A Brief History of Oscar Ties

by Cláudio Alves

Best Live-Action Short Film is the only category to count two ties in its Oscar history.

Last month, at the 98th Academy Awards, the world got to witness the seventh official tie in Oscar history. Presenter Kumail Nanjiani was quick to assure the audience that this was not a bit but something that was really happening as the Best Live-Action Short Film race came down to two victors – The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva. For someone like me, what made this even more momentous was how, for once, the Academy made a good choice, even if they didn’t make up their mind. In a category where good taste goes to die, our champions are good examples of the form, amply deserving of this honor and their new place in the annals of Oscar history. Who would have thought?

For some added context, join me as I go over these seven ties. Were they all deserving? Let’s find out…

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Who’s the best director for each Oscar race?

by Cláudio Alves

FRANKENSTEIN is the third Guillermo del Toro movie to win the Best Production Design Oscar.

At the 98th Academy Awards, James Cameron extended his record as the director who has helmed the most Visual Effects Oscar winners, with Avatar: Fire and Ash being his eighth film to do so. At the same ceremony, Guillermo del Toro saw his Frankenstein take the Best Production Design prize, inching ever closer to tying, perhaps one day breaking, Tim Burton’s record of directing four films to this particular trophy. These bits of trivia came up in e-mails with Nathaniel on our post-Oscar debriefing, and they got me thinking. Because every race must have one or two directorial filmographies, taking the title of AMPAS’ favorite. Some time ago, I looked for the Diane Warrens of every category. Now, let me tell you about the preferred auteurs of every feature film Oscar race where directors are not technically up for gold…

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Oscar Night Reactions: Part 2

If you missed part one, click HERE.

Some of the Team Experience writers were almost as happy for Amy Madigan's win as Ed Harris.

For the second half of our Team Reaction blurbs from the 98th Academy Awards, we asked Team Experience about the moments that perplexed them, broke their hearts, and brought them joy... and if there's any last thing about awards season anyone would like to get off your chest.

It's all after the jump...

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Don’t worry, Chalamaniacs, Timmy will be fine!

by Cláudio Alves

First look at Timothée Chalamet in DUNE: PART THREE | © Warner Bros.

The period between the Oscar nominations announcement and the actual 98th Academy Awards ceremony hasn’t been easy for Timothée Chalamet’s most ardent fans. From presumed Best Actor frontrunner, he became an also-ran. Honestly, considering what we saw of the final results, he may not have been the second-placer either. Anyway, more than losing the prize, he was the butt of half a dozen jokes throughout the ceremony, with the winning team from Two Strangers Exchanging Saliva going as far as alluding to the opera and ballet comments that set social media and the world of performing arts aflame in the week after Oscar voting closed. However, the situation can and has been a tad overblown.

So, as the title suggests, I’m here to ask Chalamaniacs not to worry, not to panic, calm down. Timmy will be just fine…

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Oscar Night Reactions: Part 1

Multiple writers were ecstatic over the MOULIN ROUGE! reunion at the end of the telecast.

Dear readers. We polled Team Experience about the big night and of course we need your responses too in the comments. Best Jokes, Best Presenting Moments, Best Acceptance Speeches, and the moment we knew it was over for Sinners (in terms of a Best Picture win. This is part one of two posts. Here are the first four questions which we hope you'll answer in the comments, too.

Ready? Let's go...

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