We're doing things a little different this year. For once, thanks to a very helpful friend with access to Sky, I'm going to be watching the ceremony this year, rather than refreshing IMDb's homepage every few minutes for the entire night.
Not only that, but I've also assembled a couple of fellow film students to watch it with, and I'm going to be live blogging our reactions throughout the evening. So if you're pulling an all-nighter to follow the ceremony, stay tuned to this page for the latest awards and our reactions. It's gonna be a long 'un this year, but it's going to be a wild ride.
Pre Ceremony
It's currently quarter past twelve. Our leftover cheesy garlic bread has just come out the oven, the Haribos and flapjacks are plentiful, and the red carpet is in full swing.
I'm joined by my friends Cameron and Liam, both studying film up at York. "I don't care for the fashion," says Cameron, "but the presenter is very nice." That's Ryan Seacrest presenting, and at last the BoJack Horseman jokes are starting to make sense. And yeah, he's doing a pretty decent job, although a lot of these interviews and constant advert breaks do feel like we're really just killing time until the ceremony begins proper.
Upon asking Liam for his thoughts, he sat in silence for close to ten seconds, grasping at his face, as if considering the atrocities of war. At last, he answers "I think Willem Dafoe looks scary." That's the kinda guy Liam is.
Nothing to report yet, but we have gone through the nominations again and placed our predictions. Some we all agree on, some we're split on, including most notably Best Picture. More about our predictions later into the ceremony.
I haven't watched any more of the contenders since my last post: I was pretty proud that I'd seen six out of eight, which by proportion at least was a new record for me for pre-nomination viewing, I'm pretty sure. I decided against seeing Green Book in the end: I found that I couldn't really be arsed right now, but maybe I'll get to it another time. Cameron, my flatmate, has seen it and loved it, and it's even his pick for Best Picture, so I'm sure it can't be too bad.
Best Supporting Actress
Cameron: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Liam: Rachel Weisz (The Favourite)
Nick: Rachel Weisz (The Favourite)
Well, the show has started, as promised, with a performance by Queen, featuring Adam Lambert. And already we're laughing.
"How do we keep the Oscars relevant? Let's get an 80's band in!"
"If another Queen member dies, do they replace them too? At what point do they stop being Queen?"
Well, it's coming up to the first award, our predictions are above. I'm still stuck between Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz for the winner, but I've sided instead for Rachel in the end. We'll see how it turns out.
And wow, we're only a few minutes into the presenting, and it's already as unfunny as the legends foretold. I mean, by Christ, there was a joke about Mexico paying for the wall. That joke's two years old! It feels so painfully forced.
"The Oscars feel rushed this year without the host. It's like sex without the foreplay!" cries Cameron. At any rate, at least we're getting straight into the awards more or less. Maybe the ceremony will finish on time this year, to keep the metaphor going...
Winner: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Already, Cameron's acting smug: it's 1-0-0 to him. It's hard for me to comment since I haven't seen Beale Street yet, but from what I've heard about it, this doesn't seem like a controversial choice. While I love Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz's performances, I'm not too torn up about their loss, especially as they already have an Oscar each. A shame that Amy Adams still hasn't received any recognition for her amazing work yet though. Oh well. At least there's been no Meryl Streep this year.
"Aww, they're all crying." woos Liam, as the camera cuts to all the other nominees, tearing up at King's moving acceptance speech. "Only because they lost!" quips Cameron.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Cameron: Vice
Liam: Mary Queen of Scots
Nick: Vice
Winner: Vice
Not a surprise, although Liam and Cameron were umming and erring back and forth between Vice and Mary Queen of Scots, but in the end, it's now 2-0-1. The acceptance speech was an absolute clusterfuck, though. It's like they had no idea what they were doing, and was painfully awkward to watch. It was only made funnier when they started to play music over them to hurry them off stage, and then cut them off entirely. "They shouldn't have cut the awards, just the speeches" sighs Cameron, as the winners keep passing their notes back and forth like a couple of Year 7s doing a group presentation.
