OSCAR WATCH 2026 - the show, the fashion

Oscars! Oscars, Oscars!

You need to read that in the voice of Billy Crystal singing his Oscars Song!

First up, let's look at how I did with my predictions.

Oscar Watch 2026: the predictions

20 out of 24 categories correct is pretty good, 2020 was the last time that happened!

I didn't get the Documentary Feature or the Animated Short correct - these ones are difficult, although as a documentary fan I am disappointed...but I haven't seen any of them.

The other 2 may have been easier had I given them more thought. I listed Sinners for Casting, the first time the Academy has had it, I followed the SAGS, but didn't really think that if I was sure One Battle was going to win the top awards, it would make sense for it to win this too...oh well.

And had I realised the cinematographer for Sinners was a woman, I may have made a different choice, but I will stand by my opinion that the cinematography for Sinners wasn't that great.

Let's look at the host.

Conan is back for a second go and was wonderful. Funny, cheeky, political and just right. His opening as Gladys running through film sets was note perfect, his UK joke (look it up) also just right, and Josh Groban and the Opera bit hilariously great. Everything else throughout his hosting gig was faultless. We will have him back again...surely!

Matt Berry as the voice of the Oscars was another inspired casting, doing only what he can do!

I loved the Sinners musical piece, it was a perfect recreation of the film - which I did enjoy, well, the musical parts of it especially. Adding the ballerina was also perfect. TC copped a lot that evening, but he deserved every joke, and took it with good grace.

Presenting is a thankless task and there was nothing to really snigger at, some were more interesting than others. I loved the cast member from each film talking about casting, well done Academy. Jimmy Kimmel was perfect for Docos, funny and political, getting stuck right into his nemesis. The Bridesmaid cast were funny. Pedro and Sigourney were cute and Sigourney quoting her famous line from Aliens, which I love, was a highlight! 

Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway were great, funny and on pointe. Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jnr, with Channing Tatum were quite good too. Javier Bardem was very political and rightly so, man he is hot! Ewan and Nicole were sweet.

The winners were all fine and there wasn't a bad speech. The three wins for Frankenstein were well deserved, and for such a well-crafted film it made sense it won the key craft Oscars. The female cinematographer pulled a Francis and got all the women to stand up and had a lovely moment.

The acting speeches were great, emotional and joyous, though I missed hearing what Sean Penn would have made of his third Oscar. The Documentary winners (shorts, and feature) gave some of the best speeches of the night.

But to hear PT Anderson speak 3 times (writer, director, producer) was a gift. A quietly spoken man, who has given me so much joy over the years. He is one of my favourite film-makers, an original auteur, and a man of vision. Thrilled!!!

The best part of the show was the In Memoriam...yep you read that right.  When so many masters of the craft die in one year, some unexpectedly, you expect something grand. And that we got.

Billy Crystal came out to speak about his friend, Rob Reiner, the first time we have really seen him in public since Rob and his wife died so terribly. He was the consummate performer, the show must go on, and spoke perfectly about him. Revealing a stage full of actors from Rob's golden era. It was an eclectic bunch of actors, some smiling through sad faces, and some looking quite sad. Fitting and perfect.

From left to right:

Michael McKean and Christopher Guest from Spinal Tap

Jerry O'Connell and Will Wheaton from Stand By Me

Fred Savage, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Carol Kane from The Princess Bride

Billy and Meg from When Harry Met Sally

Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, and Kevin Pollack from A Few Good Men

Kathy Bates from Misery

Annette Benning from The American President

John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga from The Sure Thing

This had me in tears, big time. I loved all those films, and to see those amazing stars reunited for such a sad reason...it was too much.

But, this is what only the Oscars can do, gather the greats together.

The memoriam then commenced to the back-drop of The Princess Bride soundtrack, with Rachel McAdams doing a beautiful tribute to Claudia Cardinale, Diane Ladd, Catherine O'Hara, and especially Diane Keaton. 

And just when I thought I was all cried out, my lady Barbra Streisand came out to pay her tribute to Robert Redford. She spoke so lovingly and she sang. Now we all know Babs - as she reluctantly let RR call her - get incredibly nervous singing in public being the perfectionist she is, and hasn't sung in public since 2011. She sang a few lines of The Way We Were (one of my all-time favourite films), she wasn't bad but she wasn't great and I just do not want to hear anyone dissing her.

