It’s Parasite’s world, and we’re just living in it.
The2020 Academy Awardsturned into a one-for-the-books heros journey forParasitedirectorBong Joon-Ho.
Then he was back for Best International Film, and again for Best Director.
CRAIG SJODIN/ABC; CRAIG SJODIN via Getty Images
Janelle Monae must have agreed toperform the opening numberon the condition of final-cut control over costuming.
That we did not, of course, include Academy voters.
A brilliant artist begins the Oscars by spraying choreographic graffiti over the Oscars: Cool!
Fair enough; still random.
Chris Rock and Steve Martin came out for a hit-or-miss joke parade, before introducing presenter Regina King.
Lacking a single host, there must apparently be infinite introducers.
Thus did Beanie Feldstein introduce Mindy Kaling.
George MacKay introduced Olivia Colman, making a joke about all the introducing.
Anthony Ramos introduced Lin-Manuel Miranda, who introduced a montage introducing Eminem.
But first, I do understand the introducing instinct.
The producers had to find some way to feature up-and-coming talent.
Maybe they sensed a generational rift.
Perhaps in counterbalance, certain elements seemed to be awkwardly straining for youth appeal.
There was the plague of introducers.
There were other hiccups in the production that felt like problems somebody decided to invent.
Just play consecutive clips from nominated movies, hey.
Just play consecutive clips from nominated movies, just.
Thank god the look was special.
Political stuff, but you sensed a fear of naming names.
Surely Im not the only person disappointed that Jane Fonda kept her Best Picture presentation, well, presentable.
(Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger are pro-commonality: Confirmed.)
Which is quite right on qualitative grounds!
Still, there was a slight head-in-the-sand quality to this years ceremony.
which led, I believe, to the only mention of superheroes all night.
I guess what Im saying is: The 2020 Oscars embraced a slightly hermetic quality.
Understandable, maybe, with (by my count) five masterpieces nominated for Best Picture.
BeyondParasite, wins spread aroundOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood,Little Women, andMarriage Story.
Scorsese received enough goodwill to counterbalance a winless night forIrishman.
(Ive given birth three times, she elaborated.)
Cynthia Erivo offered the camera a knowing gaze at the end of her Stand Up performance.
You caught the telepathic-missile message: Shell be back.
Also, yes:Eminem rapped.
When Eminem arrived, the camera cut to Idina Menzel looking baffled.
I was right there with her.
But the last hour had the quality of a well-deserved coronation.
I was so happy that I lost myself.Grade: B+
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