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
