A Dozen Takeaways from Oscar Night

by Nathaniel R

John Cena presenting Best Costume Design. Screenshot from ABC

There are 23 categories at the Oscars but always about 2,038 things to discuss. What to focus on? Here's an attempt to focus with a baker's dozen of things that stood out for yours truly. Overall it was a fun and well paced night. But your mileage may vary. Would you add any particular moment to this list?

In no particular order...

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Ranking ALL of John Williams' Oscar Nominations

by Cláudio Alves

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY earned John Williams his 54th Oscar nomination.

Last week, John Williams celebrated his 92nd birthday, so it seems proper to shine a light on the legendary composer before the month ends. After all, in January, he also became the oldest person ever to secure an Oscar nomination, as he got into the Best Original Score lineup with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It was his 54th honor - he's won five Oscars as well - making him the most nominated living artist and runner-up for most nominated individual ever. That record is still held by Walt Disney, with 59.

In American Film History, there will never be a more iconic and influential composer than John Williams. If you don't believe it, join me as I go through his 54 nominations and offer my ranking…

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The Oscar Shortlists are Here!

by Cláudio Alves

Like Scorsese's film, SOCIETY OF THE SNOW got into four different shortlists.

AMPAS has announced shortlists for ten categories, from International Feature to Makeup and Hairstyling. One can deduce plenty from the results, seeing what films overperform and which titles don't meet expectations. Well, at least that's true for the more general races. In something like International Feature, one can surmise other things, like the Academy's European bias, or how some titles are popular enough to make it there and Best Documentary. All in all, this should shake up predictions beyond these ten prizes, so there's much to analyze. After the jump, discover the complete lists and some additional commentary…

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Oscar Volley: It's a Barbie World in Original Song

Team Experience is discussing each Oscar category as we head into the precursors. Today's Oscar Volley, on Best Original Song, is brought to you by Mark Brinkherhoff and Baby Clyde...

Will we see "I'm Just Ken" performed on Oscar night?

MARK: Barbie! Long may she reign.  The pop-cultural juggernaut of 2023 not only drew moviegoers worldwide (to the tune of $1.5 billion globally—Warner Brothers’ biggest hit ever), but also ruled the music charts with international smashes like "Barbie World", "Dance the Night", "What Was I Made For?", etc. And that doesn’t even do justice to perhaps Barbie’s biggest earworm, the delightfully daffy "I’m Just Ken". 

All of them were technically eligible for Academy Awards submission; yet AMPAS rules are such that only three songs from a single film can be submitted for Best Original Song consideration, and only two of them can land actual Oscar nominations... 

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94 Songs vie for the Oscar

by Cláudio Alves

ORLANDO: MY POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY is an unlikely contender but you gotta love its boldness.

The Academy has released a couple of eligibility lists, including one for the Best Original Song race. Ninety-four different tunes have been submitted for the Oscar. It's three maximum for each movie, from which only two can be nominated for the same title. Barbie, The Face of the Faceless, A Good Person, The Little Mermaid, State of the Unity, and Wish have submitted three, while many other projects went for double trouble. There are no significant surprises in terms of omitted contenders, but some submission choices delight with their boldness, and others shock because their origin is so obscure. For example, I quibble with the one song chosen from Dicks: The Musical and Carmen. I'm also delighted that Orlando: My Political Biography threw its hat in the race and just found out some of these movies even exist.

From American Symphony to Wonka, come discover the complete list of submissions…

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