I wish I could say I was surprised with this year’s Oscars, but really- it’s the Oscars- who can
expect anything but the unexpected?

The 96th Academy Awards were hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, who kept the audience engaged
between intense performances, emotional speeches from award winners, and star-studded
ceremonies. Among the evening’s highlights, “Oppenheimer” emerged as the undisputed
champion, bagging seven Oscars out of its 13 nominations, including the Award for Best
Picture.

In a night that celebrated excellence in film, the Academy’s categories saw moving performances acknowledged. Cillian Murphy’s portrayal in “Oppenheimer” earned him his first Oscar, and he is officially the first Irish-born actor to win with the distinction of Best Actor. Upon receiving the award, Murphy dedicated it to peacemakers worldwide, emphasizing the film’s relevance today. 

“We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or worse we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world.” 

His acknowledgment of current world crises and the weight nuclear weapons put on them shows his dedication to his role and attention to its effect on the world.

Emma Stone, known for her role in “Poor Things,” claimed the title of Best Actress, making her a two-time Oscar Winner in the category thanks to La La Land (2016), in which she co-starred with Ryan Gosling. In her acceptance speech, she underscored the importance of teamwork in creating something greater than the sum of its parts. She expressed gratitude to her fellow cast and crew members, implying the importance of the SAG AFTRA strikes that took place last summer. 

The 2024 Oscars were not just a celebration of individual achievements, but proof of the power of storytelling. As the film industry continues to evolve, the night showed Hollywood’s potential to inspire change in our society beyond a surface level.

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Speaking of Gosling, his performance of his Oscar-nominated song “I’m Just Ken” at the ceremony elevated his “Kenergy” to a new level. He led the show with waves of backup dancers, including his “Ken” costars, in an explosion of pink and glitter. Gosling was dressed in Barbie-inspired sunglasses and a bedazzled pink suit, an ode to Marylin Monroe’s dress in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. Last year, “Barbie” box office success earned Ryan Gosling a nomination for best-supporting actor in his portrayal of Ken and earned the song a nomination for Best Original Song, despite the fact it was made for comedic relief. Even though Billie Eilish and Finneas’ original song “What Was I Made For,” ended up winning the award, “I’m Just Ken” remained the true winner of the night, raising controversy about its ironic success in the context of the movie’s message. It seemed that a “radical” film made about women’s achievements being undermined in a male-dominated world was proven true through the overhyped nature of the satirical song.

The ceremony was full of emotional moments and memorable speeches. Emma Thomas, the producer of “Oppenheimer,” expressed her long-held dream of winning an Oscar, acknowledging her husband and co-producer, Christopher Nolan, as the driving force behind the film’s success. Supporting acting categories brought very deserving winners, with Da’Vine Joy Randolph of “The Holdovers” and Robert Downey Jr. from “Oppenheimer” taking home their respective awards. 

RDJ really needs no introduction- he’s the superhero everyone grew up to know and love. But surprisingly, he only won his first-ever Oscar this year, after being in 82 movies (and counting). His troubled past, including his struggle with addiction and consequent jail time shows us how accepting our mistakes (and even being grateful for them) is an essential part of being successful, no matter how you define success.

“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order.”

Randolph, who was handed the award by no other than Lupita Nyong’o, gave a short but powerful speech that made my mom cry: 

“For so long I wanted to be different, and now I realize I just need to be myself… Thank you for seeing me.” 

She further shouts out her publicist and thanks her former acting coach for pushing her to her potential in the industry. “When I was the only Black girl in class, you saw me and told me I was enough,” she said, “When I told you, ‘I don’t see myself, you said, ‘That’s fine. We’re going to forge our own path.’”

She further shouts out her publicist and thanks her former acting coach for pushing her to her potential in the industry. “When I was the only Black girl in class, you saw me and told me I was enough,” she said, “When I told you, ‘I don’t see myself, you said, ‘That’s fine. We’re going to forge our own path.’”