the way he said he was going to party that night, and also giving his parents credit for his existence (and win), mentioning the sex that they had had in order to have him. His sister’s and mother’s reactions, watching from the gathering in London, was priceless!


However, the best acceptance speech of the night was by Yuh-Jung Youn, who won the supporting actress Oscar for Minari. Prior to this event, she had stolen the show at the BAFTAs and at the Critics’ Choice Awards before that, with her endearing acceptance speeches, so I was really looking forward to seeing her accept her Oscar. She said it was nice to meet presenter Brad Pitt, and thanked Hollywood. Then she acknowledged the greatness of her fellow-nominees, saying that it didn’t feel right that they were in competition for playing completely different parts in different movies, and that she was simply “luckier than” the others, or that maybe it had something to do with American hospitality towards a Korean actress. She gave a shout-out to fellow-nominee Glenn Close, who was the senior-most actress in the category this time. And she thanked her sons, who ‘made her work’ (probably meant ‘encouraged’ her to work), with this win being a result of that.

THE NEW OSCAR WINNERS—HIGHLIGHTS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS

It was indeed great to see powerful and moving performances such as Kaluuya’s and Youn’s being awarded. I was very happy that Anthony Hopkins won for his stellar performance in The Father. And Emerald Fennell deserved her original screenplay win for the gripping Promising Young Woman. Most other wins were also due, such as the excellent film editing and sound of Sound of Metal being recognized, or the soundtrack of Soul and the screenplay of The Father being rewarded. I was, however, disappointed that my two favorite awards season movies this year—The Trial of the Chicago 7, and One Night in Miami…—didn’t win anything. And they were such good and strong films, even objectively-speaking. Other winning highlights included Chloé Zhao becoming (only) the second woman to ever win for directing, while Frances McDormand won her third Oscar and became the actress with the second-most wins for lead actress, after Katharine Hepburn (who won four).


With a few disappointing results, and a slightly underwhelming show overall, there were a few high points that kept things relatively interesting. I look forward to, hopefully, a more ‘regular’ Oscars taking place at the Dolby Theatre next year. I would also appreciate it if they go back to announcing the directing and best picture categories at the end of the show, after the lead actress and actor winners are awarded. I also hope we can go back to the cinemas this year to watch the films that will be in consideration next year.

And, while we hope for better times ahead, here’s a complete list of this year’s Oscar winners.


Best motion picture of the year

The Father

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

Minari

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Achievement in directing

Another Round | Thomas Vinterberg

Mank | David Fincher

Minari | Lee Isaac Chung

Nomadland | Chloé Zhao

Promising Young Woman | Emerald Fennell

 

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Viola Davis in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Andra Day in The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Vanessa Kirby in Pieces of a Woman

Frances McDormand in Nomadland

Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman

 

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal

Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Anthony Hopkins in The Father

Gary Oldman in Mank

Steven Yeun in Minari

 

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Maria Bakalova in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Glenn Close in Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman in The Father

Amanda Seyfried in Mank

Yuh-Jung Youn in Minari

 

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Sacha Baron Cohen in The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya in Judas and the Black Messiah

Leslie Odom, Jr. in One Night in Miami...

Paul Raci in Sound of Metal

Lakeith Stanfield in Judas and the Black Messiah

 

Adapted screenplay

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan | Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad

The Father | Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller

Nomadland | Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao

One Night in Miami… | Screenplay by Kemp Powers

The White Tiger | Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani

 

Original screenplay

Judas and the Black Messiah | Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas

Minari | Written by Lee Isaac Chung

Promising Young Woman | Written by Emerald Fennell

Sound of Metal | Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance

The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Written by Aaron Sorkin

 

Achievement in cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah | Sean Bobbitt

Mank | Erik Messerschmidt

News of the World | Dariusz Wolski

Nomadland | Joshua James Richards

The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Phedon Papamichael

 

Achievement in film editing

The Father | Yorgos Lamprinos

Nomadland | Chloé Zhao

Promising Young Woman | Frédéric Thoraval

Sound of Metal | Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Alan Baumgarten

 

Achievement in sound

Greyhound | Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman

Mank | Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin

News of the World | Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett

Soul | Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker

Sound of Metal | Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh

 

Achievement in production design

The Father | Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom | Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton

Mank | Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale

News of the World | Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan

Tenet | Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas

 

Achievement in costume design

Emma | Alexandra Byrne

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom | Ann Roth

Mank | Trish Summerville

Mulan | Bina Daigeler

Pinocchio | Massimo Cantini Parrini

 

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling

Emma | Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze

Hillbilly Elegy | Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom | Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson

Mank | Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff

Pinocchio | Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti

 

Achievement in visual effects

Love and Monsters | Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox

The Midnight Sky | Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins

Mulan | Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram

The One and Only Ivan | Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez

Tenet | Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher

 

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

Da 5 Bloods | Terence Blanchard

Mank | Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Minari | Emile Mosseri

News of the World | James Newton Howard

Soul | Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

The hypnotizing and haunting, yet lively and uplifting scoring of Soul became the extraordinary backdrop of the film. And I think it’s going to win for it.

 

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

‘Fight for you’ from Judas and the Black Messiah | Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas

‘Hear my voice’ from The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite

‘Husavik’ from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga | Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson

‘Io sì (seen)’ from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se) | Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini

‘Speak now’ from One Night in Miami... | Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

 

Best animated feature film of the year

Onward

Over the Moon

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Soul

Wolfwalkers

 

Best international feature film of the year

Another Round | Denmark

Better Days | Hong Kong

Collective | Romania

The Man Who Sold His Skin | Tunisia

Quo Vadis, Aida? | Bosnia and Herzegovina

If the Academy has recognized its directing among every film in consideration overall, one can safely say that Another Round has an edge over the others in this category.

 

Best documentary feature

Collective

Crip Camp

The Mole Agent

My Octopus Teacher

Time

 

Best documentary short subject

Colette

A Concerto Is a Conversation

Do Not Split

Hunger Ward

A Love Song for Latasha

 

Best animated short film

Burrow

Genius Loci

If Anything Happens I Love You

Opera

Yes-People

 

Best live-action short film

Feeling Through

The Letter Room

The Present

Two Distant Strangers

White Eye

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