Best Costume Design
Cameron: Black Panther
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: The Favourite
Winner: Black Panther
An interesting choice, but one that I can sort of see the logic behind: the design was one of Black Panther's few strengths. Cameron's getting mad with power now, 3-0-1 to him. The warm response to the award, as well as the noticeably diverse audience, is making Cameron start to believe that Black Panther might win the big one. I remain sceptical.
Best Production Design
Cameron: Black Panther
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: The Favourite
"Sky just knows how to make everything look tacky, don't they?" says Liam, as the cheap-looking animated VT brings us back from the advert break.
Winner: Black Panther
4-0-1. Cameron would also like to point out he correctly predicted Best Documentary Feature, even though we didn't officially vote on it, so 5-0-1. Cameron's getting surer in his new prediction, but I'm resolute. Panther might sweep some of the technical and design awards, but it cannot win Best Picture.
Best Cinematography
Cameron: Roma
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: Roma
It's a done deal. For sure.
Winner: Roma
I'm sorry, but, no contest. 6-0-2.
L: "I'm not going with the ones I think will win, but the ones I want to win."
N: "How's that working out for you?"
C: "It's not the Oscars, it's the Liams."
And apparently, Cuarón's recycling his BAFTA acceptance speech, but I hardly think that's a crime.
N: "Did we decide on a prize for the winner?"
C: "Of our predictions? No. You're quite far behind though, how about £1000?"
N: "I'm not doing as badly as Liam."
L: "...at least I kept my morals..."
Best Sound Editing
Cameron: A Quiet Place
Liam: First Man
Nick: A Quiet Place
Liam has gone home for the night, by the way, but I'll add in his scores after the ceremony to see how well he did.
A Quiet Place surely will get the award, a film so uniquely about sound and its presence should be a clear winner.
Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody
N: "Oh fuck, really?!"
C: "Oh fuck, really?!"
(simultaneously)
Welp, guess A Quiet Place is getting nothing. "Don't you dare mention Bryan Singer" Cameron snarls, as the acceptance speech is given. Also, we're convinced the guy said 'Birmingham Rhapsody' by accident.
Best Sound Mixing
Cameron: Bohemian Rhapsody
Liam: First Man
Nick: Bohemian Rhapsody
I did say First Man originally but seeing as Rhapsody took sound editing, it's going to get mixing too...
Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody
QED. 7-0-3.
(Discussing Best Picture during the ad break)
C: "It'll be funny if Black Panther wins."
N: "It'll fucking piss me off if it does."
C: *chuckles*
Best Foreign Film
Cameron: Capernaum
Liam: Roma
Nick: Roma
For the record, Cameron doesn't think Capernaum will win, but he's so adamant that it should, that he's pulling a Liam.
Winner: Roma
7-1-4. Cameron grunts, "well, it ain't winning best picture then, is it." I imagine it's the case, I'm even more confident now in The Favourite's victory.
C: "Did he just compare Roma to Jaws?"
N: "Both feature scenes at a beach with kids in peril."
C: "Would be a better film if they'd been eaten by a shark."
Best Editing
Cameron: The Favourite
Liam: Vice
Nick: BlackKklansman
"Vice shouldn't get it," laments Cameron, "but it might because it was 'stylised' and 'cool'."
Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody
Really. Really? Are you kidding? Cameron wishes Vice had got it now.
Best Supporting Actor
Cameron: Richard E Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Liam: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Nick: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
N: "How do you spell his name again?"
C: "M-A-H-E-R-S-H-A-L-A, then Ali. Can you spell Ali?"
N: "Yeah, alright alright."
Daniel Craig walks on stage, arm-in-arm with Charlize Theron. "Oh look, he's found the next Bond girl!", quips Cameron. He now realises he's dug himself a hole and wishes to retract his statement.
