Australia’s hopes dashed as Jessie Buckley pips Rose Byrne for best actress and Jacob Elordi loses to Sean Penn
One war after another won best picture at this year’s Academy AwardsThe least surprising win in recent memory. Australia’s Oscar hopes (five nominees but no winner) have been dashed. And everyone from US President Donald Trump to self-styled ballet and opera critic Timothee Chalamet has come under fire for everything from his opening monologue to his acceptance speeches.
But still, this year’s Oscars telecast was exciting, in striking contrast to the prevailing view that awards telecasts are dreary and interminable. The show’s host, American comedian and talk show legend Conan O’Brien, brought his best game to the stage and belted out an opening monologue that was underlined with his great wit.
O’Brien invited Netflix co-chairman Ted Sarandos to “a theater for the first time”; The streaming mogul’s ubiquitous platform is seen by many as heralding the end of traditional cinema. O’Brien, imitating Sarandos, said, “Why are they all having fun together? They must be home alone, I can make money from this.”
It was also the first blow to Chalamet’s recent dismissal of ballet and opera as art forms; these had now drifted into irrelevance. “Security is tight tonight,” O’Brien warned the audience. “There are concerns about attacks on ballet and opera companies.” And directly to Chalamet: “They’re so mad you left out jazz.”
The Oscars are always a parade of pro-politics protests, heartfelt speeches, big hair, and name-checking of fashion brands; But Hollywood’s existential angst has been laid bare in the wake of studio mergers and related job losses, a local manufacturing economy that has never truly recovered after a year of strikes in 2023, and the looming AI storm.
“This is so much more than an encouragement, it’s an art form that needs to be preserved,” actor Will Arnett said on the Oscar stage to rapturous applause. Arnett was talking about animation, but the energetic response from the audience of 3,300 stars, executives, film professionals and their various colleagues and entourages was indicative of a much deeper malaise in Hollywood.
But in many ways this was a night of few surprises and not good news for Australia’s prospects. As well as Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) lost to Sean Penn (One war after another), Fiona Crombie (production design) hamnet), Guido Wolter (visual effects) sinners), Nick Cave (original song Train Dreams) and Rose Byrne (starring actress) If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) they all came up empty-handed.
Among the winners: KPop Demon Hunters (animated film, original song), Frankenstein (make-up and hair styling, costume design, production design), Avatar: Fire and Ash (visual effects), Norway Emotional Value (international movie), sinners (best actor, cinematography, original score, original screenplay) and One war after another (best picture, adapted screenplay, film editing, cast). sinners Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman and black woman to win in her category.
Of course, what the Oscars do is create extraordinary moments that are etched in pop culture history. Some are unplanned, like the slap heard around the world when Will Smith hit comedian Chris Rock on stage, but many are carefully choreographed.
Dame Shirley Bassey voices iconic Bond themes. Lady Gaga performs a medley The Sound of Music in the presence of the film’s beloved star, Julie Andrews. And this year, fashion empress Anna Wintour and The Devil Wears Prada Starring Anne Hathaway.
Wintour, 76-year-old editor-in-chief Vogueand the 34-year-old actress presented the Oscars for costume design, make-up and hairstyling (both Frankenstein) but it sizzles, is fictionalized (but is it actually fiction?), evoking the enduring cultural power of Wintour’s magazine world. The Devil Wears Prada.
“Thank you, Emily,” Wintour said, deliberately mistaking Hathaway for her co-star Emily Blunt’s character, Emily Charlton. (Hathaway played Andrea Sachs in the film.) The film’s highly anticipated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2It will be released in May.
Elsewhere in the telecast, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor teamed up to celebrate the upcoming 25th anniversary of their film. Moulin Rougeand cast bridesmaids – Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper and Maya Rudolph also reunited on stage to celebrate the film’s 15th anniversary. Absent: Wendi McLendon-Covey and Rebel Wilson. Also: since when are 15th anniversaries a thing?
The night was not without its political moments, although they were unusually few considering the overheated state of geopolitics; Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel lashed out at US broadcaster CBS for political interference in news content while presenting the short documentary and feature documentary Oscars.
“We hear a lot about courage at shows like this, but it takes real courage to tell a story that could get you killed for telling it,” Kimmel said. “As you know, there are some countries whose leaders do not support free speech. I am not at liberty to say which. Let’s leave that to North Korea and CBS.”
Television’s traditional “remembrance” segment was long and reflected a year in which losses in the film industry were deeply felt. The package included tributes from playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard, composer Lalo Schifrin, lyricist and lyricist Alan Bergman, and actors Diane Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Terence Stamp, Sally Kirkland, Claudia Cardinale, Udo Kier, Diane Ladd, Val Kilmer, Robert Duvall, and Robert Redford, cinematographer Billy Williams, publicist Nancy Seltzer, and fashion designer Giorgio Armani.
Speaking about Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, who were murdered in their Los Angeles home in December, actor Billy Crystal said: “My friend Rob’s movies will last a lifetime because they’re about the things that make us laugh, the things that make us cry, the things we aspire to be.” (The couple’s son, Nick, was charged with their murders.)
Following her speech, Crystal was joined on stage by a group of actors who had appeared in Reiner’s films, including Cary Elwes, Carol Kane and Mandy Patinkin, to whom the audience gave a standing ovation.Princess Bride), Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally) and Wil Wheaton, Jerry O’Connell and Kiefer Sutherland (stay with me).
Rachel McAdams, who stars alongside Keaton Family StoneHer friend couldn’t hold back her tears as she described Diane as “a legend with no end.” Legendary singer (and movie star) Barbra Streisand, who talked about her friendship with Redford, completed her speech by singing the last line of the song. how are we.
The Academy’s 2026 Oscar roster also includes four honorary Oscars, which were announced in November. It was awarded to choreographer Debbie Allen, production designer Wynn Thomas, and actor Tom Cruise for their “incredible dedication.” [the] Filmmaking community.” Singer Dolly Parton was presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her “unwavering commitment to philanthropic efforts.”
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Michael Idato is general culture editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect with: X or email.
