Oscars Highlights and Surprises, Plus a Peek Inside the Vanity Fair Party

0:05Hello and welcome to Little Gold Men, Vanity Fair's podcast for film, TV and awards lovers. I'm Rebecca Ford. And I'm John Ross. And joining us this extremely early post-Oscars morning is our, well, everything correspondent at this point, Chris Murphy. Hi, Chris. Hello. Wow. It is early. Early, early, early is all I can say right now. So it's early and we were up so late because of the fabulous party, which we will get to. What a night. I had so much fun and we've got a lot to get into. So today we're going to be recapping Hollywood's biggest night, the highs, the lows, the historic, the unprecedented.

0:45Let's get into it. We were in different places last night. I was at the Dolby Theater and then I went to the Governor's Ball. Can you guys tell us a little bit about where you each were? I was at Vanity Fair's cocktail hour and dinner, an Oscar watch party, which was also at LACMA with a bunch of celebs and, you know, stars and also tech people and media people who all convened to watch the Oscars before our party. So there's a party before our party. So it ends up being like a 13 hour day, which was really fun. It was really great, though. I, too, was at the dinner and then the party. The viewing dinner was really, really special.

1:29There's a heat wave starting today in Los Angeles, but yesterday was the most glorious weather. It really was. Yeah, everyone was outside. It was like under the new buildings at LACMA. It was really beautiful. It was like such a beautiful night. Like everyone was so happy to be outside. We're going to get into all of it. We've got so much to talk about. Yeah, let's dive into the actual Oscars and what happened. You know, we talked about how this was a one battle versus sinners sort of battle right up to the end there. And I think it worked out pretty well. You know, one battle, of course, won Best Picture, Director, Screenplay.

2:13In the end, it ended up winning six Oscars. Sinners won four. Or, of course, Michael B. Jordan. I think that was one of the big moments of the night. But to me, that felt right. Like, I feel like they both were winners in their own way, you know, even if Best Picture could only go to one of them. Yeah, I mean, it's surprising and kind of lovely that, like, it felt, even though there were no big surprises, Michael B. Jordan, I guess, being maybe the exception, even though he was trending up, it did feel like, oh, every winner was really great. Like there's no winner this year that I was like, ah, what happened?

2:48So even though one battle after another won six, the wealth was spread a fair amount to Sinners specifically. I think it was a good Oscars because people genuinely liked the winners, it felt. Yeah, it felt like everything was deserving. I mean, I know that there's been some conversation around Frankenstein winning three Oscars. You know, they're all below the line. But I feel like it's what, yeah, it's what you were saying. I think, you know, at the parties, a lot of people are like, well, there weren't enough surprises. And I'm like, well, there couldn't be because there were so many races that we didn't have a front runner.

3:21Like, arguably supporting actress, none of those are surprised because none of them were, like, any of them could have won. So, you know, so I'm like, technically, it was just so open that it's almost like any winner is a surprise. Well, the problem was that the acting races mirrored the actors awards. So if you're following it at all loosely, it was the exact same. So I think that's where the feeling of lack of surprise came from. The night of it mirrored an awards show that had aired only two weeks prior. That's not exactly true. Sinners won at the Actor Awards for Best Ensemble, but one battle after another took the top price for casting last night.

4:08So it wasn't exactly the same. Yes, of course. Sorry. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. But I do think it's like, we cover this so much and this season was two weeks longer than normal. So everybody got a little crazy at the end. And you really want, you want something exciting to happen because it's hard to talk about the same thing over and over and over and over again. But I mean, that being said, Michael B. Jordan winning was genuinely, I will say in the room at the Oscar viewing party and dinner party. It was a completely electric, insane moment. Everyone screamed, people jumped to their feet. standing ovation, Jane Fonda is standing cheering for, you know, Michael B.

4:45Jordan. It was amazing. And it was a little bit, if not unexpected, it was like, ooh, some people hoped, like, is this going to happen? And for it to happen, it was really, it was really cool. It was so, in the theater, it was like, incredible. I feel like I've only felt that kind of energy a couple times, having been to the show a few times. And his speech lived up to it. Like he got emotional. I felt like it was so beautiful what he said about the people who'd come before him. Who came before me? Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forrest Whitaker, Will Smith. And to be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys.

5:24Thank you, everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it. I know you guys want me to do well. That's the kind of Oscar moment you want to see happen. And I thought it was, yeah, really, really special and beautiful. And what a great win, I think, in the end. What were some of your favorite speeches? I gotta say, Autumn Duralt-Archipal, when we're talking about Sinners, that's really, I mean, the first woman to ever win Best Simitography at the Oscars, an insane statistic. But, like, the fact that she won was so fantastic. That was another really sort of huge moment in the room.