This section of tributes actually lifted the ceremony!!

I really have nothing to criticise, nothing was bad or fell flat, there was some so so moment, but nothing too bad and I felt it was one of the best Oscars shows for a long time!

Actually no, Nick Cave was up for Best Song, and he didn't perform!!!

Shame on you Academy!

If you wanted to know what I thought of the films again, here is my post on them.

And now for the fashion:

Here are my favourites:

My best dressed for the night were Mikey Madison and Rose Byrne.


Thanks for reading, see you next year!!!

OSCAR WATCH 2024

 It was a good show, some great moments and Conan was really good.

As expected, I didn't do great, only 13 correct (which means 10 wrong).

You can read about my predictions here.

I totally bummed on all the shorts, and utterly by fault, I usually spend a good couple of hours researching these, but I was in and out quick this year. I totally underestimated Anora, even though I thought it was the better film, so am pleased for those mistakes. I had no clue about the Animated Feature, lol, I never do. And I really thought Timothee would win. He did not...

The opening was great, long but great. The LA film homage was really good, rolling into Cynthia and Ariana who were superb with their Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked. Both amazing, but Cynthia is just a goddess, watch her sing those incredibly high and long notes, she nails them effortlessly. She is a natural, and a genius, her voice is like butter. Conan was great, funny, himself. I loved Adam Sandler helping out. 

The presenting was mostly good, sometimes great. I loved how they paid homage to the Cinematographers and Costume designers, they have done this with the acting noms in years past. It does take longer, but to do this to 'lesser' categories makes a lot of sense. Andrew Garfield and Goldie Hawn were lovely together, very cute. Ben Stiller, as always, hilarious. June Squibb and Scarlett Johansen were very funny, loved them. Mick Jagger was a true surprise, and very funny. Mark Hamill and Quentin Tarantino brought certain gravitas to the proceedings. It was lovely to see Billy back on the stage with Meg Ryan, 37 years since he first hosted The Oscars...oh vey!

Speeches are always a thing. There were some great speeches from some of the minor awards, Costume Design, Animated Feature etc. Kieran Culkin's was funny and spot on, as expected. Sean Baker hit the right note with each win, classy. Walter Salles' gave a lovely speech for International Feature. Adrien Brody needed a strong look from John Lithgow, what a pain. Mikey Madison was also great.

I don't get the wasted time on James Bond. Halle Berry looked amazing, the singers were ordinary, Adele must be rethinking her semi-retirement. 

I liked that Morgan Freeman spent some time talking about Gene Hackman at the beginning of the In Memoriam. We lost some greats this year, the time wasted on fluff like Bond should have been spent honouring David Lynch or James Earl Jones. Also there were, as usual, some key omissions! Shannon Doherty, Alain Delon (seriously!!!???), Bernard Hill, Michelle Trachtenberg and more. Do they even have researchers?

Even the Quincy Jones tribute seemed out of place, yes he scored for films and was nominated, but not for anything that great. I think it was just to get Oprah and Whoopi on the stage together. They are always great to see. But poor Queen Latifah singing Ease on Down the Road, Aye Karumba, she deserves better.

Back to the good, was thrilled to hear my main man, Nick Offerman doing the voice over work, perfection and funny.

Thrilled for all the Anora love, go in blind, I didn't know much about it and really loved it. Was superb and nice to see small indies winning. I did split my director/movie votes between The Brutalist and Anora. I missed most of the Anora wins, hence my low score, but happy to have them win over my choices.

I still think Timmy was robbed!!!

And I dream about the kind of speech Isabella Rossellini would have given. I love her date was Laura Dern, except that had me excited there would be a David Lynch tribute...oh well, never mind.

But in all, it was a solid 7 out of 10.

And now to what we all care the most about, the Farshun!!!!!

Let's start with those bringing the drama to the show. Amazing dramatic, large gowns, I love it. Especially Cynthia's emerald velvet, clever! And Halle Berry as a Glitter Ball, bloody love it!

   

And I love that the men are embracing fashion more and more. Bowen Yang (lurve Bowen) looked amazing! Colman showed his flair with red.

