Presenters set for Oscar night. (But who else would you love to see?)

By Nathaniel R

The complete list of presenters is in for the 95th Academy Awards. They are… Riz Ahmed (best live action short 2021), Halle Bailey (the new Little Mermaid), Halle Berry (best actress 2001), Antonio Banderas, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain (best actress 2021), John Cho, Glenn Close (perennial bridesmaid and future Honorary Oscar recipient obviously you don't need to be psychic to know that), Jennifer Connelly (best supporting actress 2001), Paul Dano, Ariana DeBose (best supporting actress 2021), Cara Delevingne, and Harrison Ford. And that's not all...

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Harrison Ford's quick lesson on film editing

by Tim Brayton

When we think of the most memorable moments in Oscar history, we tend to think about winners and their speeches, or maybe particularly impressive (or disastrous) musical or comedy performances during the ceremony itself. We don't, as a rule, tend to think about how the categories get introduced, but I find myself in the position this year of thinking that the very best, or at least the most gratifying moment in Sunday night’s telecast was exactly that. I'm talking about Harrison Ford introducing Best Editing, where we got one of those vanishingly rare moments throughout the years where this annual event designed to promote and celebrate filmmaking actually managed to promote and celebrate filmmaking.

If you've forgotten the moment, it was as unflashy as it gets: Ford, in an apparent state of, ahem "advanced relaxation," read a bunch of bullet points off of a sheet of paper...

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And the Best Presenter Oscar goes to... Rita Moreno (with a peak at West Side Story)

Nathaniel R

In the matter of one of the "smaller awards" (haha) like Best Picture, the Oscars chose to go very big and noteworthy indeed. Screen star and EGOT legend Rita Moreno (whose classics include The King and I, Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story, and Carnal Knowledge... though Hollywood obviously never did right by her denying her the lead roles she clearly would have aced) did the honors. She was a perfect choice both for her all-generations appeal, and her estimable comic gift. In introducing the Best Picture category she memorably joked that the most important award was "Best Supporting Actress" and her winning role came in a movie that won some other 'smaller awards,' too. She remains a reliable energetic funny delight at 89. Sadly, this great great moment didn't come at the end of the broadcast (argh!) but a couple of prizes too early. To understand how big a deal it is that Rita Moreno presented you have to also understand the history a bit...  

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