Academy Awards Recap: 'Oppenheimer' Takes the Spotlight, Memorable Ryan Gosling Cameo Moments

The Oscar telecast has three main goals: to honor the best films and filmmakers of the year, to promote the movie-going experience, and to entertain both the audience in the theater and those watching at home.

With theatrical ticket sales declining due to the impact of Covid and streaming services, the importance of promoting the movie-going habit has increased. Despite this, the 96th Academy Awards excelled in providing a fun and entertaining show, with playful moments that made it a memorable telecast. Ryan Gosling's contributions alone made it worth watching.

The awards ceremony proceeded as expected, with the best-picture prize going to "Oppenheimer," a film directed by Christopher Nolan that also received six other awards. The predictability of the winners made the qualities of the event both necessary and appreciated by the audience.

The only real challenge faced by the event producers was the lack of suspense in key categories, aside from the best actress award. Emma Stone took home the award for her performance in "Poor Things," a win that was emotional for her but also meant that Lily Gladstone missed out on a potentially groundbreaking victory.

The selections followed the expected pattern, honoring those who had the opportunity to practice and perfect their acceptance speeches throughout the awards season, which kicked off in early January.

It's important to mention that even a fantastic show - like this one, which was considered very good by Oscar standards - may not be sufficient to increase TV viewership. The Oscars had to deal with the challenge of starting an hour earlier and the change to Daylight Savings Time. Nevertheless, in today's competitive TV landscape, maintaining viewership levels against the growing number of options available to audiences is a notable achievement.

For example, let's take a look at the Emmys that were delayed due to a strike. Despite being well-done, the show unfortunately had the lowest ratings ever.

Now, let's dive into the highlights of the night, along with a few low points towards the end.

From left, Jessica Lange, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Stone, Charlize, Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, Sally Field gather backstage at the Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

A group of talented actresses including Jessica Lange, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Stone, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, and Sally Field came together backstage at the Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

The acting testimonials during the awards ceremony were a touching moment. Previous winners introducing the nominees in the acting categories and allowing them a moment to shine reminded everyone that being nominated is truly an honor. However, there was a downside when Da’Vine Joy Randolph, a strong contender for the night, started crying even before her name was announced for “The Holdovers.”

The format of the awards ceremony may have risked adding a touch of Hollywood-style self-importance, but the nominees’ beaming faces brought a celebratory vibe to this year's show.

Ryan Gosling, not just your average Ken doll, delivered a performance of “I’m Just Ken” with impressive enthusiasm. His playful banter with Emily Blunt about the "Barbenheimer" rivalry was truly amusing. While he may play second fiddle to Barbie, Gosling definitely deserves the title of this year’s Oscars MVP.

Jimmy Kimmel nailed it as the host of the Oscars, bringing his usual light and entertaining touch to the show. He also touched on the strikes affecting the industry and took a moment to acknowledge the hardworking award-show crew who were in negotiations between their union (The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Just like the Emmys, the Oscars managed to wrap up the awards before their scheduled end time (even with an extra half-hour). This led to some last-minute stretching by the producers to fill the time towards the end of the show.

The show benefited from starting earlier, giving more time for actor tributes and performances of song nominees, which are usually enjoyed by the audience. Maybe they should consider starting at 7:30 p.m. ET next year?

A clip of late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny is played onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024.

A clip of late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny is played onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024.

Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

Politics took center stage at this year's Oscars, with a few exceptions to the "Shut up and act" mentality. Director Jonathan Glazer spoke about his World War II film's relevance to the conflict in Gaza, a tribute to the late Russian activist Alexey Navalny was included, and Mstyslav Chernov shared the devastation of the Russian invasion on Ukraine in his commentary for "20 Days in Mariupol."

During the show, host Kimmel made a jab at Sen. Katie Britt and responded to former President Trump's social media post, generating a lively reaction from the audience. Despite these moments, the focus of the evening remained on the main event, providing a bit of excitement in an election year.

Sharing the wealth. Despite "Oppenheimer" dominating the nominations, seven out of the 10 best-picture nominees received some recognition. Unfortunately, "Maestro," "Past Lives," and "Killers of the Flower Moon" were the three films that did not take home any awards.

The Oscars going global. Film awards have become more diverse and international, a trend that was evident this year. Movies like Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron," "Anatomy of a Fall," "Godzilla Minus One," and "The Zone of Interest" were among the winners, showcasing a global representation in the film industry.

John Cena decided to pay tribute to the streaker who ran across the Oscar stage fifty years ago by walking out naked, which initially seemed like a silly stunt. Surprisingly, this turned out to be a clever move when he also presented the award for best costume design.

Now, onto the few negatives...

Becky G performs during the 96th Academy Awards.

Becky G performs during the 96th Academy Awards.

Presenter banter during the event was not very impressive, although there was a standout moment when Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, and Michael Keaton discussed the "Batman" movies.

The honorary Oscars were not given proper recognition during the ceremony. Instead of showing clips from past honorary awards, viewers were directed to the Academy's website, which felt disrespectful to the industry's history.

The song performances were mostly impressive, but the rendition of the "Flamin' Hot" entry seemed out of place, resembling a tacky Las Vegas show.

Editor's P/S:

The 96th Academy Awards presented a memorable telecast, balancing entertainment and recognition for cinematic excellence. Ryan Gosling's playful performance and Jimmy Kimmel's adept hosting brought a lighthearted touch to the event, while the acting testimonials added a heartwarming element. Despite the predictability of the winners, the show's focus on celebrating the nominees and showcasing diversity in international cinema made it an engaging experience.

However, the telecast faced challenges with the lack of suspense in key categories and the need to fill time towards the end. The inclusion of politics, while significant, highlighted the complexities of the awards ceremony in an election year. The lackluster presenter banter and the underwhelming performance of "Flamin' Hot" were minor drawbacks in an otherwise well-executed event. Overall, the Oscars achieved its goal of promoting the movie-going experience while honoring the exceptional contributions to cinema, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.