Directors should get the Best International Film Oscar

by Cláudio Alves

While many aspects of the Oscar ceremony annoyed, quite a lot of elements worked to significant effect. Chief among them, the fact winners were allowed to deliver their speeches with no apparent time limit. I don't know about you, but I love long acceptance speeches, especially those that take me on a journey. On the comedic side, we have Daniel Kaluuya, who topped his inspiring sentiment with euphoric comments about his parents having sex. The miracle of life indeed. In contrast, Thomas Vinterberg delivered a gut punch when he spoke about his daughter's tragic death upon accepting the Best International Film statuette for Another Round. It was a great, heartbreaking moment, illuminating the pain that can exist behind fantastic art. 

Considering all that, it's a pity that the Oscar itself doesn't belong to Vinterberg, nor will it be credited as his victory. As it happens, this is the only category where the winner isn't a person…

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93rd Academy Awards: 10 Best-dressed

by Cláudio Alves

After an awards season full of Zoom ceremonies and no red carpets to speak off, Oscar night was a breath of fresh air. While most stars have spent the past few months attending shows from their homes, that didn't mean there wasn't fashion to appreciate. However, there's something special about the spectacle of the red carpet, something ineffably magical. With that in mind, I decided to explore, list, and rank the best looks of the night. From ingenues to aged thespians, male provocateurs, glamorous goddesses, there was much to appreciate. 

First, though, I'd like to make an honorable mention… 

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What went right and what went wrong at the 93rd Oscars.

by Nathaniel R

Which Steven Soderbergh film begins with a ton of promise before getting bogged down in the middle due to its relentless seriouness? Which of his films comes chaotically lurching back to messy life near the climax but still can't stick to the landing? I don't have an answer for this question except to say "The 93rd Academy Awards if it counts!"  And should it?

The Soderbergh produced ceremony made good on its intentions to not be like every other Oscar ceremony. Not that that was ever in doubt given the worldwide pandemic that put such a dampening slog on awards season (among other admittedly more serious effects). More satisfying than the arbitrary changes in presentation or category order -- thrilling even -- was the pre-show buzz that this would feel more like a movie which the "opening scene" bore out...

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Some Oscar Night Related Tweets

We were soooo sick yesterday -- WORTH IT TO BE FULLY VACCINATED! -- so we're just catching up now. But if you're not on twitter we wouldn't want you to miss these bon mots. Enjoy.

Anthony Hopkins reacts to his #Oscars win and pays tribute to fellow Best Actor nominee, Chadwick Boseman. pic.twitter.com/z5MkFfR7wi

— Film Updates (@TheFilmUpdates) April 26, 2021

Apparently Olivia Colman was supposed to do the speech for him but Joaquin Phoenix didn't realize or some such. Now we feel doubly cheated...

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New Oscar Records!

Refresh your screen as we'll add to this list as we discover things. And we trust that you'll let us know if we got anything wrong. 

PICTURE
• Chloe Zhao is the third Asian to win Best Picture and the first of Chinese descent. (The only previous Asian winners were Koreans, Bong Joon-Ho and Kwak Sin-Ae, both for Parasite)

DIRECTOR
• Chloe Zhao is the first woman of color to be nominated for AND to win Best Director. (She is the third Asian to win Best Director following Ang Lee, twice, and Bong Joon-ho last year). She is the 7th woman to receive a nomination in this category after Lina Wertmüller, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow (the only previous female winner), Greta Gerwig, and Emerald Fennell. Interestingly enough all but one of those women have Oscars (sorry Greta Gerwig), most of those in the Best Original Screenplay category... 

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