6:02And I really want all the women in the room to stand up, because I feel like I don't get here without you guys. Sarah Paulson was like banging on the silverware, starting a chant for her at the dinner, which was really exciting. And I thought the speech was great. And the moment, again, it's like when you see someone meet the moment and real history being made, it's kind of, that's what the Oscars are about. That was the best speech of the night for me. It was like, she's captivating this room. And it was so beautiful. And Ryan Coogler like ran her son up so he could be closer. I saw her on the carpet and she introduced me to her husband and her son who were both there.

6:42And like, he had the cutest little tux on with like penguin buttons. And it was just like so sweet. And I don't, she's, she's been so like graceful in, in such a high pressure situation for her this whole time that I thought it was just like incredible to see it happen for her. I agree. I think that was my favorite moment of the night. And I yelped when she won. How often do you actually get to see history be made? It's pretty special. To me, it was the highlight of the night, actually followed by Kugler's speech for best screenplay. His speech was so good. The way he talks about his wife is so beautiful.

7:22Everyone in the room was like, oh. Zinzi Kugler, you guys are the best producers in the world. Zinzi, you're the best wife and mom in the world. Every day I get to spend with you is better than the one that came before it. And to my babies that are at home watching, I apologize for all the time away. Dad loves you. Memories are all we have. I hope I've given you some great ones. So we're saying Sinner's good at speeches. Yeah, really. Everyone nailed their Sinner's speeches. And PTA did his best at a different type of speech. It was more personal than any of his previous speeches before. I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we're handing off to them, but also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency.

8:14My Pearl, Lucy, Jack, and Ida. I love you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. So linking the movie to something more personal, I thought was nice. And I will say he's got sort of the toughest job in that he's been giving speeches this whole time. He's been winning and winning and winning. Well, so is Jesse Buckley. Yeah. Notice we haven't really mentioned her. She gave a nice speech, but it wasn't necessarily a stand-up for me. But I will say with Paul Thomas Anderson, it was so lovely. You could tell how much this genuinely means to him. And he even references, like, you know, like, I've made a lot of movies.

8:48And I've, like, worked really hard to get here. and to see someone who is so deserving and thinking about, you know, I know we talk about, like, legacy awards sometimes and people getting them because it's their time or whatnot, but it is really lovely to see someone who has, you know, worked tirelessly in their industry and done really great work get their moment in the sun. So I was happy to see PTA's speeches and thought it was lovely. So real quick, I wanted to talk about the moment we realized that One Battle was going to win Picture, which was really early in the night. At least John and I were texting about it.

9:29It was like when the casting category came up, because I do think that was one of the surprises of the night. And obviously it was a very high profile award being the first time it was given out. But everyone sort of thought Francine Meisler was going to win for Sinners. So when it went to Cassandra Kulakunas for One Battle, John, I think you texted me immediately like, okay, it's done. It's done. And then when One Battle, One Editing, which as we know often ties with Best Picture, that was like, all right, this is done. And you know what? I was like, yeah, that feels right. That feels like what is supposed to happen.

10:09It feels like in any other year, we'd be like, yes, One Battle. I felt like that's amazing. It's a great movie that's timely. Great film, yeah. It's a great film that speaks to right now with an incredible cast, huge movie star that made a lot of money. I think Sinners is just such a phenomenon and people love Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan and the whole cast and whatnot that... I don't want to say it was disappointing that one battle after another won because that is the wrong word. There should be a German word for like when you know something is going to happen and you're ultimately okay with it, but there could be something else that's slightly more exciting that could happen, but it didn't happen.

10:44I think that's... It probably is. There's gotta be a German word for that. And it's probably very long. Yeah, when Cassandra won, I thought it was, like, shored up. But actually, I thought that presentation was really well done. And having Chase do the segment on Cassandra, it did sort of make you feel like, okay, well, I mean, she really did find, like, a star. and also actually Tiana too, who had been in films prior, but they were much smaller. She had that Sundance film that was very good, 1001, but this was her breakout role. So I guess getting two breakouts in one film, I can see how you give it to that casting director.

11:36I think what I reminded myself is like, Fancy Mazur's gonna win this award. Like every year she has cast some incredible movie. Like if you look at her history, it's just like incredible ensemble after incredible ensemble. So I think it will go to her now that, you know, this is going to be an award that exists forever. So I'm happy about that. Let's talk about the other shock of the night. I think I love this so much that there was a tie for Best Live Action Short, which has only happened six other times in history. and I remember the last time it happened because I was working in the press room at the Oscars at the time and people were just like going nuts because it is so rare.

