April 25, 2021–What a weird year, and even stranger that we are well into 2021 still awarding a gaggle of movies that showed up sporadically on our devices during our year long streaming binge. A year without movies turned out to be simply a year of watching movies at home. Steven Soderbergh ended up producing this Oscars telecast… and did the pre-show say that he consulted some CDC buddies (that he had met while filming Contagion) for advice on how best to hold the ceremony? Yikes!

With the Oscars and many ceremonies delayed because of the Year of COVID, “awards season” seemed to go on so long that many of the awards seemed pre-ordained… except those that weren’t. Chadwick Boseman (RIP) was a sentimental favorite for Best Actor, until the sentiment started to fade when everyone saw Anthony Hopkins’ performance (said to be perhaps his best of an amazing career). Frances McDormand (and Nomadland) prevailed despite strong competition. And yay for Minari‘s grandma, scene-stealing Yuh-Jung Youn winning Supporting Actress.

As for the ceremony itself, being toned-down actually helped it come in just about 15 minutes over time (even if many of the early speeches seemed to go on and on).  By rearranging the Big Three awards (Picture first, then Actress and Actor), the broadcast ended with a surprising thud, without Hopkins present, and with many in shock that there wasn’t the emotional triumph of Boseman winning. Because this was honoring this year specifically, it was OK to cut to credits quickly, probably for the best… don’t want to test fate. In the meantime, congrats to all the winners!

    

Winners are marked with a ✔

BEST PICTURE

The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland ✔
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father ✔
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah ✔
Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami…
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland ✔
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari ✔

BEST DIRECTOR

Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland ✔

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul ✔
Wolfwalkers

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher ✔
Time

DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Colette ✔
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Another Round ✔
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Father ✔
Nomadland
One Night in Miami…
The White Tiger
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Promising Young Woman ✔
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

ORIGINAL SONG

“Fight For You,” Judas and the Black Messiah ✔
“Hear My Voice,” The Trial of the Chicago 7
“Husavik,” Eurovision Song Contest
“Io Sì (Seen),” The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
“Speak Now,” One Night In Miami…

PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank ✔
News of the World
Tenet

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank ✔
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7

COSTUME DESIGN

Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom ✔
Mank
Mulan
Pinocchio

SOUND

Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal ✔

ORIGINAL SCORE

Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul ✔

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You ✔
Opera
Yes-People

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers ✔
White Eye

VISUAL EFFECTS

Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet ✔

FILM EDITING

The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal ✔
The Trial of the Chicago 7

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom ✔
Mank
Pinocchio