Happy Oscar Day! Share your morning jitters and dreams
Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 8:40AM It's finally here. Have you seen the set for tonight's Oscars? It's very Bond film swirl, with electric blue futurism. The designer likens it to...
Credit: Courtesy David Korins Designs
a magical portal into the future, in which we trade in the currency of elegance and electricity
What'cha think? Any last minute Oscar fantasies, dreams or fears? Do tell?! I predicted The Power of the Dog but am dreading the very real possibility of CODA going three for three. It's not that I hate CODA (it's sweet and tear-jerking) it's just that it's not remotely deserving of the highest film award in the land. But we'll see. If only we could feel the electricity of the opening of the Best Film Editing envelope, the most suspenseful category outside of Actress and Picture. But alas...
Oscars (21)
Reader Comments (15)
My main fear, even more than a Coda win, is that, like last year, we won't get 20 performance clips in the acting categories.
The Coda possibility doesn't stress me out, but it should stress out the Coda producers, who would have to live with a Crash-level rep forever.
There’s a chance, albeit probably only a slight one, that Best Picture will become a lot less suspenseful by the time the show even begins if Power of the Dog wins Best Editing, because I can’t really see it winning there without winning Best Picture.
I’m also — and I know this sounds bitter — kind of hoping that the ratings aren’t that good for the show just to prove that cutting categories from the telecast and doing those Twitter poll segments are not going to draw more viewers. Because I’m legitimately worried that if the ratings are somehow a big improvement over the last few years, we’re going to see even more terrible ideas pushed through in the coming years
And to Mike in Canada’s point, I doubt that’s an immediate concern of the CODA crew, but it’s definitely an interesting thought: is an Oscar win worth it to have your movie’s reputation tainted forever? I’m sure Paul Haggis is at least peripherally aware that Crash is constantly cited among the worst Oscar winners of all time to the point of almost being a punchline at this point. Not that CODA would be get *quite* the same backlash that Crash did, but it would certainly not be a popular winner, that’s for sure.
The idea that Power of the Dog has four acting nominations and will come away with no wins haunts me. Even though Cumberbatch, Dunst and Smitt-McPhee gave the best performances in their respective categories. I have a slim hope that Dunst might be the surprise of the night but I expect the Oscars will fall in line.
I truly don’t think Crash or Coda producers care (or should care). They did nothing but create a film and campaign like everyone else. The Academy made the choice by voting.
If I had an Oscar I really couldn’t care about the internet’s opinion on the matter lol, I’d cherish the shiny naked man. It doesn’t mean all that much in the grand scheme of things anyhow.
That Oscars stage design gives me morning jitters. 🥺 (Present all 23!)
Maybe The Power of the Dog producers should be grateful that the film isn't going to take home a bunch of Oscars, because the wins wouldn't age that well in comparison with some of the masterpieces that have won in recent years.
To be clear, I like the film more than CODA, but I've also felt that it would be an odd Best Picture winner, because it just didn't have an emotional through-line, for me at least. I realize that puts me at odds with a lot of posters here, but apparently it places me in line with the Academy voters who were far more enthusiastic for Nomadland and Parasite.
My dream is a Chastain acceptance speech. I'm still predicting Kidman winning her second so that gives me the jitters.
jules--you're not alone. I don't think The Power of the Dog is a masterpiece. It's a fine movie but it definitely has flaws.
I am rooting for Jessica, and I know this is going to be so, soooo close. So I'm really jittery. But I do think she's going to pull it off. Please, movie gods.
I think West Side Story only getting 7 Oscar nominations is because Disney swallowed up 20th Century Fox, and Disney SUCKS at Oscar campaigns. I have talked with so many friends (none of them Oscar voters, but many are professional actors) and I have been shocked by the absolute hatred for The Power of the Dog. Some love it, most don't. CODA, too, gets a mixed response, mostly that it is a nice TV movie. I wonder if in a second pandemic Oscar season that we could see a real surprise in winners that defy every and ALL stat or precursor. I am not predicting it, but my Oscar dream / fantasy / crazy hope would be for West Side Story to win Oscars for at least 5, or maybe 6, of its nominations.
My biggest longshot dream is that The Worst Person in the World gets an Oscar. It should definitely walk away with the Original Screenplay oscar, but I think it even has a shot at International (not that I'm rooting against Drive My Car, because I loved it too).
My jitters are all around CODA getting more than Troy Kotsur's win. It's just... not that good.
I have No morning jitters... it's only cinema'.
I have seen all nominees except Drive My Car.
My choices... Movie... POTD. Actor... Cumberbatch
Actress... Jessica Chastain. Support. Actor... Smit-McPhee
Support. Actress .... Dunst. Director... Campion
I guess I really admired. POTD !!!???
If they really wanted to shake things up, they'd present Best Picture first. For that, I'd watch the show live this year. As things stand, I'll be curating my personal Oscar experience after it's over.
I’ve been ruminating on the more-international bent of Academy membership over the last few years and how that may work against apparent frontrunners that are more US-focused… in particular CODA vs PotD and Chastain vs Cruz (and the other Actress nominees too). Potentially in the screenplay categories too.
I don't want Cruz to win. I know, she's got a lot of support, but I don't think she's that great in Parallel Mothers (nor is the movie that good either). Two of the acting categories are likely going to my fourth favourite nomnee (Smith, Kotsur). Having that be three categories would just make it a desultory night.
Ugh.... I don't like this design. This ain't going to work for me brother!