Then there is the sleek and classic styles. Love Scarlett, Amy, and Meg in Velvet.

OK Worst dressed

My top 5 best dressed in no order:

OSCAR WATCH 23/24 - how it went!

It always seem to take forever to arrive, but comes and goes so quickly!

Oscars 23/24 was not too bad.

Jimmy Kimmel has grown on me, he is a solid host. Not spectacular, like Billy Crystal, but what you see is what you get and he keeps things moving, and that is sufficient.

First off the bat, I noticed an acknowledgement of country prior to the ceremony, which I have never noticed before let alone anywhere in the US. So that made me smile, a perfect move.

So the 96th Academy Awards, I cannot wait for year 100, now that is going to be spectacular. 

And as a film buff, especially a classic film buff, I love to see old Hollywood and nods to those that came before. Of course, there are not many classic film stars left, but there are moments to be had. And this year had some.

Jimmy mentioned it was 48 years since both Jodie Foster and Robert De Niro were nominated for Taxi Driver and here they were nominated again! Of course, he added an awkward joke about age, but what are the Oscars if tropes are not rolled out...sigh.

Bringing out those that work behind the scenes was a masterful move, very classy.

And having Messi the dog from Anatomy of a Fall sitting in the audience was just wonderful.

The presentations I loved the most were the acting ones, where they had 5 previous winners talk about each nominee, They did this once before and people said it took too long. My response then and now, is really? If that is your commentary why are you even watching? This is exactly why you watch the Academy Awards. Bizarre.

So this year it was wonderful to see a range of superb actors and actresses welcome the newest member into the club. I found it moving and wonderful. But then, this is exactly what I want when I watch this show!

There were other memorable moments in terms of presentation. Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling exchanging barbs over their respective movies and the whole Barbenheimer rivalry. Very funny.

Danny De Vito and Arnold Schwarzenegger giving Michael Keaton some grief about how badly Batman treated their villains (Now Keaton wasn't AS's Batman, but that is a-ok), also funny.

And Kate McKinnon and American Ferrara talking about Dinosaurs, Jeff Goldblum, and Steven Spielberg, incredibly funny. Jon Cena's naked joke and John Mahoney's Field of Dream monologue were both good.

The songs this year were mostly great.

I really enjoyed seeing Barry Corbin (from Killers of the Flower Moon and Northern Exposure) in the song from that movie. The whole performance was powerful.

Billie Eilish and Fineas were all class delivering what would be the winning Best Song. I love that song so much, it was just great to see, as was their winning speech. 2 Oscars in 3 years at such a young age. Brilliant.

But the moment of the evening, was Ryan Gosling performing I'm Just Ken.

OH MY GOODNESS!

I didn't think he would even do this, so it was unexpected and even better than what I would have thought had I expected it.

Ryan's Kenergy was legendary in the lead up and after the movie, he just got into it and had fun. I love that. And his performance was next level Kenergy. Where is his recording contract, he can bloody sing (and dance). He was a Disney child but still. The presentation was perfection including some Marilyn Monroe (Madonna) AND Busby Berkeley choreography which was equal parts inspired and hilarious! Add in some work with the audience, showing the whole thing was live (they usually are) and some guitar genius from Slash. This goes into my top 10 Oscar moments! 

Other moments of note were Paul Giamatti escorting Da'Vine Joy Randolph right up the stairs to the stage when she won, and shedding a visible tear in a cutaway after her speech. What a classy guy!

Sean Ono Lennon up on the Oscar stage with the directors of the Best Short, Animated WAR IS OVER! and giving 91 year old Yoko a shout out. Tears of course!

Now to the winners, and how I went.

Each year there are some categories I am emotionally attached to and I either let my emotions push my choices (usually a mistake) or like this year I ignore my emotions and just choose what I think the Academy will chose, and this year the Academy loved Poor Things as much as I did, which I didn't think they would!

So the 4 awards for Poor Things, including Emma Stone for Best Actress were bloody amazing and well deserved and exactly what I hoped would win, but not what I choose to win...sigh. I lost in Sound and Animated Film too.

So 6 incorrect BUT 17 correct, which is not bad. I have done much better, but I have also done much worse.

I loved all the acting and big speeches, it was a great year for film. 

And now the fashion:

Best Dressed

Faves

The Rest

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