Oscars 2020 Debrief

Shockingly hopeful.

Who knew this night would end with an international filmmaker walking away with a status to rival that of Walt Disney (four golden statues in one evening)? The room emanated a hopeful energy -- one that longed for connection through artistic appreciation and communal storytelling. After several years (decades) of tension and cynicism -- seeded by structural inequality and fueled by cancel culture -- Hollywood seemed overjoyed (and relieved) to see Parasite sweep a pile of deserved awards.

Amidst flurries of twitter hot-takes and reflective op-eds, Parasite emerged victorious -- not because it pandered to American critics or was the recipient of some sort of guilt-ridden participation trophy, but because it truly was the favorite film of the year.

More than anything else, Bong Joon Ho's film seemed to touched a nerve that crosses international boundaries: economic disparity is a toxic parasite that leaves almost no nation uninfected. Those who find themselves at the top of the economic food chain vampirically satiate their lives at the expense of everyone further down the ladder; and those at the bottom will do anything in order to survive. The more bloated each end becomes, the more toxic behavior emerges as normalized.

The Academy Awards has always lauded itself as the international standard for cinematic achievement, but not until 2020 has another country been recognized for the top prize. In recent years, it seems, we are pushing the boundaries in both directions. The pendulum swings hard in both directions: Moonlight to Green Book; Green Book to Parasite; blue to red to blue to red....Obama to Trump.

These swinging arms may prove to balance the scales, or they may simply break the glass. Either way, Hollywood and American culture alike desperately need the readjustment.

NOTABLE WINNERS

Clockwise, from top right:

• Executive Karen Rupert Toliver and writer/director Matthew A. Cherry accept the award for Best Animated Short (Hair Love), a widely loved story that brings much-needed acceptance and representation

• Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir wins Best Original Score for Joker (the first woman to win this award since 1997)

• Bong Joon Ho posing with his four statuettes (he couldn't take a bad photo that night!)

• Taika Waititi makes Oscars history as first Maori to win an Academy Award (Best Original Screenplay, Jojo Rabbit)

Until next year...

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IF YOU MISSED THE AWARDS...you can catch my recap at @iwatchsoyoudonthaveto