Has it been a year already?
Last year’s show was shockingly-progressive—considering the institution. The “so-not-an-Oscar movie” Everything Everywhere All at Once —a kung fu kick up through the multiverse—managed to sweep seven wins, including the “clutch the pearls” moment when Jamie Lee Curtis snatched what many assumed would be Angela Bassett’s Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Wakanda Forever.
However, it was fantastic to witness Curtis receive accolades she has most certainly earned over the course of a nearly 50-year film career. Michelle Yeoh, winner of 2023 Best Actress, entered the record books in that moment becoming the first Asian actress to do so. Furthermore, Yeoh joins Halle Berry as the only two women of color to have done so ever.
Tonight, we are— in the immortal words of Issa Rae—“rooting for everyone Black.”
The films and individuals highlighting people of color in significant categories and roles include: Killers of the Flower Moon which deals with Indigenous people’s history; and The Color Purple, known for their focus on Black experiences and characters such as Colman Domingo in Rustin, Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction, Da’Vine Joy Randolph in The Holdovers, Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple, and Sterling K. Brown in American Fiction.
And the following artists and actors are scheduled to present awards tonight: Mahershala Ali, Bad Bunny, Cynthia Erivo, America Ferrera, Dwayne Johnson, Regina King, Rita Moreno, Lupita Nyong’o , Ke Huy Quan, Issa Rae, Octavia Spencer, Forest Whitaker, Michelle Yeoh, Ramy Youssef, and Zendaya—who in real life is Everything Everywhere All at Once!
Oscar Disrupts Time and Space This Year
Tonight, Jimmy Kimmel, host of the Oscars for the fourth time, kicks off the show an hour early at 7pm EST, and not just to outpace the memes waiting to hatch in the X-verse. Perhaps it’s an attempt to capture the fleeting focus of the TikTok generation before they swipe away? Or, maybe it’s just to ensure that even the West Coast crowd doesn’t snooze through the Best Picture reveal? More likely (and timely) the reason: Daylight Savings Time. Both the network and the Academy are ensuring everyone tunes in with an hour less of confusion—-and more high fashion on the red carpet, which begins at 4pm EST on E! It’s a smooth move to keep the ceremony snugly in prime time, avoiding the Cinderella hour where viewers might turn into pumpkins, prioritizing sleep over speeches.
Watch Here
The ceremony will air live on ABC and its app. You can also stream the proceedings online via subscription services including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV. You could also do a quantum leap to yesteryear by purchasing a pair of “rabbit ears” —a.k.a. an antenna— which you plug-in and play free—that’s Smart TV to me.
Diversity in Sound
Tonight, the Oscars stage will host a range of musical performers, intended to spotlight the film industry’s continued commitment to diversity. The selection spans genres and generations. Performers include Ryan Gosling Jon Batiste, Becky G, Billie Ellish and Finneas, and Scott George and the Osage Singers.
The Complete List of The Nominees
Best Picture
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Best Director
Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall
Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest
Best Actress
Annette Bening, Nyad
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan, Maestro
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Best Actor
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Colman Domingo, Rustin
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
Best Supporting Actress
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Jodie Foster, Nyad
America Ferrera, Barbie
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things
Robert DeNiro, Killers of the Flower Moon
Sterling K Brown, American Fiction
Best Original Screenplay
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Past Lives
May December
Maestro
Best Adapted Screenplay
Barbie
Poor Things
American Fiction
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest
International Feature
Io Capitano
Perfect Days
Society of the Snow
The Teachers’ Lounge
The Zone of Interest
Animated Feature
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Cinematography
El Conde
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Production Design
Barbie
Poor Things
Oppenheimer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Original Score
American Fiction
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Original Song
“The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot
“I’m Just Ken” from Barbie
“It Never Went Away” from American Symphony
“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon
“What Was I Made For?” from Barbie
Editing
Oppenheimer
The Holdovers
Anatomy of a Fall
Killers of the Flower Moon
Poor Things
Documentary Feature Film
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
The Eternal Memory
Four Daughters
To Kill a Tiger
20 Days in Mariupol
Costume Design
Barbie
Poor Things
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Napoleon
Make-up and Hairstyling
Golda
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Society of the Snow
Sound
The Creator
Maestro
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest
Visual Effects
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon
Live Action Short Film
The After
Invincible
Knight of Fortune
Red, White and Blue
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Documentary Short Film
The ABCs of Book Banning
The Barber of Little Rock
Island in Between
The Last Repair Shop
Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó
Animated Short Film
Letter to a Pig
Ninety-Five Senses
Our Uniform
Pachyderme
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