Winner: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Cameron nearly changed his mind moments before the announcement and is now kicking himself for not switching. Tough luck. 7-2-5.
(suggesting Green Book might win Best Picture)
C: "Emma Stone won Best Actress but La La Land never won."
N: "You can't base it off that."
C: "I think you'll find I can."
Best Animated Feature
Cameron: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
Liam: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
Nick: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
I'd like to also clarify I prefer Isle of Dogs, but I think Spider-Man will get it.
C: "Pharrell Williams looks happy"
N: "I'm not putting that in."
C: "You never let me put it in."
(both smirk)
Winner: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
"My Spidey senses predicted correctly", smiles Cameron. Yeah, I think it was clear it was going to win, considering the overwhelming audience and critical reaction. And I do love it, but I still feel sorry for Isle of Dogs. 8-3-6.
Best Animated Short
Cameron: Bao
Nick: Bao
(I'm poised at my laptop ready to write, Awkwafina is rambling on, wasting time)
N: "Tell me what [award] you're presenting, I need to write it down!"
C: "Mediocrity, by the looks of things"
Winner: Bao
It's Disney, of course it was going to win. Probably the first time a film about vore of all things has won an Oscar, though. 9-3-7.
Best Visual Effects
Cameron: Avengers: Infinity War
Liam: Avengers: Infinity War
Nick: First Man
It's now 3am. Cameron has descended into madness, quietly singing Shallow to himself, before
moving onto singing Alan Partridge quotes.
When asked about his prediction, Cameron said; "Infinity War, purely because of Josh Brolin's chin." I still think First Man is the more likely winner, thinking from the Academy's point of view.
Winner: First Man
Well, what d'ya know? 9-3-8.
Cameron was horrified to realise upon checking his phone that he originally put down First Man, but since he responded Infinity War when I asked him, I have to take his final answer. Cause if we stick to what we put on the sheet originally, we're both gonna lose a few points. That's final.
N: "It's not what you said in the moment!"
C: "A lot of bad decisions were made in the moment! That's how Brexit happened!!"
Best Original Screenplay
Cameron: The Favourite
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: The Favourite
N: *smugly* "Are you checking the sheet this time?"
C: *glares* "Yes, I'm checking the sheet."
We're all in agreement for this one. Let's see if the Academy is too...
Winner: Green Book
Welp, never mind.
C: "I shoulda put it."
N: "Well, ya didn't"
Best Adapted Screenplay
Cameron: If Beale Street Could Talk
Liam: If Beale Street Could Talk
Nick: BlackKklansman
I'm thinking, since BlackKklansman is the most creatively transformed, considering the original book was essentially a quite dry non-fiction work from what I understand, turning it into the quirky stylish film that it was seems like it might make it the most deserving.
Winner: BlackKklansman
Back of the net! And now it's everything to play for: 9-3-9.
According to Cameron, a lot of male Academy members haven't been voting for The Favourite because they didn't 'get it', for which reason he reckons Best Picture is going to be between Green Book and BlackKklansman. While I was sceptical of this, considering The Favourite has been snubbed for everything so far, despite its ten nominations, I'm starting to get a little concerned. But I'm sticking with my gut and standing by all of my The Favourite-related predictions. For now.
Best Original Score
Cameron: Black Panther
Liam: Mary Poppins Returns
Nick: Black Panther
Considering there was a lot of hubbub at the time about Black Panther's score, and I think Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar contributed to it, this seems like a sure-fire win to me.
Winner: Black Panther
See, sometimes sticking to my gut works out for the best. 10-3-10.
Best Original Song
Cameron: A Star Is Born
Liam: A Star Is Born
Nick: A Star Is Born
Winner: A Star Is Born
It seemed a lot of the reason people liked this film was exclusively for its soundtrack. I didn't think much of it, but I could smell the whiff of Oscar from the way people talked about it. Also the fact that they played the song live during the ceremony. I think that helps. 11-4-11
C: "Mark Ronson's used to working with singers who overdose and have addictions"
N: "It's the In Memoriam section now, you can't say anything funny."
