This year’s Academy Awards were… different. Obviously Covid has changed every awards show this year, and the Oscars adjusted as well as they could. They pre-filmed the nominated songs, socially distanced the attendees, and held the ceremony at the gorgeous Union Station in Los Angeles.
In some ways, it felt like any other Oscars.
Actors dressed to the nines
Can we talk about Leslie Odom Jr. in his golden suit? It had a matching gold shirt and tie! This guy always strikes me as so quiet and self-effacing, but he still shows up dressed as an Oscar. He says it’s made of actual gold, and I can’t even tell if that’s true but I’ll spread that rumor anyhow. He’s been killing it with the fashion this awards season, and I’m here for it.
Hamilton Reunion at the #Oscars! Leslie Odom Jr. and Ariana DeBose Catch Up as Lin-Manuel Sends Text https://t.co/cv7y99ISJ2
— People (@people) April 26, 2021
Regina King looked like a butterfly.
THIS IS TOO MUCH PRETTY!!! We can't handle it.
Regina King (in Louis Vuitton) and Aldis Hodge (in Dolce & Gabbana) at the #Oscars. More red carpet later on our site. pic.twitter.com/z7IPhFnEVT
— Tom and Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo) April 26, 2021
Zendaya looked like a goddess.
zendaya is the moment pic.twitter.com/kZpxKOlPU6
— evan 🙂 (@beyonseh) April 26, 2021
The pre-show was cringey
Why must we still be subjected to pre-show interviews? It’s like watching awkward small talk between distant family members at a wedding. You look great! No, YOU look great! NO, YOU!
At one point Reese Witherspoon took over the interview to provide information because poor Ariana DeBose was obviously not being given good notes through her earpiece. Why? Why do we need all this embarrassing puffery? Give me a bunch of stars roaming around drunk like at the Golden Globes any day. Or just have the red carpet interviewers ask each actor to solve an algebra equation and let us watch the fallout.
There were some moving moments
This morning, Best Actor winner Anthony Hopkins gave his acceptance speech from the UK, paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman.
Anthony Hopkins' #Oscars acceptance speech from Wales: "I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early…" pic.twitter.com/XTakrEAq2w
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) April 26, 2021
On the red carpet, Angela Bassett described Chadwick Boseman’s laugh as “amazing and easy,” and I think that’s such a lovely way of putting it.
Another Round won Best International Feature Film. In a beautiful tribute, director Thomas Vinterberg dedicated the award to his daughter, who died in an accident shortly before filming, and who had loved the script.
Thomas Vinterberg paying tribute to his daughter Ida after winning the Oscar for 'Another Round' in a beautiful and moving speech.
«We miss her, and I love her. We ended up making this movie for her, it’s her monument» pic.twitter.com/TN9rlEbdAi
— Lost In Film (@LostInFilm) April 26, 2021
“People at birth are inherently good.” Chloé Zhao, as expected, won Best Director for Nomadland. She dedicated her Oscar to anyone who has the faith and courage to hold onto the goodness in life. Zhao herself seems like an example of inherent goodness, doesn’t she?
"I have always found goodness in the people I met everywhere I went in the world. So this is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold onto the goodness and themselves, and…in each other."
Watch Chloé Zhao's Best Director acceptance speech: https://t.co/LsffGKAhao pic.twitter.com/FDItSIL7rr
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 26, 2021
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste won gold for their score to Soul. Batiste’s speech was terrific, and the other two let him have the mic for the whole time. The music is gorgeous; go listen to it here: Tidal on Plex
If Anything Happens I Love You won Best Animated Short Film. I’ve been volunteering with Moms Demand Action for years, and it’s amazing to hear gun violence being discussed from a stage as big as the Oscars.
This year’s Best Animated Short is @IfAnything_Film, a beautifully illustrated short film about two parents and their struggle to cope with the trauma of gun violence. Congratulations Will Mccormack, Michael Govier, @lauradern and all who helped tell this important story. #Oscars
— Moms Demand Action (@MomsDemand) April 26, 2021
Tyler Perry received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and gave a heartfelt speech about the lessons his mom taught him: “Refuse hate, refuse blanket judgement … it’s my hope that we teach our kids [to] refuse hate.” Perry asks us all to meet him in the middle, because that’s where change happens.
"Refuse hate."
Tyler Perry accepts Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award "I refuse to hate someone because they are Mexican or because they are Black or white or LBGTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian." pic.twitter.com/FjpTaYhKUu
— ABC News (@ABC) April 26, 2021
There were a few laughs
Yuh-Jung Youn, Best Supporting Actress for Minari, who was presented the award by everyone’s favorite golden boy, began her speech with, “Mr. Brad Pitt, finally! Where were you when we were filming in person?” Her speech was the funniest of the night, and included a thank you to her sons, who made her go out and work to support them.
#Minari's Yuh-Jung Youn won big tonight, even after she walked off the #Oscars stage! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/q1fmLSTdZC
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) April 26, 2021
Chloé Zhao’s glee at hearing Harrison Ford say her name in a list of nominees!
Chloe Zhao won Best Director and Best Picture and is directing Marvel's #TheEternals and she still squeed like a fan when Harrison Ford said her name.
She is my new favorite.
— Tony Duncan (@NerdyLadd) April 26, 2021
Glenn Close doing Da Butt. I hope she didn’t hurt herself.
Glenn Close just won her first Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film #Oscars pic.twitter.com/RgtaFO33Uj
— Joey Nolfi (@joeynolfi) April 26, 2021
It went too long
This is the big one, as always. Why is this show so long? This particular Oscars, slimmed down and sparsely attended, felt more like the typical industry awards ceremony that it is–which is to say, much too long and really freaking boring. It might as well have been the yearly awards at a convention of salespeople. (Except for the couture.) The producers seemed to have decided there would be no time limit on acceptance speeches. As obnoxious as the orchestra playing a winner off is, apparently it really is the lesser of two evils.
