Effectively after the three-hour mark, the sport and goofy Oscar host Conan O’Brien quipped, “In case you’re nonetheless having fun with the present, you’ve gotten one thing referred to as Stockholm Syndrome.”
I suppose I’m immune.
As soon as once more, regardless of the host’s finest efforts and the producers’ obvious need to stage a range present at odd intervals, the 97th Oscars present lumbered on with occasional bursts of shock, as soon as once more stretching perilously near a four-hour working time earlier than signing off amid an Anora sweep. (That mentioned, the charming Mikey Madison‘s win within the title function registered as one of many night time’s few suspenseful toss-ups.)
The present front-loaded most of its finest moments within the first half-hour earlier than a single award was handed out. Opening with a magical Oz medley — Ariana Grande singing “Over the Rainbow” from the unique The Wizard of Oz, Cynthia Erivo belting “Residence” from The Wiz, then teaming on Depraved‘s signature track “Defying Gravity” — the showstoppers handed off to Conan, who took over with a terrific filmed gag spoofing the body-horror movie The Substance. Crawling out of Demi Moore‘s bottom, then diving again in to retrieve a misplaced shoe, the host set the tone for an exuberant monologue of principally light roasting.
The exception: Emilia Pérez‘s embattled star Karla Sofia Gascon, whose offensive social-media posts had derailed her front-runner standing. After joking that Anora‘s 479 f-bombs had been solely three greater than the report set by Gascon’s publicist, he added, “Karla, if you happen to’re going to tweet in regards to the Oscars, keep in mind my identify is Jimmy Kimmel.” His solely really topical joke was saved for the third hour, when he acknowledged the Anora juggernaut by reflecting, “I suppose Individuals are excited to see any person lastly stand as much as a strong Russian.”
O’Brien additionally earned massive laughs by saying that as an alternative of enjoying off long-winded winners, they’d lower as an alternative to Conclave‘s John Lithgow within the viewers “trying barely disillusioned.” Cue a traditional Lithgow unhappy face. Sadly, this system was by no means used, maybe acknowledging the truth that we at dwelling would quickly sufficient be sighing in dismay because the night time dragged on.
On the plus aspect, similar to final 12 months, each time the presenters took time to personally acknowledge all the nominees in a class with a tribute, it felt particular, with every coming off like a winner no matter whose identify was contained in the envelope. One other spotlight: the In Memoriam section taking the excessive highway for a change, specializing in the names and faces, with the Los Angeles Grasp Chorale offering soulful accompaniment within the background, hardly ever if ever pulling focus.
My choose for finest presenter: 95-year-old June Squibb (who ought to have been nominated for Thelma), presenting the Make-up and Hairstyling award alongside Scarlett Johansson and revealing, “I’m truly being performed by Invoice Skarsgård proper now.” (Johannson responded by saying she was being performed by Andy Serkis.)
Much less impressed had been the manufacturing numbers, usually an Achilles heel on the Oscars. (Simply ask Rob Lowe.) O’Brien’s first stumble was ending his monologue with a mock meta musical spoof promising “I received’t waste time” whereas doing precisely that. Whereas on paper I’m OK with a random song-and-dance James Bond homage that includes star performers (Margaret Qualley, Doja Cat, LISA from Blackpink, Raye — and thanks for the on-screen ID’s or I’d have been clueless) recreating traditional theme songs, did “Diamonds Are Endlessly” need to be considered one of them? Much more puzzling was constructing a tribute to Quincy Jones round Queen Latifah‘s energetic rendition of “Ease on Down the Street” from The Wiz, hardly consultant of the “musical genius” Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg had touted.
The impulse so as to add leisure worth to the present is comprehensible, however this 12 months it simply made a protracted night time even longer. Nonetheless, let’s give O’Brien credit score the place it’s due, when he graciously welcomed the ultimate Greatest Image presenters of When Harry Met Sally fame by introducing “the most effective Oscar host ever: Billy Crystal.”
These had been the times.