C: "Of course I can!"
…
C: "He's Hitler!"
N: "You can't say that, he's dead!"
C: "No, he literally was. In Downfall."
N: "Oh, I see."
Best Actor
Cameron: Viggo Mortensen (Green Book)
Liam: Christian Bale (Vice)
Nick: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
C: "Are we tied?"
N: "Yeah, 11 for 11."
C: "You're going to pull ahead with Malek."
N: "You can change if you want."
C: "No! I'm pulling a Liam."
Winner: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Yeah, could see this coming a mile off. It always seems to be the transformative performances that grab it, especially into non-fiction characters. On that note, Vice could have snagged this, and I wouldn't have been surprised if it did. Cameron is not a happy bunny. 11-4-12.
Best Actress
Cameron: Yalitza Aparicio (Roma)
Liam: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Nick: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Come on, The Favourite, you can do it!
Winner: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Ok, finally some attention for The Favourite. I'm so glad she's won, after the sheer multitude of roles she's done over the years, with such a range of characters she's performed, it's high time she got such prestigious recognition. Let's just hope this isn't The Favourite's last Oscar of the evening...
11-5-13
Best Director
Cameron: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Liam: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Nick: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
So, we've realised that Cameron can't actually win at this point since we're all on the same wavelength for Best Director, so there's no way he can make up the two-point difference.
Winner: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
No surprises here. 12-6-14. Now, the bit we've all been waiting for...
Best Picture
Cameron: Green Book
Liam: Roma
Nick: The Favourite
I'm feeling a little conflicted about this now, but I'm still sticking with it. I can't see Black Panther, BlackKklansman, Bohemian Rhapsody or Vice winning. Green Book seems like too much of a low-hanging fruit, too safe a pick for the Academy. A Star is Born hasn't been getting the attention I thought it would, and Roma got Foreign Film instead, and I can't see it getting both. Which just leaves The Favourite, but I can't deny it's not been doing well this evening. And Lanthimos' films haven't exactly won over the Academy in the past. But I just don't know what else could win?
I'll be honest, I don't know which way this is going to go, it could go either way. I think we can all agree, as long as Black Panther doesn't get it, it's not a complete loss...
Winner: Green Book
There we go. Deep inside, I think a voice shouted it at me moments before they opened the envelope (although that may have just been Cameron, who is overjoyed at the result). I can kinda see why, the Oscars remit here seemed to be laser focused on racial representation, and Green Book ticks that theme perfectly, without them having to resort to giving the award to the more popular, mainstream films of Black Panther and BlackKklansman.
I'm still majorly ticked off that The Favourite didn't win, and if what Cameron's said is true about the Academy voters, then that bias makes the blow sting even more. Oh well, it wouldn't be the Oscars without some kind of disappointment.
And so the final score is:
Cameron: 13
Liam: 6
Nick: 14
It was close, and while Cameron took an early lead, I did manage to pull through towards the end. Liam, well, he didn't do as well.
I asked Cameron for his closing statements, and he responded thus;
"I knew Green Book was going to win; even though The Favourite was the better film, it's too progressive for the Academy, they're not ready for it yet. Green Book was like a baby-step; just enough progression to make it seem like the Academy cares, whilst still remaining in their comfort zone."
And with that, we close out another year of Oscars. I've had a really fun night, and while it has been exhausting writing non-stop for about five hours, I've really enjoyed this new format and I might try and do this again next year. I can't make any promises though.
I hope you've all enjoyed reading these ramblings, and that you'll join me again next year. Until then, I promised y'all a Hereditary review early this year, so join me in March or April where I'll be diving into my thoughts on that. See you then.
NOTE: The content of this blog was written and posted in real time as the ceremony unfolded. Edits have been made after the ceremony only for grammar and formatting; our original predictions and opinions remain unaltered from what was said at the time.
