The Oscars will always have limited credibility because of its history of getting it wrong. Still, it sure is nice on those occasions when they get it right. Joaquin Phoenix won for Best Actor for his role of the JOKER, and never has an award been more deserved. The same is true of Brad Pitt winning for ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. The Academy got it right again.
The big surprise for me, though, and I expect for a lot of people, was the love shown to PARASITE. Best International Film *and* BEST Picture! And Best Director for Bong Joon Ho! That’s history-making, right there, and all the more mind-blowing when you realize that PARASITE is a Horror movie! THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. THE SHAPE OF WATER. And now PARASITE. When you consider that THE EXORCIST, JAWS, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, THE SIXTH SENSE, THE GREEN MILE, GET OUT, and now JOKER and ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD all got nominations for Best Picture, we must allow that the Oscars do not always overlook our beloved genre. Even if they did fail to include Sid Haig in their memorial segment for stars who passed away during the past year. (At least he was mentioned on their website.)