12:18And so when Kumail Nanjiani went up there to present, he had to literally say, it's a tie, I'm not kidding because people thought he was just doing a bit. And the Oscar goes to, it's a tie. I'm not joking. It's actually a tie. So everyone calm down. We're going to get through this. Let's focus up. Calm down. Remain calm. I'm going to name one winner. They'll come up, accept their award, and then I'll come back and name another winner. What did you guys think about that? Was it exciting, too, from where you guys were? Not since the days of Barbra Streisand and Katherine Hepburn. It's really, I mean, it's happened since then, but it just, it was really wild.

12:55It really caught the attention of the room that I was in, just because, you know, you're mixing, you're mingling, you're chatting amongst yourselves, but then the tie everyone sort of locked in was like, whoa, we've not really seen this happen. And it's like, again, it sort of shows why spreading the wealth is great because both groups were so genuinely excited. And it was such an unexpected moment that added a big burst of energy to a part of the show that like, I don't, you know, a lot of people I don't think have watched all the documentary shorts or the live action shorts, if you will. So it like added bonus to a part of the show that can sometimes be a little bit like, all right, like, when are we ready to wrap this up?

13:35So I was totally here for it. But also Kumiel handled it so well. Yeah, he did. And you spoke to him, Rebecca, about what happened. Yeah. So what was on that card, and how did he know how to organize it so perfectly? Because he did a really good job of making it seamless on the stage. Yeah, because I thought the card must have said, bring up one group and then announce the second winner and bring up that group. because he was immediately like, this is how we're going to do it, you know? Yeah. But I asked him later in the night, and he said it just said the names of the winners, and he made that game time decision to announce one, bring them up, announce the other, bring it up.

14:19And, like, they're so lucky he was the presenter because I don't think someone who, you know, he's very agile, I think, in his comedy and the way he presents, and I think that allowed him to do it. And he was so funny because he asked the Academy if he could keep the card because he realized it's such a historic moment. And the Academy said no. No, that's so sad. And so he didn't get to keep it. That sounds like the Academy. Apparently they had two cards with the names made up for the winners to keep. But they kept the one that had both names on them or whatever. And he was like so excited. He took photo booth pictures with the winners.

14:56It was, like, really cool to see he also was, like, so excited that he got to do this. But I think there were a few people that probably could have done that as well as he did. Because I don't think they prepare you as a presenter to be like, maybe there'll be a tie. It's only happened six times in 98 years. But it could happen.

15:16More of our reactions to Oscar Knight after a quick break.

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17:27Welcome back to Little Gold Men. Let's talk about the ceremony itself. What did you guys think about Conan? He's great at the gig. I will say, you know, I missed in the moment some of the bits and whatnot, but everything that I saw him do was really, he's really funny. He's a pro. There's a reason that he's Conan O 'Brien. Like, he knows what he's doing. And I think we're in a kind of a good place with some of these award shows with Nikki Glazer hosting the Golden Globes and Conan now two years in a row. He's funny without feeling like he's punching down, but he does take actual, you know, shots and he's not afraid to like target a celebrity, get a Leo joke in there and whatnot.

18:04He is like quirky and kind of weird, but like ultimately like he seems like a good person and he actually cares about movies unlike other hosts in the past. And that I think matters most of all. Yeah. So I'm a big Conan fan. Yeah, I think he does a great job. I felt like everyone I talked to agreed that Conan's opener was great. Like he really, exactly what you're saying, people love watching him. I think some of the other stuff maybe went on a little long. I mean, we can get into specifics, but I think overall, Conan really works as a host, and I thought it was just as strong as last year. And he did a lot of hosting.

18:41He was always on there. Yeah, like sometimes hosts disappear for like an entire hour, but he always seemed to pop in and out, so that's true. I thought actually all of Conan's stuff worked. The stuff I didn't think that worked and where we got into some trouble with the length of the show was the presenters and the presenter bits. I thought those were too long. I'm sorry, guys. I thought the bridesmaid thing was way too long. Disagree. Yeah, I enjoyed it. I found it to be delightful. But I also wasn't watching the show like super closely, start to finish. So I wasn't like at a point where I felt that we needed to move on to the next thing.

19:25And all those women are really funny. I ran into Rose Byrne on the way into our party. It's such a weird night when I have to say things like that. But she, you know, Kristen Wiig wrote their bit for them. And I think she's just like so perfect at writing language for the person who's presenting. Like, I just thought the writing was so strong in that bit that I really loved it. I could have watched them for longer than they even were up there. So I think this may be the one thing we disagree on, John. Sorry. It's not that I didn't think that the idea of it worked, but I think it was like a five-minute intro.

