Oscar Notes, 2026 - Movies are Back. Tell Everyone!

Don't have time to post pictures today and I will get to the best dresses thing in a day or so, just the one video at the bottom.

I kinda take a while to get to the Oscars thing, so skip this next part if you want?

I have one more project to do and then it's Spring Break for school! (We weren't officially supposed to have one, but both my teachers gave us one after one project due tomorrow). 

Let's just say a break was sorely needed. These are accelerated courses and I'm old 😂

Before I get to the Oscars, I gotta say, of the things I have missed about being school is meeting like-minded people on so many things. I think I've made a couple of friends already. 

Though I have a lot of friends and acquaintances here in Kentucky, it IS kind of hard, here, to find people that I really have a lot in common with - people that also like to delve into issues, analyze and figure stuff out, but also create and laugh at the absurd.

Don't get me wrong, I love Kentuckians for their friendliness and their lack of "putting on airs" compared to other places in the country and world, not looking down on people because of class - but you really had to grow up here to ever really be accepted.  

It's part of that whole conservative/rural mindset of  "You weren't born and raised here alongside us, you're not blood, and we don't know your daddy" mentality.

You're daddy could be a serial killer, for all they know and care, but he's still somehow "better" because he's a born-and-bred Kentuckian good 'ole boy. 😂

They have had their set of friends since elementary school and they don't want/need anymore, and you're an "outsider" - which has an inherent sort of arrogance attached to it, as if nobody else is as good as other Kentuckians, especially blood family.

It's less like that in Louisville - and in college, making new friends from different places - but everywhere else in Kentucky?

Yeah.

Edited: I had more about that here, how common that feeling is/how often that sentiment is expressed by new transplants here, as well as how long it takes to make friends here for "outsiders," but I have moved it to another post for another day.

ANYWAY - to the Oscars, we go. 😊

So while watching the Oscars last night, but still on this note, my husband remarked - after many things said, both the serious and the funny, particularly when listening to the speeches of the behind-the-scenes people: 

"These are your people. I get why you like this so much. Why didn't you go off and try? You were never gonna find that here!"

Yep, they're my lost tribe, particularly the behind-the-scenes people  - if only I had been talented enough - or confident enough! 😂

On that note, but still with a nod to the above, I had a lot of friends in my youth in Cincinnati - and still, if I'm honest, feeling like I actually belonged to any group has never been my strong suit, as much as I wanted to. 

Okay, that may relate back to my not fitting in/being accepted/being the scapegoat in my own family, but still - everything is not always about that.

Except once - once upon a time, years ago, being part of a movie that happened to be filmed in Cincinnati.

Never in my life, before or since, have I ever felt I belonged but then.

Not necessarily the actors (though included), but the behind the scenes people especially - from the set people to the writers to the assistant directors. 

Quirky, creative people with big hearts that just want to create and make something that they're proud of, something that connects us all as humans and sometimes, changes minds.


Speaking of which - Bravo, Hollywood - so glad to see you stopped playing it safe in movies and are telling brave stories again!!!

If I saw one more superhero or first-responder drama, I was gonna lose my sh*t, I'm so tired of them. Tell us a new story, or at least an old story with a new perspective, instead of more money for the latest/greatest special effects?

Movie people?

Not only do you have the power to connect and unite, but you have the power to change minds and hearts, you always have - you've proven it time and time again. Now USE IT, now is the time, more than ever - and you're off to a good start, this year!

What happened was - and I'm speaking to all the major film production companies now - you started focusing on big-budget films with lots of special effects that didn't tell us a new story (or an old story from a new perspective ) - instead, you just played it safe politically to make money and kept hitting that same tired button over and over until you wore it, and us, completely out!

Yeah, and how'd that work out in the end?

Not so well, did it?

People just waited until things went to streaming, and if they did go see a movie at the theater, they didn't go back to watch it again.