Not only that, but I've also assembled a couple of fellow film students to watch it with, and I'm going to be live blogging our reactions throughout the evening. So if you're pulling an all-nighter to follow the ceremony, stay tuned to this page for the latest awards and our reactions. It's gonna be a long 'un this year, but it's going to be a wild ride.
Pre Ceremony
It's currently quarter past twelve. Our leftover cheesy garlic bread has just come out the oven, the Haribos and flapjacks are plentiful, and the red carpet is in full swing.
I'm joined by my friends Cameron and Liam, both studying film up at York. "I don't care for the fashion," says Cameron, "but the presenter is very nice." That's Ryan Seacrest presenting, and at last the BoJack Horseman jokes are starting to make sense. And yeah, he's doing a pretty decent job, although a lot of these interviews and constant advert breaks do feel like we're really just killing time until the ceremony begins proper.
Upon asking Liam for his thoughts, he sat in silence for close to ten seconds, grasping at his face, as if considering the atrocities of war. At last, he answers "I think Willem Dafoe looks scary." That's the kinda guy Liam is.
Nothing to report yet, but we have gone through the nominations again and placed our predictions. Some we all agree on, some we're split on, including most notably Best Picture. More about our predictions later into the ceremony.
I haven't watched any more of the contenders since my last post: I was pretty proud that I'd seen six out of eight, which by proportion at least was a new record for me for pre-nomination viewing, I'm pretty sure. I decided against seeing Green Book in the end: I found that I couldn't really be arsed right now, but maybe I'll get to it another time. Cameron, my flatmate, has seen it and loved it, and it's even his pick for Best Picture, so I'm sure it can't be too bad.
Best Supporting Actress
Cameron: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Liam: Rachel Weisz (The Favourite)
Nick: Rachel Weisz (The Favourite)
Well, the show has started, as promised, with a performance by Queen, featuring Adam Lambert. And already we're laughing.
"How do we keep the Oscars relevant? Let's get an 80's band in!"
"If another Queen member dies, do they replace them too? At what point do they stop being Queen?"
Well, it's coming up to the first award, our predictions are above. I'm still stuck between Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz for the winner, but I've sided instead for Rachel in the end. We'll see how it turns out.
And wow, we're only a few minutes into the presenting, and it's already as unfunny as the legends foretold. I mean, by Christ, there was a joke about Mexico paying for the wall. That joke's two years old! It feels so painfully forced.
"The Oscars feel rushed this year without the host. It's like sex without the foreplay!" cries Cameron. At any rate, at least we're getting straight into the awards more or less. Maybe the ceremony will finish on time this year, to keep the metaphor going...
Winner: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Already, Cameron's acting smug: it's 1-0-0 to him. It's hard for me to comment since I haven't seen Beale Street yet, but from what I've heard about it, this doesn't seem like a controversial choice. While I love Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz's performances, I'm not too torn up about their loss, especially as they already have an Oscar each. A shame that Amy Adams still hasn't received any recognition for her amazing work yet though. Oh well. At least there's been no Meryl Streep this year.
"Aww, they're all crying." woos Liam, as the camera cuts to all the other nominees, tearing up at King's moving acceptance speech. "Only because they lost!" quips Cameron.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Cameron: Vice
Liam: Mary Queen of Scots
Nick: Vice
Winner: Vice
Not a surprise, although Liam and Cameron were umming and erring back and forth between Vice and Mary Queen of Scots, but in the end, it's now 2-0-1. The acceptance speech was an absolute clusterfuck, though. It's like they had no idea what they were doing, and was painfully awkward to watch. It was only made funnier when they started to play music over them to hurry them off stage, and then cut them off entirely. "They shouldn't have cut the awards, just the speeches" sighs Cameron, as the winners keep passing their notes back and forth like a couple of Year 7s doing a group presentation.