20:04I think especially with adding new categories and the stunts category being added in two years for the 100th Oscars, I mean, we always say the show is too long. And then at the same time, we want to have all the special moments. And I didn't like that they cut off the K-pop demon hunters, songwriters, because if you're going to have song be at the very, very end, then you want it to be a special moment. So what did you think was going to happen? But the way to just save that time is to figure out some of the other categories in the show. And I guess part of back to the bridesmaids thing, it was just a very long intro for an award that I was like, oh, like, like, let's keep it.

20:47Two awards. We'll say that. Oh, that's true. Yeah. Yeah. It's, you know, I feel like in other years they've done re or maybe that's just what the Emmys do where they do reunions and then they're not even presenting anything. They're just like a reunion. So I liked that it was like functional and a reunion at the same time. You know, same with the Moulin Rouge thing at the end, which I thought was sweet because I love that movie. But yeah, I mean, I know what you mean. And I think, I don't know what it was like watching from home, but they were cutting off speeches like from the get-go. Like the first couple people got sort of played off and then people were booing in the audience and then they didn't get played off.

21:26So I agree. Like everyone says, you know, even producers of the show say people are tuning in to hear the speeches. Well, I'm like, well, then you can't cut the speeches. So what is the solution here? Exactly. it's like the one thing that doesn't work is cutting off the speeches unless things go really off the rails but nobody was going off the rails and actually they had saved a whole speech by Sean Penn not being there yeah they did it they really did they really yeah so they actually added time which I mean should we talk about Sean Penn not being there yeah yeah that was What a bummer, dude.

22:05Where is he? Where is he? What humanitarian crisis is he solving? He won't even tell us. It is weird. Like, why go to the Globes and not the Oscars? And that's the one he lost, too. It's like he didn't even win that one. So we never saw him accept an award this entire season, right? Right. But we haven't seen him at all. I mean, is this going to be like a Dateline episode? Does anyone know? Finding Sean Kent. It seemed like everyone, it didn't feel a little like in the audience that like even people close to him were like, you know, I just don't know where he is. I mean, yeah. Who else does it like that other than Daniel Day-Lewis?

22:43And Frances McDormand did more than this. Like there's very. But Daniel Day-Lewis showed up. Two awards. You're right. You're right. There's no one that does this little. He's pushing the boundaries of, like, Francis and McDormand and Daniel are the no campaigners, but he's now taken it to another level in which he's simply not there. I will say we got one of, I think, only two interviews he did for release for the movie. And so I did get to sit down with him, like very old Hollywood style on a patio, you know, at a Hollywood hotel. And like he was smoking cigarettes the whole time. And I was like, this is great.

23:25And I thought maybe he was going to do a lot more after that. But now I realize that was a rare thing. So if you are craving a Sean Penn interview, we do have one. We got it. Thank you, Rebecca. Thanks, Rebecca. Now I know how special that was. So what did you guys think of the performances? In the room, they played really well. I thought they had a crazy good energy to them. The Golden performance, they gave us a little light-up glowing wristbands to wave around. And it felt big in the room, but I was curious how it played on TV. I mean, I think Golden, it's like everybody knows that. Some people were mouthing along to it at the dinner and drinks, which was kind of fun.

24:06How can you not? How can you not? It's so catchy. But I thought the Sinners performance was really great. And I will say, I know some people are upset that we don't have, you know, every nominated song doesn't get to perform. Well, not these people. Yeah, I know. Not these three people. Not these three. And I don't know who was, other than Diane Warren, I think you'd find it hard to find other people that were. Yeah, because they got to invest more in the performances they did have. And they really, you know, the production level, the quality, like, it was more than just somebody standing on stage singing, which can be great.

24:41We love that. Love to hear Barbra Streisand sing whenever she sings. But it was nice, I think, because they didn't have the pressure of having to cram them all in. They could let the two that they did really breathe and, like, be spectacles. Yeah, I mean, the best part about Golden was seeing Leo play with that little wand thing. because, I mean, he just looked like he was like, I don't know what's going on. But it is true, Chris, what you said. I mean, we have now seen them perform this song a lot of times. This probably was the best version of the performance, but they didn't totally blow it out of the water for television.

25:26I don't know what they could have done to do that, like unless it was like some, I don't know, like fireworks on stage. I really don't know. But I mean, what is nice is that they can now actually sing. So they sing and harmonize the song live on stage really well. Yeah, it was great. It felt like a, yes, professionals in concert. Yeah, professionals in concert. So that was cool. But it didn't reach I'm just Ken level. No, it did not. You know, just pure entertainment. But it was a nice way to break up the night. And then the highlight to me in terms of show production was the In Memoriam. Yeah, it was great.