Sunday
Apr252021
It's just hours away!
Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 3:57PM • Gurus of Gold final predictions from the Gurus (though I adjusted mine slightly here)
• TFE our final Oscar predictions icymi
• Vulture How horny is My Octopus Teacher? Highly recommended amusing read.
• New Yorker Interesting interview with Paul Schrader on how streaming is changing cinema
Here's something I dont recommend doing if you live for the Oscars each year: getting vaccinated the day before. Had so many fun blogging plans today but vaccine reactions called and said 'you're not getting out of bed today! [EVIL LAUGH]'. On a happier note, fully vaccinated now. Woohoo. And good timing in a way since the Oscars are essentially New Years Eve for us and 2021 can start proper tomorrow.
Reader Comments (59)
Well, they saved the (2nd & 3rd) best for last, apparently. I finally saw Judas and the Black Messiah and The Father this weekend, and boy does that shake up my choices.
My Best Picture rankings: 1) Nomadland 2) Judas and the Black Messiah 3) The Father 4) Sound of Metal 5) Minari 6) Mank 7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 8) Promising Young Woman
Director: Chloe Zhao
Actor: Riz Ahmed (probably, but Anthony Hopkins, whom I normally don't care for, was spectacular, so maybe after I've thought things over, I'd choose him)
Actress: Viola Davis
Supporting Actor: Paul Raci (but category fraud or no, both Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield were superb, so maybe someday ...)
Supporting Actress: Olivia Colman (ok, calm down, if you-know-what hadn't happened 2 years ago, I'd vote for her, but as it is I'd vote for my second choice - Glenn Close - I hate the movie, too, I really do, but her performance transcends it)
Adapted Screenplay: The Father (or Nomadland?)
Original Screenplay: Judas and the Black Messiah
Documentary: Collective (really, anything but Time)
Have only seen 2 of the Animated Films and 4 of the International, so I'll withhold judgment.
Oh hope you feel better Nathaniel. Also hopping you’ll finish the Film Bitch Awards for this season at some point. So curious to see the rest of the nominees in the ‘Extra Categories’. Anyway, Happy Oscar Night!!!
How did anyone watch Trial of the Chicago 7?? I found it such a slog to sit through.
Congratulations, Nathaniel! SO happy for you. Feel better soon.
I have loved your wonderful enthusiasm for the Oscars for years. Happy Oscars to you!!!
Best Actress is driving me crazy LOL. l had Viola predicted, but now I'm thinking Frances...oh dear...
Happy Oscars Nathaniel & team - thanks for a great & fun year, loved every minute on here !!!
..... I'm soooo excited ! :-S
PSA: the original song nominees are going to be performed during the 90 minute pre-show starting shortly.
btw. - what a f...antastic best actress race! I still don't have the slightest clue who's gonna win (besides Kirby).
The consensus (Gurus of Gold) is fascinating. I am printing it out so I can highlight the winners and compare predictions. Good times!
I love that interview of Paul Schrader by Richard Brody -- a singular voice in cinema and quite articulate in film criticism on auteur, early cinema, and stagecraft. But I think he got the whole "Nomadland is poverty porn" misunderstood. Just like a significant number of folks who posted on his Facebook account in reaction to it, Nomadland is ultimately about disenfranchisement from a global order that mistakes capitalism as a true measure of progress by focusing on a very specific group of people who can be peripatetic by choice or by circumstance.
I always admired Schrader and even though some of his films, like The Canyons, seem pointless visually, his narrative voice remains strong, singular, even visionary if I'm being generous. I always read his stuff on auteur theory even if I slightly disagree with some of his claims.
Feel better, Nathaniel.
I like that they’re dumping all the song performances on the pre show!!
I wish every year were like this one, with so many open races. I am so much more excited tonight than I normally am.
Not crazy about holding the Oscars in this room as it's too well-lit; feels more like a luncheon and not a ceremony and is taking away from the glamour of Oscar night.
MDA- Yeah I thought it was more glamorous outside. Those flowers were gorgeous!