How many times have people gone back to the theater to see Sinners and One Battle After Another, now - some people 4 and 5 times!

There hasn't been a movie I wanted to watch again in years - but I will watch both of them again during my break, they were that good!

But I digress. 😂




Now - the first thing I need to say is -  as I mentioned in my post below -  what could have happened is that this could be one of those rare years where Best Picture and Best Director don't win in tandem - or that best screenplay would be awarded to the non-winner.

I also said that considering Oscar history, sometimes they are just now rewarding you for all the work you've put in already, rather than your current film - although in this case, OBAA really is also Paul Thomas Anderson's masterpiece and best VS. Ryan Coogler is still only 39, still just a baby in the business, and will only get better.

Although it did hold to tradition and OBAA won both Best Picture and Best Director, rewarding him for his time in the industry before this, as well as his current film, did indeed win out.

And as I said, as a result, Ryan Coogler instead won the Best Original Screenplay - which is actually the highest consolation/highest honor you could ever give a "rookie" filmmaker and the best "rookies" are likely ever going to get.

It doesn't mean that either film was better than the other one - it means it's just like Paul Thomas Anderson said, looking directly at Ryan Coogler when he said it: "They (the Academy) really make you work for it."

Because the truth is, unfortunately, even if we all agreed something is the best movie ever made, it's highly unlikely the filmmaker will win Best Picture or Best Director for their first or second film.

That is because the Academy wants to make sure you mean it, you didn't just get lucky, and you're willing to go the long haul and pay your dues.

Sometimes we've even seen aging directors win a certain year, not necessarily because their current film is their best, or even really the best picture that year, but because of their legacy.

Fair or not, flawed argument or not - this is the way it is and always has been.

But in this particular case, both were true - OBAA was his masterpiece AND he had paid his dues.



Best moments?

I will first list some of my favorites, culminating in what I thought was THE best moment of the night.

First, Conan O'Brien as host - fantastic job!

I love it that he took a queue from the Billy Crystal Oscar days and did a cinematic opener incorporating all the remarkable movies of the year in it that made us laugh out loud!

Also, after saying it's the first time in history we have no British nominated - and then later adding "At least in the UK they actually arrest their wealthy pedophiles!"

DOH, oh my God ... HAHAHAHA!

Nailed it.

If you noticed, he paused for just a few extra seconds, just before he told that joke - as if he was either rethinking making it or wanted to ensure he had just the right delivery/had everyone's full attention first - but he pulled it off!

I'm also super proud of him for losing the comedic bit for a few seconds to chide production for literally retracting the microphones and turning of the lights and switching to a long shot during the speeches of people who won that we're actors/cast!

I've never seen him mad or even irritated before, but we saw a flash of it, and it was warranted - then he just told them they were "hilarious," clearly laughing AT them for that absurdity!

Now, look, ABC - what is so GD important that you have to air at 11 p.m. that you're doing this to people, especially those you deem less of a star because they work behind the scenes or on a documentary, that you justify being that heinously, obviously, record-scratch intentionally rude to someone at the pinnacle of their career, hmm?

And news flash - we LOVE to see their speeches in particular - because they're not performing, it's genuine emotion - and their speeches are actually often the most memorable!

Whatever dastardly thing Trump said and did now can wait half another hour to be on the 11 'clock news, jeeez!

In fact, what other awards show in the world do we get to see that?

There IS no better "Reality TV" than this!

So stop it, it actually detracts from the quality of the show!




Also, the fact that you think people don't care about editing and sound actually means these people have done their jobs well - because editing and sounds are the only two things you're not supposed to notice in film, if they've done their job right - they're supposed to be seamless.

(Watch any low-budget film when the sound or editing is done badly, and you'll know what I mean lol)


Speaking of editing, Andy Jurgenson winning Best Editing for Sinners and kissing his husband on the mouth, and then delivering one of the best speeches of the night

Aw, it's about time! And I'm glad to see it was applauded!

