The simplicity and intimacy that came to this ceremony because of covid restrictions was actually beautifully juxtaposed with some big surprises that i didn't see coming. I loved the intimate banquet type setting, as someone said, reminded them of the very first ceremony back in 1928. I have to admit that it did cross my mind as to whether or not it was a coincidence that almost all of the winners were actually present at the ceremony and that the nominees who didn't win were there virtually. The absence of an orchestra kept acceptance speeches from being cut short was both a blessing and a curse. I wondered why Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger presented in their own categories rather than the opposite category as has been the tradition forever. The recurring theme of mentioning how the nominees got started in the business got tedious very quickly and I LOVED the "In Memorium" segment...the music perfectly complimented the shots unlike I've ever seen before. As for the specifics:
BEST UPSET- Anthony Hopkins winning Best Actor for The Father...I was very pleased to see that the academy didn't jump on the Boseman bandwagon like the rest of the award season. Boseman was excellent, but Hopkins was better, not to mention the fact that a second Oscar for Hopkins is long overdue.
WORST UPSET- No contest here...my jaw literally fell to the floor when Glenn Close was AGAIN denied a statue. Yes, I know Hillbilly Elegy was not her best performance, but was Scent of a Woman Al Pacino's best performance or was BUtterfield 8 Elizabeth Taylor's best performance? In my mind, Close should have three Oscars already...II think she should have won for Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Wife and how they could not give her the "Lifetime Achievement/Body of Work" award that she so richly deserves is just baffling to me. On the other side of this aggravating coin, at least they didn't twist the knife in Close's back by giving it to Olivia Coleman again and, honestly, if someone other than Close had to win, they gave it to the right nominee.Yuh-Jung Younwas absolutely amazing in Minari.
BEST ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES: Florian Zeller, Chloe Zhao's Best Director speech, Yuh-Jung Youn (she was hysterical), Tyler Perry (not a fan, but how could you not love that speech?)
MOST SURPRISING SHUT OUT- Not a single statue for The Trial of the Chicago 7...a brilliant piece of filmmaking which, for my money, was 2021's Best Picture, but I knew Nomadland, had that award, but to deny it completely, not even Sorkin's screenplay, though it did lose the screenplay award to the right film.
BEST PRESENTER HIGHLIGHT- Loved when Harrison Ford read the production notes from Blade Runner...you just know everyone was racking their brains trying to figure out which movie he was talking about, at least until he mentioned the name Zora, which probably gave it away for fans of the film.
BEST DRESSED- Amanda seyfried, Angela Bassett, Zendaya, Reese Witherspoon, Regina King, Don Cheadle, Viola Davbis, Renee Zellweger
WORST DRESSED- Leslie Odom, Jr, Laura Dern, Chloe Zhao, Emerald Fannell, Frances McDormand
Last edited by Gideon58; 05-05-21 at 08:36 PM.