The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2024 Oscars

 

 

" The Oscars: You can start them an hour early and they’ll still end 25 minutes late. ABC’s big show, led by Jimmy Kimmel, exuded the desperate-to-please energy of, alternatively, “look, we nominated blockbusters you watched this year!” and “please don’t change the channel, whatever it takes.” Is this a show for everyone or just the diehards? Is Hollywood back and better than ever or has it lost its sense of identity? The production shot simultaneously for big crowd-pleasing moments like Ryan Gosling’s rendition of “I’m Just Ken” and tried to appeal to true awards geeks by having former winners present to the nominees. Outside the ceremony, protesters tried to call attention to the genocide in Gaza, a reality that few of the beautiful people on television (in fact, only one) acknowledged in their speeches. Kimmel, playing his usual slickly chummy self as host, kept it all moving, even if the ceremony never found its center. The year in 2023 ended with the bang of Oppenheimer winning best picture, along with the anticlimactic whimper of Al Pacino not seeming to care. The highs were high, the lows very low, and the tonal whiplash constant. We rounded it all up for you."

 By Jen Chaney:
The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2024 Oscars

Vulture