Oscar Night 2024 Was A Great Night For America

 Wednesday, March 13th 2024

My Dear America:

Oscar Night is one of those nights that is uniquely American.  There are many Awards shows on Television and, in fact, many award shows featuring awards for Movies on Television but on Oscar night is where moviegoers go to find out which movies have been the best of the best during the past year.  

Speaking of the best of the best it has been a great crop of films released this last year and unlike most Oscar Celebrations thanks to streaming services Peacock and Netflix I have actually seen five movies that were up for Oscars this year

"Nyad" was OK.  The acting was great

I loved "The Holdovers".  Paul Giamatti was outstanding, as usual.  Da Vine Joy Randolph clearly earned her Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role

Bradley Cooper showed once again in "Maestro" what a multi talented Actor and Director he has become. 

"Oppenheimer" was a film that was simply outstanding in every facet of its production.

I saw Barbie, as well, but lets just say I thought it was clever but I have no desire to see it again.

Jimmy Kimmel did a great job hosting.  His monologue at the beginning of the show spotlighted some of the nominees, as well as films and was funny and entertaining.  I loved the fact that regardless of whether or not it was real, (and it turned out that it was) Kimmel read what he said was a disparaging review of the show from Donald Trump. Kimmel's reply to Trump's review was priceless.  Kimmel told Trump on national television "Isn't it past Your jail time." Kimmel's Right Hand Man, Guillermo was also featured passing out champagne to the audience for a toast.

There were some innovations featured for Oscar Night

First of all the Oscar Presentation started an hour earlier than Previous Oscar nights.  I think that was a good idea because it gave the presenters more time to banter and it gave the winners more time to give their acceptance speeches without the annoying playoff music we have heard during previous Oscar Presentations.

Speaking of Presentations I found the new format of having previous winners in the Supporting and Lead acting categories presenting the introductions of the most recent nominees in their categories to be respectful, interesting and informative and just a Great Idea.

The stage and set were fantastic and the entire production seemed to move along pretty much without incident.

The orchestra was terrific and the music presentations were outstanding.  

Billie Eilish and her brother singing a song from Barbie was truly impressive.

Ryan Gosling as Ken from Barbie along with a chorus of male dancers and singers was spectacular.  Clearly this presentation shows that this dude can not only act but he is also an excellent singer.

The drumming, singing and dancing by members of the Osage nation in obvious tribute to Lily Gladstone and "Killers Of the Flower Moon" was really something different and impressive.

All in all I think that the March 10th, 2024 Oscar Presentation was phenomenally successful and I hope that the new and improved Oscar presentation will continue the successful innovations of this year.  

Lastly, it just feels good in this weird and wacky world to have some traditions that can be counted on to show Americans that our country is still the United States Of America and that hopefully we will get through these hard times together successfully.  It was certainly good to have a night in which we could forget our Troubles and our cares for a few hours and concentrate on something good for a change.

My only regret about Oscar Night is that "Killers of The Flower Moon" did not get a little more attention.  Although I haven't seen the movie as of yet every clip that I've seen shows it to be a killer in a good way) itself.  I would have liked to see Lilly Gladstone accepting an Oscar but I wouldn't doubt the fact that this Native American Actress may be returning to future Oscar nights to pick up an Oscar. for some other sterling performance. 

Although the overall vibe of the night was quite positive a bit of a damper on the mood was made by the director of a movie called "The Zone Of Interest".  This movie won the best Foreign Film Award.  The Director unfortunately had to discuss some of the real similarities of our time and that of the time of the film which is about a family living next door to a Nazi Death Camp.

The Director of a film about Ukraine also had some words regarding harsh realities, as well. 

Unfortunately it seems as though we can only escape the increasingly sad reality of our time for only brief periods.

But Thank God for those brief periods in which we can watch our movies and watch the Oscar salute to the outstanding movies of our time when it is on television.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher