The Academy Awards buzz was that when Karla Sofia Gascon’s old racist, anti-semantic tweets were found, the Oscar prospects for the film she stared in, “Emilia Perez,” plummeted. Garcon was the first trans woman nominated for a best actress Academy Award. There also was controversy about the Spanish accents and how cartel violence and Mexican culture were depicted in the film.
The buzz also said Academy Award voters were turning to “Anora,” a film about a sex worker who married the son of a Russian oligarch. The rumors were correct: “Anora” won best picture.
Unfortunately, there were so many better films that should have been selected for best picture and best actress, too.
I saw “Anora” early in my watching of about 30 Academy Award nominated movies, so I had to go back and read a summary of it. To me, it’s a lightweight film, not the best movie I saw among those shown in 2024 and nominated.
“The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Sing Sing,” “A Real Pain,” even “Wicked,” and possibly “I’m Still Here” were more deserving to win best picture, in my opinion.
In my notes for “Anora,” I wrote it was hard to watch at times due to violence. In addition, I thought the ending was strange.
I was pulling for “A Complete Unknown,” about how Bob Dylan started his music career, to win best picture. And, I thought “The Brutalist,” about an architect from Hungary who was trying to start a new life in the United States after surviving the Holocaust, was very good, too. Even “Wicked” would have been a better choice.
“The Brutalist” won for best actor, original score, and cinematography.
“Dune: Part Two” won for visual effects and sound.
“Wicked” won for costume design and production design.
“The Substance,” a horror movie about an older woman who takes a drug because she wants to look younger, won for makeup and hairstyling
In addition to winning best picture, “Anora” won for best actress, best director, original screenplay, and film editing.
The movie I liked the best, “A Complete Unknown,” didn’t receive a single Oscar although it garnered eight nominations.
All in all, a disappointing result.
Then, there was Conan O’Brien as master of ceremonies for the Oscars. I’m not an O’Brien fan, and I thought his performance as host was lacking. His monologue was long and boring. Then he did a song and dance with six or eight singers and dancers on how he wouldn’t waste time.
Oh, my gosh. He was a disaster.
I got seven out of 23 Oscar winners correct, about a third. But, then, I'm not trying to guess what the Academy is going to vote for. I’m recommending and advocating for the most nonviolent movies that I think will be best for kids and adults.