At least you didn't played that one, ABC, rather than use the 7-second delay feature, I'll give you that one!

And his speech about his aunt - a former film archivist - inspiring him to become an editor brought tears to my eyes!

Comedic actress, partner/wife of Paul Thomas Anderson - Maya Rudolph - holding onto his 2 Oscars just won for him, then waving them at him/in the air, while he was onstage again accepting Best Picture!😂

She can make you laugh just sitting there, how much do we love Maya Rudolph? She is one of my favorite people in Hollywood.

Kumail Nanjiani's adept, smooth and yet still hilarious handling of a sticky situation.

So there was a rare tie vote in the "Film Shorts" category.

Nanjiani took control of this situation, proving he can think fast on his feet despite nerves on Oscars night, by immediately saying the following, without missing a beat -  "Okay, this is the way it's going to go. I'm going to announce the first names, they'll come up and received, and then I'll announce the second names, and they'll come up, okay?"

While awaiting the second group to come on stage, He filled the time by saying "It's ironic that the "Short Film" category is the one that's going to end up making us run long, isn't it?" 😂

Unfortunately, the second set of speeches was the moment Conan chided - where ABC turned off the lights and retracted the mic -  but that isn't either Kumail or Conan's fault - and no one could've handled that situation better than Kumail did, Bravo!

Little teasing jabs/teaching moments towards Timothee Chalamet in the front row for his "nobody cares about" ballet and opera comments, this past week. 

They weren't mean spirited, they were light-hearted ribbing  - essentially, teaching moments for the young actor, that he needs to show a little more respect towards his colleagues and predecessors.

This was a fact that was drilled home in that the result of his his irresponsible mouth likely caused Marty Supreme to not win a single award all night! 

I also had to wonder when there were the musical and dance moments of the show like "I Lied to You" from Sinners or K-Pop Demon Hunters "Golden"- or the operatic performance by Josh Rogan during a Conan as King sketch - if Timothee finally got why these elements of performance are still relevant and important - and that movies are standing on the shoulders of these original artists/performers.

Message received, Timothee?

Good - because we love you, Buddy, but you're getting a liitttttle too big for your breeches lately, though you still have much to learn and more room to grow as far as talent.

You don't want to turn out to be an arrogant, shallow, selfish, nonappreciative douche, like DiCaprio -  or worse, Sean Penn - do you?

All right, so take this as the toughlove moment it was and learn from it, yes? 😊

The "In Memoriam" moment for Rob and Michelle Reiner, all the still-living actors in all his movies holding hands.

Although the "In Memoriam" section in general was off.  They appeared to group people together into one quick slide that didn't belong, and then repeat some people twice?

Like a beloved actor with some market in the same slide - but then do the same person twice?

Previously, they didn't spend enough time on this segment, but this year, they stretched it out, repeating themselves - it was like it was thrown together and they didn't realize that?

The new award for casting director - I have said for years, they needed an award for this.

They are very skilled at picking just the right person for roles, sometimes having to sell directors and producers on someone who doubt them, and later wins an Oscar!

The overall kindness, comradery and unity displayed, rather than catty, cutthroat competitiveness.

The award losers - though disappointed, genuinely stood and applauded each other, even mouthing things from the audience to the winner like "Proud of you, buddy" and hugs and fist pumps before or just after they went up to accept - and you believed them.

That is because in this particular group, this year, they genuinely ARE all friends who inspire each other, as well as recognize how tough of a year it actually was to make these choices and how masterful their competition was this year.

Also, even when people flubbed in their speeches out of nerves, lost what they were going to say out of being overwhelmed - instead of people rolling their eyes or acting like they were superior or embarrassed, people around them and in the audience just smiled and encouraged them on, sometimes patting them to keep going, understanding what it must be like to stand on that stage and suddenly realize you actually did it - in front of everyone not just in your business, but the world watching - and presenters just smiling and giving them an encouraging pat to continue, it's okay, they get it.

