The Oscars ceremoniously wrapped a season dominated by blockbuster achievements, celebrating the extraordinary skills behind this 12 months’s cinematic wonders. Regardless of the highlight on creative excellence, the awards season wasn’t with out its missteps and controversies, notably influenced by voter apathy within the aftermath of extended trade strikes. This disengagement, notably amongst American voters, might have bolstered the affect of the Academy’s sizable worldwide constituency, aligning the Oscars’ outcomes extra carefully with the BAFTA choices than in years previous.

Selection was predicting the precise 23 winners that resulted final night in mid-February following the BAFTA Awards. After this pundit modified eight of them to the alternate picks, the lession realized is the proper reply is commonly the obvious one.

Listed below are some takeaways from the night’s celebrations.

Lily Gladstone was campaigned within the fallacious class.

Emma Stone’s victory for her function in “Poor Issues” stirred blended feelings. Whereas her efficiency was undeniably fascinating, the potential of Lily Gladstone being the primary Native American to win greatest actress left many reflecting on what may need been, had marketing campaign methods been totally different. That’s not Stone’s fault.

AMPAS members questioned Apple Unique Movies’ determination concerning Gladstone’s placement within the lead class, as an alternative of supporting. Regardless of makes an attempt to market the movie as an Osage Nation narrative honoring the Indigenous group, Gladstone’s display time in comparison with her co-stars raised eyebrows. In keeping with Matthew Stewart, who professionally clocks Oscar nominated and successful performances, Gladstone has 56 minutes of display time throughout the three hour and 29 minute drama. Her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio has one hour and 49 minutes. That’s arduous to promote as a “co-lead” scenario, particularly with supporting actor nominee Robert DeNiro having solely 9 minutes lower than Gladstone.

Had Gladstone campaigned within the supporting class, her probabilities of successful may need been considerably greater. As an alternative, it echoes Michelle Williams’ marketing campaign determination for “The Fabelmans,” which probably value her to win an overdue Oscar after 5 profession noms. However I suppose hindsight is all the time 20/20.

“Barbie” snub didn’t assist it win any extra Oscars.

“Barbie” fatigue was palpable, and comedies already face an uphill battle for recognition. Greta Gerwig’s movie acquired viewers acclaim and garnered eight noms consideration from the Academy. It ended its awards run with an authentic track statuette for Billie Eilish and Finneas, indicating a disparity in appreciation. Efforts to rectify this disparity, such because the part two marketing campaign highlighting Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s performances, didn’t yield vital outcomes.

Whereas the trade continues to advocate for elevated recognition of ladies administrators, the therapy of comedies inside the trade warrants consideration. A extra inclusive method to style recognition is critical for a really numerous and consultant movie panorama.

Film studios are again, child!

Common Footage’ triumph with “Oppenheimer” marks a big second of studio dominance, now shifting up the ranks because the third most awarded within the studios’ historical past. This implies a resurgence of conventional studio energy within the Oscars panorama, given the muted presence of streaming providers in main classes this 12 months. Whereas streamers secured one trophy for stay motion quick (Netflix’s “The Fantastic Story of Henry Sugar”), notable absences highlighted the continuing evolution of their artistic methods.

Waiting for 2024, the trade anticipates one other 12 months dominated by studio releases, together with extremely anticipated tasks like Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2” and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Half Two.”

When will Bradley Cooper and Diane Warren ever win?

As for perennial nominees Bradley Cooper and Diane Warren, their elusive Oscar victories stay a topic of hypothesis. Regardless of a number of nominations, each artists have but to safe the coveted statuette, prompting questions on their future prospects.

“Maestro” wasn’t in a position to convert any of its seven Oscar nominations, three of which belonged to Cooper because the producer, co-writer and lead actor within the Leonard Bernstein biopic. Now standing at an astonishing 12 profession Oscar noms during the last decade, he’s nonetheless Oscar-less, which begs the query, will he ever make a visit to the coveted Dolby stage? Curiously, he’s by no means even managed a serious precursor trophy from the likes of the Golden Globes or SAG for any of his earlier bids.

Hollywood ought to heed Wire Jefferson’s recommendation.

Wire Jefferson, tailored screenplay winner of “American Fiction,” made poignant remarks through the ceremony underscored the necessity for the trade to embrace risk-taking and diversify its choices.

“I perceive that this can be a risk-averse trade,” Jefferson mentioned “I get it. However $200 million motion pictures are additionally a threat, and it doesn’t all the time work out, however you’re taking the danger anyway. And as an alternative of constructing one $200 million film, attempt making 20 $10 million motion pictures.”

By championing smaller-budget tasks and nurturing rising skills, Hollywood can foster a extra dynamic and inclusive artistic panorama, in the end enriching the trade as an entire.

Let John Mulaney host.

After John Mulaney shocked because the host of the Governors Awards, the Academy invited the comic again to current the place he re-told the plot of the sports activities drama “Subject of Goals,” garnering among the largest laughs of the evening.

Jimmy Kimmel is a reliable host, and did a satisfying job because the night’s emcee, however passing the reins to a brand new stand-up comedian with the proper sensibilities and love of films to focus on a night such because the Oscars is greater than applicable at this level.