Best Costume Design
Cameron: Black Panther
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: The Favourite
Winner: Black Panther
An interesting choice, but one that I can sort of see the logic behind: the design was one of Black Panther's few strengths. Cameron's getting mad with power now, 3-0-1 to him. The warm response to the award, as well as the noticeably diverse audience, is making Cameron start to believe that Black Panther might win the big one. I remain sceptical.
Best Production Design
Cameron: Black Panther
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: The Favourite
"Sky just knows how to make everything look tacky, don't they?" says Liam, as the cheap-looking animated VT brings us back from the advert break.
Winner: Black Panther
4-0-1. Cameron would also like to point out he correctly predicted Best Documentary Feature, even though we didn't officially vote on it, so 5-0-1. Cameron's getting surer in his new prediction, but I'm resolute. Panther might sweep some of the technical and design awards, but it cannot win Best Picture.
Best Cinematography
Cameron: Roma
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: Roma
It's a done deal. For sure.
Winner: Roma
I'm sorry, but, no contest. 6-0-2.
L: "I'm not going with the ones I think will win, but the ones I want to win."
N: "How's that working out for you?"
C: "It's not the Oscars, it's the Liams."
And apparently, Cuarón's recycling his BAFTA acceptance speech, but I hardly think that's a crime.
N: "Did we decide on a prize for the winner?"
C: "Of our predictions? No. You're quite far behind though, how about £1000?"
N: "I'm not doing as badly as Liam."
L: "...at least I kept my morals..."
Best Sound Editing
Cameron: A Quiet Place
Liam: First Man
Nick: A Quiet Place
Liam has gone home for the night, by the way, but I'll add in his scores after the ceremony to see how well he did.
A Quiet Place surely will get the award, a film so uniquely about sound and its presence should be a clear winner.
Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody
N: "Oh fuck, really?!"
C: "Oh fuck, really?!"
(simultaneously)
Welp, guess A Quiet Place is getting nothing. "Don't you dare mention Bryan Singer" Cameron snarls, as the acceptance speech is given. Also, we're convinced the guy said 'Birmingham Rhapsody' by accident.
Best Sound Mixing
Cameron: Bohemian Rhapsody
Liam: First Man
Nick: Bohemian Rhapsody
I did say First Man originally but seeing as Rhapsody took sound editing, it's going to get mixing too...
Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody
QED. 7-0-3.
(Discussing Best Picture during the ad break)
C: "It'll be funny if Black Panther wins."
N: "It'll fucking piss me off if it does."
C: *chuckles*
Best Foreign Film
Cameron: Capernaum
Liam: Roma
Nick: Roma
For the record, Cameron doesn't think Capernaum will win, but he's so adamant that it should, that he's pulling a Liam.
Winner: Roma
7-1-4. Cameron grunts, "well, it ain't winning best picture then, is it." I imagine it's the case, I'm even more confident now in The Favourite's victory.
C: "Did he just compare Roma to Jaws?"
N: "Both feature scenes at a beach with kids in peril."
C: "Would be a better film if they'd been eaten by a shark."
Best Editing
Cameron: The Favourite
Liam: Vice
Nick: BlackKklansman
"Vice shouldn't get it," laments Cameron, "but it might because it was 'stylised' and 'cool'."
Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody
Really. Really? Are you kidding? Cameron wishes Vice had got it now.
Best Supporting Actor
Cameron: Richard E Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Liam: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Nick: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
N: "How do you spell his name again?"
C: "M-A-H-E-R-S-H-A-L-A, then Ali. Can you spell Ali?"
N: "Yeah, alright alright."
Daniel Craig walks on stage, arm-in-arm with Charlize Theron. "Oh look, he's found the next Bond girl!", quips Cameron. He now realises he's dug himself a hole and wishes to retract his statement.
Winner: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Cameron nearly changed his mind moments before the announcement and is now kicking himself for not switching. Tough luck. 7-2-5.