Speaking of which, watching the people who won that award last year walk off with the new winners into the backstage area, putting their arms around them and helping them out, talking to them the whole way - it's like big brothers and big sisters helping them know how to navigate what just happened lol - very touching!

The speeches - from the deliberate, impassioned, articulate ones to the raw emotion,  stumbling, overwhelmed, at a loss for words ones - they're all good. (And some of them, like I said, are actually delivered from the behind-the-scenes people.)

Best:

Best Actor winner, Michael B. Jordan's raw, heartfelt tribute and display of gratitude and "I love yous" to everyone around him, including us for believing in him -  he said he can literally feel that, all the love and support and cheerleading for him we send his way, and how appreciative he is for it 😊

Amy Madigan's quirky, funny, say whatever came into her head speech, which actually did have a flow and point, you just had to wait for it lol.

(If you saw her in Weapons - a horror movie that could've been better overall, but Amy knocked it out of the park with her portrayal as giving the appearance of a quirky, possibly pleasantly demented old lady, who was actually an evil witch.)

Andy Jurgenson, winning for Best Editing for Sinners, for kissing his husband square on the mouth when he won on national/international TV and the speech he gave regarding his aunt as his inspiration 

Best Actress winner, Jessie Buckley, covering her face for several seconds in disbelief, though she was a shoo-in, when the moment finally arrived, then her quirky little shout outs and thank yous, which included the multitude of Irish fans, whom the country of Ireland literally paid the trips for seats in the rafters, because she was a shoo-in winner - and then ending it by thanking her husband, the "best husband in the world," and telling him she "wants to have 20 more kids with him." 😂 - and then topping her speech off by ending it in Gaelic - to which that crowd brought from Ireland sitting in the rafters roared with applause.

Paul Thomas Anderson, after winning Best Picture, stating this year was akin to 1975, when several masterpiece films were competing, stating that "(This year), there IS no best - it just depends on the mood that day" (when it comes to voting)" - and then going on to say he has to admit, he's really glad it's him 😂

Gloria Cazares, the mother of 9-year-old Jackie, who was killed in the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, after the documentary All the Empty Rooms won Best Documentary Short. She said her daughter’s room remains "frozen in time" and that “If people could see their empty rooms, we would be a different America."

Javier Bardem for simply stating "No to war and free Palestine" before presenting the Best International Film award. Regardless of how you feel about the conflict, you have to admire the bravery for that - because he WILL be targeted by the Trump administration for saying so.

David Borenstein - winner for Best Documentary, "Mr. Nobody Against Putin." Borenstein called out as complicit those who remain silent when a government murders citizens in the streets.


Ryan Coogler, winning for Best Original Screenplay, crediting his mom - whom he brought as his date to the Oscars.



And lastly, my favorite Oscar moment and speech for the night ...

Autumn Durald Arkapaw being the first female cinematographer in history to win an Oscar!


And her speech - asking where her son was, her husband bringing him up front so he could see, and then delivering this speech, and then having all the women in the audience stand because she felt like she didn't get here without us ... 

Just a brief note on the worst moments ...

As already mentioned, the way they cut off the non-star speeches was extraordinarily rude.

Also, Sean Penn not even showing up, apparently because he didn't want to, even though he won.

Told you he was almost as much of a douche as the role he played.

He IS one hell of an actor, though, gotta admit.

Though the Reiners tribute was great, as was the cutout tributes for Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Catherine O'Hara - the  "In Memoriam section in general was off. Like I said, tey appeared to group people together into one quick slide that shouldn't have been - favorite actors along with a marketer or someone, and then seemed to repeat some people twice?

Previously, they didn't spend enough time on this segment, but this year, they stretched it out, repeating people -  it was like it was thrown together and they didn't realize that?

Next post ... and I don't know when for lack of time ... Best Dressed!