How Will The 2018 Oscars Be Remembered?

Reaction to this year’s big winners and how their victories will age through history

We did it, everybody! If you’re a film nerd, a cinephile or just simply love to get the most of your MoviePass membership, congratulate yourself on making it to the conclusion of another awards season. This year’s ceremony may not have had many surprises, but there were a few moments we will remember forever.

At the end of every Oscars, I like to look at the winners and ask one question: how will this age? Ten years from now, will this be the film or performance we remember most from this year? Will history show that the academy did indeed get it right or that they got it horribly wrong.

Well, with the 90th Academy Awards officially in the books, it’s time to ask this same question about this year’s big winners!

Best Animated Short — Glen Keane & Kobe Bryant (Dear Basketball)

Reaction — In the sports world, 2018 will now always be the year in which Kobe Bryant won an Oscar, something far more memorable than anything else that occurred Sunday night. While I think this won more for the animation than Kobe’s writing, Dear Basketball was very well done and made me pay close attention to the animated short category for the first time.

How will this age? — For the rest of time — unless Uncle Drew or Space Jam 2 are Oscar-worthy performances — the Kobe stans of the world who love to inject him into every “Who’s the GOAT?” conversation can now say that Kobe is an NBA champion, an MVP, a Finals MVP, an All-Star game MVP and an Academy Award winner.

Best Cinematography — Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049)

Reaction — FINALLY! After fourteen nominations, Roger Deakins is now an Oscar winning cinematographer. If you are unfamiliar with how long overdue this is, his resume of nominations is as follows:

• The Shawshank Redemption (1994, lost to Legends of the Fall)
• Fargo (1996, lost to The English Patient)
• Kundun (1997, lost to Titanic)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, lost to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
• The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001, lost to The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
• The Assassination of Jesse James (2007, lost to There Will Be Blood)
• No Country for Old Men (2007, lost to There Will Be Blood)
• The Reader (2008, lost to Slumdog Millionaire)
• True Grit (2010, lost to Inception)
• Skyfall (2012, lost to Life of Pie)
• Prisoners (2013, lost to Gravity)
• Unbroken (2014, lost to Birdman)
• Sicario (2015, lost to The Revenant)

In most of these cases, the film that visually was the best did win the award, but in all of these cases Deakins’ impeccable work went unrewarded. Blade Runner 2049 has a stunning look and it was great to finally see him get his moment on the Oscar stage.

How will this age? — In most instances, when someone wins an Oscar and the reaction is “finally,” it means they won for a film that was not their actual best work. Leonardo DiCaprio’s best performance isn’t The Revenant. Denzel Washington’s best performance isn’t Training Day. Guillermo Del Toro’s best work isn’t The Shape of Water.

Personally, I think this actually is the very best work of Roger Deakins and while I may not be the biggest fan of Blade Runner 2049, there is no denying how mesmerizing the world he created in this film is.

Best Original Screenplay — Jordan Peele (Get Out)

Reaction — If you’ve paid any attention to my film analysis or listened to Post Credits, you know how much I love and cherish Get Out. When Jordan Peele was announced on Sunday night, I jumped up off my couch knowing what this victory meant. Yes, this made him the first ever African-American to win this award but there is a deeper meaning to this film being recognized by the academy.

In the past, Oscars were given to “race films” that were mostly about slavery, oppression, or the civil rights moment and Hollywood would then pat themselves on the back afterwards for how progressive they are. In Get Out, Peele calls out that mild, passive form of racism that makes you look in the mirror and question whether you’re guilty of congratulating yourself because “you would’ve voted for Obama a third time if you could.” Peele winning an Oscar for this film signifies, even if ever so slightly, that the academy is trending in the right direction.

How will this age? — This will forever be what made Jordan Peele an Academy Award winner. Even though he did not win for Director or Best Picture, he can now put that title ahead of his name in the trailer for every film he does in the future. Never saw this coming from the man responsible for the reason most of us pronounce the name Aaron, “A-A-Ron.”

Best Supporting Actress — Allison Janney (I, Tonya)

Reaction —Despite the loud protest from the Lady Bird crowd, the academy got this right. I, Tonya made my top five for 2017 and Janney’s performance is part of the reason why. She has one job in the film: make you hate her. She more than succeeds — so much so that seeing how lovely and warm she was as she accepted her award threw me off a bit, knowing this was won for a role that caused so much dislike toward a character.

How will this age? — This win for Janney will age just fine. Her performance, even upon a second or third viewing, is still effective. The nominees is where people will look back at the 2018 Oscars and say “wait, Holly Hunter, Katherine Keener and Betty Gabriel weren’t even nominated?”

Best Supporting Actor — Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri)

Reaction —His role in The Green Mile will always be his best and his character in Galaxy Quest will always be my favorite. However, problematic ending aside, I have an appreciation for this film and Sam Rockwell’s performance was deserving in my opinion.

How will this age? — Same thing with Best Supporting Actress. People will look back at this category and question why Ray Romano, Michael Stuhlbarg, Armie Hammer or LilRel Howery weren’t nominated. Also, Rockwell is playing George W. Bush in a film later this year about Dick Cheney so this may possibly be remembered as the first of a back-to-back.

Best Lead Actress — Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)

Reaction — Whether or not you thought she deserved to win for this performance, Frances McDormand’s acceptance speech was absolutely the one Hollywood needs right now. It was inspiring, had a clear, concise message and introduced the term “inclusion rider” to an audience of 27 million. I may have thought Margot Robbie’s performance was better but there is no denying the wonderful moment McDormand’s speech gave us Sunday night.

How will this age? — Best case scenario, people will forever remember McDormand’s speech and inclusion rider will become a common term used in movie studios everywhere. Worst case scenario, people will only know 2018 for the year she won her third Oscar and Vicky Kreips wasn’t nominated.

Best Lead Actor — Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)

Reaction — I’ve made my stance on this film and this performance perfectly clear. This was not one of the five best let alone THE best of 2017 by a lead actor. I do respect an incredible career and Gary Oldman has always been one of my favorite actors. But I couldn’t help but wish a different actor was rewarded in a year filled with so many great lead actor performances, some of which weren’t even recognized with a nomination (Jake Gyllenhaal, James Franco, Kumail Nanjiani to name a few). I’ll just pretend he won this for Sirius Black or Commissioner Gordon.

How will this age? — Well… if you believe the allegations of Oldman’s ex-wife, this will not age well at all. Between the #MeToo and TimesUp movements going through Hollywood right now, in the same way James Franco’s run to the Oscars was halted by allegations against him, it’s a wonder the same didn’t happen to Oldman. Just going by the pattern we’ve seen up to now, I can only imagine history will look back on this as the last year any actor with allegations this strong in their past will be recognized on Oscar night.

Best Director/Best Picture — Guillermo Del Toro/The Shape Of Water

Reaction — Let me start with this… The Shape of Water is a beautiful film. From a technical perspective, it is near perfect. The performances are amazing, led by the unforgettable work of Sally Hawkins, and the film tells an incredible story about people who are looked at as broken or a minority by a dominating figure of authority working together. It also shares the message that love comes in many different shapes, sizes and species. Personally, I think Get Out was the best picture of 2017 and is near the top of my all-time greatest list BUT I can respect and appreciate everything that makes The Shape Of Water great.

How will this age? — Unfortunately, to the non-cinephile, this will always be the year that the movie about fish sex won Best Picture. As happy as I am for Guillermo Del Toro finally being recognized for the visionary that he is, this isn’t even his own best picture. As the years go by, The Shape of Water will most likely join the category of winners that is always referred to when people ask “How did THAT win Best Picture over THIS?!”