The hostless 91st Awards for The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences felt more professional not catering to the whims of whomever got roped into duties. Can we keep this going forward — and keep Queen + Adam Lambert as our opening act instead of a monologue — every year from now on?

Rami Malek took Best Actor with no nod to the credit-requirement director of Bohemian Rhapsody, one of four won by the film for the night. While Mahershala Ali accepted Best Supporting Actor for Green Book — dubbed by many as this century’s politically safe Driving Miss Daisy — the film was also awarded Best Picture because it would have looked dubious to give Alfonso Cuarón and Roma a fourth Oscar on the same night.

Olivia Colman apparently won Best Actress for The Favourite because she’s Olivia effing Colman. It’s a bit like if Charlton Heston won the Best Actor Oscar for Wayne’s World 2 because the studio said he should be nominated. I know it’s a small part, but if Hollywood’s conveniently rewarding careers, why not Best Picture for Spike Lee? Yes, he got one for adaptation of the screenplay for BlacKkKlansman, but it still felt more than a little “Shallow” (which won Best Song for A Star is Born and was another show highlight). That’s correct: Oscar-winner Lady Gaga.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe won three Academy Awards for Black Panther out of six nominations… yep, for a superhero movie. Ha! Disney/Pixar got beat out *twice* in this Best Animated category by Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse. Regina King took Best Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk, and the movie Vice (no, not the cable network) won an Oscar. No, don’t go look up what it was for, just say “Oscar-winning movie Vice!”

So, can we finally stop talking about awards for this year… so we can start talking about awards for next year?

You’re all undefeated again, Hollywood.

Thanks for playing; loved your show!
~ Grim D. Reaper #grmdrpr
Reaping what Hollywood sows for MovieCrypt.com