(suggesting Green Book might win Best Picture)
C: "Emma Stone won Best Actress but La La Land never won."
N: "You can't base it off that."
C: "I think you'll find I can."
Best Animated Feature
Cameron: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
Liam: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
Nick: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
I'd like to also clarify I prefer Isle of Dogs, but I think Spider-Man will get it.
C: "Pharrell Williams looks happy"
N: "I'm not putting that in."
C: "You never let me put it in."
(both smirk)
Winner: Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse
"My Spidey senses predicted correctly", smiles Cameron. Yeah, I think it was clear it was going to win, considering the overwhelming audience and critical reaction. And I do love it, but I still feel sorry for Isle of Dogs. 8-3-6.
Best Animated Short
Cameron: Bao
Nick: Bao
(I'm poised at my laptop ready to write, Awkwafina is rambling on, wasting time)
N: "Tell me what [award] you're presenting, I need to write it down!"
C: "Mediocrity, by the looks of things"
Winner: Bao
It's Disney, of course it was going to win. Probably the first time a film about vore of all things has won an Oscar, though. 9-3-7.
Best Visual Effects
Cameron: Avengers: Infinity War
Liam: Avengers: Infinity War
Nick: First Man
It's now 3am. Cameron has descended into madness, quietly singing Shallow to himself, before
moving onto singing Alan Partridge quotes.
When asked about his prediction, Cameron said; "Infinity War, purely because of Josh Brolin's chin." I still think First Man is the more likely winner, thinking from the Academy's point of view.
Winner: First Man
Well, what d'ya know? 9-3-8.
Cameron was horrified to realise upon checking his phone that he originally put down First Man, but since he responded Infinity War when I asked him, I have to take his final answer. Cause if we stick to what we put on the sheet originally, we're both gonna lose a few points. That's final.
N: "It's not what you said in the moment!"
C: "A lot of bad decisions were made in the moment! That's how Brexit happened!!"
Best Original Screenplay
Cameron: The Favourite
Liam: The Favourite
Nick: The Favourite
N: *smugly* "Are you checking the sheet this time?"
C: *glares* "Yes, I'm checking the sheet."
We're all in agreement for this one. Let's see if the Academy is too...
Winner: Green Book
Welp, never mind.
C: "I shoulda put it."
N: "Well, ya didn't"
Best Adapted Screenplay
Cameron: If Beale Street Could Talk
Liam: If Beale Street Could Talk
Nick: BlackKklansman
I'm thinking, since BlackKklansman is the most creatively transformed, considering the original book was essentially a quite dry non-fiction work from what I understand, turning it into the quirky stylish film that it was seems like it might make it the most deserving.
Winner: BlackKklansman
Back of the net! And now it's everything to play for: 9-3-9.
According to Cameron, a lot of male Academy members haven't been voting for The Favourite because they didn't 'get it', for which reason he reckons Best Picture is going to be between Green Book and BlackKklansman. While I was sceptical of this, considering The Favourite has been snubbed for everything so far, despite its ten nominations, I'm starting to get a little concerned. But I'm sticking with my gut and standing by all of my The Favourite-related predictions. For now.
Best Original Score
Cameron: Black Panther
Liam: Mary Poppins Returns
Nick: Black Panther
Considering there was a lot of hubbub at the time about Black Panther's score, and I think Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar contributed to it, this seems like a sure-fire win to me.
Winner: Black Panther
See, sometimes sticking to my gut works out for the best. 10-3-10.
Best Original Song
Cameron: A Star Is Born
Liam: A Star Is Born
Nick: A Star Is Born
Winner: A Star Is Born
It seemed a lot of the reason people liked this film was exclusively for its soundtrack. I didn't think much of it, but I could smell the whiff of Oscar from the way people talked about it. Also the fact that they played the song live during the ceremony. I think that helps. 11-4-11
C: "Mark Ronson's used to working with singers who overdose and have addictions"
N: "It's the In Memoriam section now, you can't say anything funny."
