The 98th Academy Awards were a whirlwind, from unbelievable losing streaks to record-breaking wins. A night full of mediocre jokes from host Conan O’Brien, and less drama than you’d expect from a room full of grown-up theatre kids, The Oscars are full of pivotal pop culture moments nonetheless.
The First & The Few
For those who didn’t tune in on March 15th, the 98th Academy Awards may seem like a repeat of any of its 97 predecessors—but there were incredible, historical moments on that stage.
This ceremony marked the first time the category of casting was recognized for their achievements and contribution towards film. To present the first award of its class, a performer from each film nominee gave a short speech dedicated to their casting director. The award went to Cassandra Kulukundis for “One Battle After Another.”
Another notable “first” from this year’s Oscars was for Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s win in cinematography, for her work on “Sinners.” Arkapaw is not only the first woman (and woman of color) to win this category in its 96-year history, but she is only one of four women to have ever been nominated. While it’s an honor for her, this win also speaks to the progress still needed in the film industry.
This year’s Academy Awards also saw its seventh tie in history — the second time a tie has occurred in the live-action short film category. Although this rare event could’ve caused major confusion and delays for the ceremony, presenter Kumail Nanjiani quickly improvised the perfect lines to maintain course.
Who Took Home the Title?
After much debate and deliberation online about who would take home the award for actor in a leading role, with most betting on Timothée Chalamet vs Michael B. Jordan, the latter’s dual role was decided as the superior performance. In fact, “Marty Supreme” stayed true to form, going 0-9 on nominations that night.
While many were surprised at how the lead actor category came to fruition, Jessie Buckley’s win for actress in a leading role felt like a no-brainer after her heartfelt “Hamnet” performance. Fellow period-piece “Frankenstein” went on to sweep the creative categories of costume design, makeup and hairstyling and production design, which may not mean much to a general audience, but matters to those who love the artistry of film and practical effects.
The award for best directing was another highly contested category between Paul Thomas Anderson (“One Battle After Another”) and Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”); however, PTA took home the prize after his fourth nomination for directing.
It seems best picture is often paired with the previous category, and this year was no exception. “One Battle After Another” took home the highest acclaimed award of the night, along with five others.
Speeches That Spoke Out
Often award shows are ideal times for celebrities in the spotlight to share their opinions on larger issues in the industry, nationally or even globally. Some speeches centered around ideas of inclusion and peace, while others took the opportunity to be more direct with their message.
One subtle way of protest appeared on the red carpet with Jane Fonda’s “Block the Merger” pin—referring to Paramount’s proposed plan to buy out Warner Brothers. Many believe that this merger would create a monopoly on the media, limiting what films actually get made and seen.
During two award presentations, actors opted to take a moment to address key issues. Will Arnett said, “Tonight, we are celebrating people, not AI, because animation, it’s more than a prompt. It’s an art form and it needs to be protected. Am I right?” while presenting the award for animated short film.
Before saying a word to present the award for international feature film, Javier Bardem used his platform to spread a brief, but impactful statement: “No to war, and free Palestine.” Both statements from Arnett and Bardem prompted a round of applause from the audience.
Which category or moment was the most surprising of the night? Let us know @VALLEYmag on X!