First time since Juno a woman wins Best Screenplay. 13 years ago was the last time
I haven't cared this little about the Oscars in so long, but I still definitely appreciate TheFilmExperience's coverage. For me, reading yall's reactions to the awards season is the best part of it. Hope everyone has a nice night!
Ughhh no film clips of the acting nominees 👎🏻
Just gave up on the Oscar show after best supporting actor. The most ridiculous nominee introductions ever and the most self-indulgent, over-long acceptance speeches ever. Daniel Kaluuya was the final straw. Done with the Oscars. Couldn't care les anymore, especially after a really bad year for movies.
Did Daniel Kaluuya really thank his parents for having sex? Lol. His mother's reaction (I assume that was his mother) was priceless.
Amazing how different people’s perceptions can be. #bestoscarsinages
PS. I’ve guessed every winner correctly so far.
I'm loving this ceremony as well. Under current circumstances I don't know how they could do any better. Scaled down for sure, but I'm still feeling the Oscar magic. The international film nominee clips were beautifully chosen.
Loving these Oscars! It’s a big slower, people giving full speeches. And as of yet no clear front-runner, the suspense remains!
Viola looks to be in line for His & Her Oscars. Glenn is still scaring me...
@ MDA
Too well lit? It actually looks a bit too cinematically dark on my screens, especially when Black people present or win.
Can't anyone just say a simple thank you and get off the stage? Seriously, the most self-indulgent acceptance speeches ever.
Crisis averted!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry Glenn lol
Glenn gets to be the first actor or actress to finally win on their ninth nomination. It feels right for an actress of her esteem and there's almost a certainty she will win for something worthier than Hillbilly Elegy. It honestly feels like we're celebrating different wins for Yuh-Jung Youn and Close. Oh happy day!
So THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 is going home with zero Oscars then?
Shit, I agree with you guys. I don't even care about Boseman robbing Hopkins anymore!
Travis C... wouldn’t that be wild if it only won Best Picture? Lol
While I was somehow wishing for a tie between Glenn Close and Yuh-jung Youn, I am happy for the latter's win. She's quite witty too, melting even anyone who is not a fan. I hope she makes more films of this type of indie films. But a cameo in Zhao's Eternals may be a refreshing addition.
Trivia at the Oscars?? This is amateur hour.
Glenn Close and Diane Warren... losing again...
GOOD!!!! *EVIL PALPATINE LAUGH*
After weeks of hearing some delusional Glenndistas saying she would win no matter what because it was her 8th nom and bla bla bla... Where are you?
Glenn Close just won the night (and a future Oscar).
That In memoriam segment was insulting. Speeding it up so each person got less than a second of recognition? Really Academy?!
Best Picture before actor and actress?! This Oscars is so fucking weird lol
The best actress suspense is killing me
Was rooting for Carey, too bad.
Franny! If we can't have Hopkins, we'll take your exquisite work!!
Let mine be the first... Best Actor WOW!!!
Wow Chadwick dissed!!!
leon what blog have you been reading? It's been majority saying Youn would win and a few of us cautioisly pessimistic folks who feared she'd win for a performance that was far from worthy. No Glennistas talking about a Glenn win in a positive fashion, not round these parts.
O.
M.
G.
I thought either Boseman's and Ahmed's performances would have been worthy winners in any year, but Hopkins' towering performance blew them both away; one of the worthiest winners ever.
love the acting wins but WOW could not have asked for a more anticlimactic end. they took a risk putting BP third-to-last and it didn't quite work. still, i liked the strangeness of the whole thing!
Wow.
That Fern/Fran moment was uhhh... weird. Given the number of interviews where Frances talked about having to set boundaries for how personal Fern was, I understand it. But what's the point of being so rude to a director who just won the biggest prize there is for directing?
And then not thanking the director in your speech? What?
I have watched EVERY Oscar telecast and this one was the WORST.
NO CLASS!!!
HOLY SHIT they went for best individual achievements and not narrative in the acting categories this year! (Supp Actor was category fraud, but there were almost every year from the categories inception, look it up. Do a Claudio piece on it if you please)