There Are Many Oscars Reactions, But This One Is Mine

(Assault case update and review links below for those who do not care about The Oscars.)

We did it, everyone. We're on the other side of the Oscars. It was a big night, filled with the traditional highs and lows of your standard Academy Awards with, perhaps, a few higher highs and lower lows than usual. Conan O'Brien once again crushed it as host, most of the presenters seemed to have been called the day before, Bill and Lewis Pullman had as much on-stage chemistry as two men who had just met despite being father and son, Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first female cinematographer to win a statue, Javier Bardem said no war and free Palestine with his whole chest, the In Memoriam made us all cry harder than ever and the audio and orchestra cues were inexcusably bad. Oh, and Demi Moore wore what might have been the most stunning dress I've ever seen on a red carpet.

Sinners didn't get as much as it deserved but still pulled 4 wins for Michael B. Jordan in Best Actor, the aforementioned Arkapaw for Cinematography, Ryan Coogler for Best Original Screenplay (PTA beating him out for Director left an unpleasant taste in my mouth, even if PTA deserves it), and Ludwig Göransson for Best Score. Meanwhile, Marty Supreme got exactly the number of wins it earned (0. It was 0).

I'm not traditionally a hyper-focused Academy Awards girlie, but something about this year — perhaps horror getting the attention it deserved — had me more engaged than in the past. Sinners' record number of nominations most certainly had something to do with it, even if it didn't walk away with everything it should have. Loving Frankenstein more than some of my peers meant that I was elated by its 3 wins and, even though I didn't love Weapons as much as the rest of the industry, it was hard not to be excited for Amy Madigan. Horror cleaned house this year, bested only by One Battle After Another or, as I've called it from the beginning: White Men Can't Resist.

After the ceremony, there was the traditional conversation around speeches, who said enough, and who didn't. Some were frustrated that PTA and other white male winners had so little to say about our current moment. Others felt like the art they made should speak for itself, particularly in the case of One Battle After Another. After all, PTA has had so many nominations (eleven) prior to finally taking home a statue, is it really his fault that he finally won during our current political moment?

Not to repeat myself, but the answer exists in that messy "two truths" space.

Of course, PTA was singled out in this conversation because he pulled the biggest wins. The fact of the matter is that there was plenty of opportunity for Hollywood's most privileged to speak out whether through speeches themselves, pins, red carpet interviews, and more. But, as usual, that responsibility was largely left to the people of color in the room.

Maybe we'll do better when we hit World War IV.

Meanwhile, I still want to fight Yaamava Casinos for putting a commercial spot featuring Jay Leno during Conan O'Brien's Oscars. For those of you too young to understand this reference, just know that Jay Leno lost the war.

Though I'm not at SXSW, I do have festival coverage coming your way. In the immediate, I took on an exclusive interview with the Obsession team for Den of Geek featuring Curry Barker, Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston for the magazine's SXSW preview. A few reviews, including Ready or Not 2, will be coming your way soon too.

Outside of that, last week I published The Bride (which came to your inbox) Hoppers reviews right here on Pickety Witch.

For those looking for case updates on The Event™, they finally deemed the guy who assaulted me mentally fit to attend the preliminary hearing, where the judge agreed to move forward with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on my and the ADA's behalf. Not to be jokey about a Very Serious Topic, but there is nothing more humbling than sitting on the witness stand while a video of you getting the shit kicked out of you plays in the background. One day I might write something sincere about the experience for the sole purpose that I believe it would be helpful to others who, like me, have been assaulted multiple times in their lives but find themselves in a situation where they are finally able to press charges. But, until it's all over, I suspect humor and snark will be my guiding light (as is my custom).

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