It was a ceremony dominated by wins for “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Telecast producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner clearly had an idea of what was in store as they slotted the show’s categories to create as much natural drama as possible when, in fact, there turned out to be very few upsets. Still, with the pair booked for three more ceremonies, there was a lot that worked and a lot that didn’t.
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The best thing about this year’s Oscars is it didn’t try to be something that it wasn’t. They didn’t try to hide award categories like last year in an attempt to shave off just 20 minutes from its runtime. They didn’t do bits where they attempted to bring moviegoers into the ceremony just because the network thinks that’s what viewers want. The theme of well-known paired presenters mostly worked although Glenn Close getting COVID derailed the final one of the night. Overall, we might suggest an opening musical number/performance, more comedic presenters (the one element really missing tonight), and giving Amy Schumer, Regina King, and Wanda Sykes a second go around (assuming they’d even return).
Keeping all that in mind, here are some of the best and worst moments from the 95th Academy Awards.
Worst: The trailer debut of “The Little Mermaid”Both the Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros Pictures are celebrating 100 years of moviemaking this year. That’s absolutely historic, but we’re sort of confused on how a moment to recognize their legacies became a trailer premiere and a promo reel? To be honest, the Warner Bros. piece may have been a little too “current” but at least it understood the assignment. Disney, on the other hand, brought Melissa McCarthy and Halle Bailey to present a movie trailer for “The Little Mermaid.” Excuse, us but what in a commercial in the middle of an awards ceremony was that? Was this allowed because ABC, a division of the Walt Disney Company, broadcasts the Oscars? If you were Netflix’s Ted Sarandos or any other studio head in the audience were you wondering how they could also place a trailer during the show? Also, using that moment to promote a live-action remake of a beloved animated film is also, well, tacky? How or why the Academy allowed it is probably the closest thing the show had to a controversy all night (and they’ll take it).
Worst: The Navy Flying Eagles flyoverOn paper, this was a great idea. Having the San Diego Navy squadron do a flyover was fun (we could hear it at our viewing party), but today’s weather was not ideal. Even worse, it resulted in a seven-second shot that could barely be seen? And once production discovered “Top Gun: Maverick” star Tom Cruise wasn’t attending, was this really a good idea?
Worst: Jimmy Kimmel’s monologueFirst, 13 minutes was simply too long for a straight monologue. Having Kimmel drop on stage as though he was parachuting from the Navy Jets worked (even if the aforementioned real jets didn’t). The problem was too many of Kimmel’s monologue jokes sounded like they were written weeks ago. An “Encino Man” reference? Yeah, we got it. TV vs. movie industry jokes? Yeah, O.K. A NIck Cannon joke! Sigh. There were some good zingers. Rihanna performing at our half-time show, “about 4 and a half hours from now” was a good one. But poop jokes? And dinging the membership for doing nothing last year during the Will Smith altercation – “maybe give the assailant a hug”- was sort of a low blow? For an audience that was in shock a year ago?
Best: Jimmy Kimmel the rest of the showThe good news was Kimmel was probably at the best he’s ever been at the Dolby Theater after the monologue. The late-night host returned a good amount (sometimes the emcee disappears for long stretches) and had a slew of strong one-liners. Introducing the presenters for Editing he snapped, “Editors do amazing things. Editors can turn 44,000 hours of violent insurrection footage into a respectful sightseeing tour of the Capitol.” Bringing out Jenny the Donkey was a great bit (except it wasn’t the real Jenny the Donkey who isn’t healthy enough to make the flight to Los Angeles). The boom microphone gag was a good industry joke to keep the room into it and we actually thought the Malala moment funny before she took it way too seriously. Overall, he demonstrated his strengths and his weaknesses as an Oscar host and he was better than he’d been before.
Best: Ke Huy Quan’s speechThe award-season comeback king has been giving acceptance speeches for months, but he might have saved his best for last. “They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe this is happening to me. This is the American dream.” And then later, “Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there. Please keep your dreams alive.”