C: "Of course I can!"
…
C: "He's Hitler!"
N: "You can't say that, he's dead!"
C: "No, he literally was. In Downfall."
N: "Oh, I see."
Best Actor
Cameron: Viggo Mortensen (Green Book)
Liam: Christian Bale (Vice)
Nick: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
C: "Are we tied?"
N: "Yeah, 11 for 11."
C: "You're going to pull ahead with Malek."
N: "You can change if you want."
C: "No! I'm pulling a Liam."
Winner: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Yeah, could see this coming a mile off. It always seems to be the transformative performances that grab it, especially into non-fiction characters. On that note, Vice could have snagged this, and I wouldn't have been surprised if it did. Cameron is not a happy bunny. 11-4-12.
Best Actress
Cameron: Yalitza Aparicio (Roma)
Liam: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Nick: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Come on, The Favourite, you can do it!
Winner: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Ok, finally some attention for The Favourite. I'm so glad she's won, after the sheer multitude of roles she's done over the years, with such a range of characters she's performed, it's high time she got such prestigious recognition. Let's just hope this isn't The Favourite's last Oscar of the evening...
11-5-13
Best Director
Cameron: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Liam: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Nick: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
So, we've realised that Cameron can't actually win at this point since we're all on the same wavelength for Best Director, so there's no way he can make up the two-point difference.
Winner: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
No surprises here. 12-6-14. Now, the bit we've all been waiting for...
Best Picture
Cameron: Green Book
Liam: Roma
Nick: The Favourite
I'm feeling a little conflicted about this now, but I'm still sticking with it. I can't see Black Panther, BlackKklansman, Bohemian Rhapsody or Vice winning. Green Book seems like too much of a low-hanging fruit, too safe a pick for the Academy. A Star is Born hasn't been getting the attention I thought it would, and Roma got Foreign Film instead, and I can't see it getting both. Which just leaves The Favourite, but I can't deny it's not been doing well this evening. And Lanthimos' films haven't exactly won over the Academy in the past. But I just don't know what else could win?
I'll be honest, I don't know which way this is going to go, it could go either way. I think we can all agree, as long as Black Panther doesn't get it, it's not a complete loss...
Winner: Green Book
There we go. Deep inside, I think a voice shouted it at me moments before they opened the envelope (although that may have just been Cameron, who is overjoyed at the result). I can kinda see why, the Oscars remit here seemed to be laser focused on racial representation, and Green Book ticks that theme perfectly, without them having to resort to giving the award to the more popular, mainstream films of Black Panther and BlackKklansman.
I'm still majorly ticked off that The Favourite didn't win, and if what Cameron's said is true about the Academy voters, then that bias makes the blow sting even more. Oh well, it wouldn't be the Oscars without some kind of disappointment.
And so the final score is:
Cameron: 13
Liam: 6
Nick: 14
It was close, and while Cameron took an early lead, I did manage to pull through towards the end. Liam, well, he didn't do as well.
I asked Cameron for his closing statements, and he responded thus;
"I knew Green Book was going to win; even though The Favourite was the better film, it's too progressive for the Academy, they're not ready for it yet. Green Book was like a baby-step; just enough progression to make it seem like the Academy cares, whilst still remaining in their comfort zone."
And with that, we close out another year of Oscars. I've had a really fun night, and while it has been exhausting writing non-stop for about five hours, I've really enjoyed this new format and I might try and do this again next year. I can't make any promises though.
I hope you've all enjoyed reading these ramblings, and that you'll join me again next year. Until then, I promised y'all a Hereditary review early this year, so join me in March or April where I'll be diving into my thoughts on that. See you then.
NOTE: The content of this blog was written and posted in real time as the ceremony unfolded. Edits have been made after the ceremony only for grammar and formatting; our original predictions and opinions remain unaltered from what was said at the time.
