With no host, a younger group of presenters, and a mission to finish under four hours, the #Oscars2019 telecast was a success as award shows go.
Props to the production – it moved swiftly. The speeches were held to the time limit. The opening block was shorter, the presenters’ banter was brief or not at all. The show clocked in at just over three and a quarter hours. That has to be a record over the past four decades. Maybe the Academy is onto something sans host. Was it entertaining – a bit, but it’s self-congratulatory in the end. The reactions, off-the-cuff remarks, fashion critiques, and predictions make up the fun.
A strong opening from Queen with We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions had the audience engaged and on its feet. Then the awards began to be announced and the air stilled. They are what they are, and the purpose of the evening.
Oscar love was spread around – Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite (yay Olivia Colman!), Green Book, Roma, Vice among other films, and all went home with at least one award.
Highlights
Firsts
Ruth E Carter making history as the first African-American to win the award for Costume Design, for Black Panther.
Hannah Beachler making history as the first African-American to win the award for Production Design, for Black Panther.
Spike Lee wins his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, for BlacKkKlansman.
Comic Moments
Melissa McCarthy and Brian Tyree Henry giving the award for Costume Design dressed in, shall we say, themes and variations from The Favourite. Very funny.
Keegan-Michael Key dropping in from above, referencing Mary Poppins Returns, and dropping the opened umbrella. Funny, and one of the few political references.
Brooklyn – in da house – got a shout out from La Streisand.
Fashion
There was the crop of traditional svelte Oscar gowns, but many actors thought outside the box. Both men and women went for capes, women chose pants and men opted for skirts. Plaid and camouflage also appeared on the red carpet. Here are the looks that caught my eye.
Hits
Regina King: Elegant in a white, sweetheart gown with a high cut leg
Helen Mirren: Stunning in a bright, bold red and pink gown cinched at the waist
Jennifer Hudson: Ravishing in a ruffled, red bias-cut gown
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi: Delicate in tiered-black and white empire gown
Queen Latifah: Fierce in a figure-hugging, black, glittering gown
James McAvoy: Smart and sleek in a skinny black tux
Stephan James: Rocking a red velvet tux with white boots
Chris Evans: Fine in a slate-gray jacket and black combo tux
Misses
Emma Stone: Usually love her fashion choices, but tonight’s gown with the flying shoulders didn’t work for me.
Rachel Weisz: Same note as above – I didn’t understand the short, red PVC cape at top of the gown.
Chadwick Boseman: Same note as above – but this year there were too many layers and shapes going on.
Sarah Paulson: A puffy fuschia, cutaway, sack-like gown. It may have been comfy, but design-wise, it was off.
As for my predictions – a respectable 19 correct winners out of 24 categories. I missed on Director and Supporting Actress, to name a few.
Another year of Oscars is in the books. Go to the cinema sometime to catch a film on the glorious, big screen, as movies were intended! That’s all folks.
What the biggest surprise of the night for you?
Animation: © 2019 Janet Giampietro.