Best: A true big-screen setThe production design for this year’s Oscars was more digital than physical. The stage was encompassed by a gigantic video screen and additional screens that extended beyond either side. There were also screens on the balconies. The power of this choice was most evident in a shot during Sofia Carson’s performance of “Applause” as the camera gloriously twirled behind her. Honestly, we can’t believe it took The Academy this long to go in this direction but it worked. Also, bringing the full auditorium seats with coordinated lights was a smart, contemporary choice and differentiated the night from the guild award shows.
Best and Worst: Champagne CarpetDid a ton of outfits pop against this year’s new champagne carpet? Absolutely. Did having the arrival area completely covered with no natural light make it seem ominous and claustrophobic? Absolutely. Even with cloudy skies, some natural light would have done wonders for the space and made the arrival area seem grander. Is there a compromise that can be worked out for 2024? We think there is.
Worst: Perhaps a little more love spread out would have been idealOnly five Best Picture nominees won at least one Oscar tonight. Last year was seven. In 2021 seven of the eight nominees won a statue. The fact “Everything Everywhere” and “All Quiet” dominated the proceedings was a bit disheartening. Especially considering what a superb year in film it was overall.
Best: “Naatu, Naatu” from “RRR” performanceSure, the stars of “RRR” weren’t singing what became the night’s Original Song winner (they didn’t in the movie either), but it was a super energetic and fun dance number that got the audience going. And if it got anyone watching the telecast to check out S. S. Rajamouli’s crowd-pleaser (it’s still on Netflix) even better.
Best: Lady GagaConsidering she basically gave the Oscar producers only a few days notice, the fact Gaga and her band pulled off the acoustic set at all was sort of remarkable. Was changing into a t-shirt and ripped jeans unnecessary? Sure. Was having the camera on her face in an extreme close-up for that long a period a choice? (And you can bet it was 100% hers) Well, it definitely wasn’t a great one. That being said, Gaga knocked the song itself out of the Dolby Theater. And it was arguably a better version of what was heard in “Top Gun: Maverick” itself.
Worst: Hugh GrantIf you happened to watch the official Oscar pre-show you now doubt experienced the worst of Hugh Grant. He was basically a terrible interview for Ashley Graham who was trying to get anything out of him. He gave her nothing. Then, as though he was a completely different person, he reunited with his “Four Weddings and a Funeral” co-star Andie McDowell to present the Production Design category. He joked about how wonderful she looked and his lack of moisturizer over the years made him look like “basically a scrotum.” It was funny but still reeked of someone who didn’t want to be there in the first place. Hugh, next time, just say “no.”
Best: RihannaThe Grammy winner had never sung “Lift Me Up” in public before Oscar night. It turned out to be well worth the wait as she delivered an absolutely superb vocal performance. In fact, we’re not sure she’s ever sounded this beautiful singing live before. It was so good that after the show went to commercial, the audience gave her a second standing ovation.
Worst: Too many Academy distractionsFor a show that was already going to go over three and a half hours (and shockingly almost didn’t) having both AMPAS president Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer be part of the ceremony in two different segments was a bit much. There was no reason that highlighting the Academy Museum (couldn’t this have just been a 15-second commercial?) and the other ceremonies honoring filmmakers over the year couldn’t have been one segment. Strange use of time in what felt like a strange political power struggle to both get on the show.
Worst: Lenny Kravitz’s In MemoriamOn paper, having Kravitz be the musical guest for the In Memoriam seemed like a great idea. In execution, it sort of flopped. Kravitz sounded fine, but his rendition of “Calling All Angels” was underwhelming. Maybe another song from his catalog would have worked better?
Best: “RRR” winner singing Carptener songWhile accepting his award, M.M. Keeravaani remarked how he grew up listening to the Carpenters. He then shocked the room by singing his acceptance speech to the band’s “We’ve Only Just Begun.” Unexpected! More winners should sing their acceptance speeches!