5:53 p.m. It was pretty astonishing to see so many stars of Reiner\u2019s films gather in tribute to him and Michelle Singer. Reiner never won an Oscar, which just goes to show you don\u2019t need the statue to become a legend. But what\u2019s with the piano playing all through Barbra Steisand\u2019s tribute to Robert Redford? \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
5:44 p.m. Billy Crystal talking about Rob Reiner \u2014 I am laugh-crying already. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
5:36 p.m. And Ryan Coogler wins original screenplay for \u201cSinners\u201d so, mercifully, we well not be facing a \u201cmost nominations ever with no wins\u201d situation. Way bigger audience reaction to Coogler\u2019s win than Anderson\u2019s. Does that spell out anything in the predictive tea leaves? Also, loved that he apologized to his kids for being away so much \u2014 he definitely saw \u201cSentimental Value\u201d! \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
From talking to him over the years, he just loves being a dad. One time I started telling him about my kids going off to college and he was like, \u201cStop. I don\u2019t want to think about it.\u201d \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
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Ryan Coogler wins the Oscar for original screenplay for \u201cSinners.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
5:31 p.m. Here comes the first win of the night for \u201cSinners\u201d \u2014 original screenplay. But first, Paul Thomas Anderson\u2019s first win of the night, for adapted screenplay. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
OK, OK, screenplays. Paying attention. Not that I need to watch with Glenn joysticking the whole evening. Though even I knew that \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d would win for adapted. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
Love the big exhale from PTA as he left the stage. His first Oscar! And it won\u2019t be the last he wins tonight! \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
5:26 p.m. Conan is coming for \u201cnew Hollywood,\u201d first with the phone-screen editing and now taking on demands that films repeat key plot points for a distracted audience with \u201cCasablanca for Dummies.\u201d World War II \u2014 \u201cthat\u2019s the Hitler one, right?\u201d I will totally watch the \u201cCasablanca\u201d bit at least two more times.\u201d \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
5:21 p.m. \u201cSean Penn couldn\u2019t be here tonight, or didn\u2019t want to\u201d \u2014 Kieran Culkin after announcing the supporting actor winner. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
Love Kieran Culkin\u2019s shade toward Sean Penn. Also respect Penn staying true to his convictions and staying home. There is an unconfirmed report that Sean Penn is in Europe, possibly Ukraine … which feels like a trip Penn would make on the night of the Oscars. Or maybe going to the Golden Globes earlier this year ruined award shows for him forever. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
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Kieran Culkin presents the Oscar for supporting actor during the 98th Academy Awards.<\/p>\n
(Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
5:13 p.m. \u201cIt\u2019s a tie, everybody calm down.\u201d I almost feels like Kumail got specific instructions re: live-action short. Which is good but also… isn\u2019t no one supposed to know results beforehand? \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
Wait? A tie? Is this a sign that with the new voting rules, where voters had to attest to having seen all the nominees in a category, fewer people voted in the shorts? Like, did two people vote for \u201cThe Singers\u201d and two people vote for \u201cTwo People Exchanging Saliva\u201d? \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
\u201cIronic that short films is gong to take twice as long.\u201d Good one. (And, indeed, the \u201cSaliva\u201d people are talking for a super long time. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
If Conan ever gets tired of hosting, Kumail Nanjiani would be a good next-up. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo retract a microphone on a man?\u201d \u2014 attempts were made to cut \u201cSaliva\u2019s\u201d run-over, but even Conan was a bit startled. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
The cut to Conan when that happened was great. And no disrespect to the two winners in this category, both fine shorts. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
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Kumail Nanjiani announces a tie as he presents the Oscar for live-action short during the 98th Academy Awards.<\/p>\n
(Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
5:05 p.m. And yet it goes to Cassandra Kulukundis for \u201cOne Battle After Another.\u201d \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
Oh [bleep]. There goes the suspense for best picture. It\u2019s going to be \u201cOne Battle\u201d for sure. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
Really? \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
I feel like if \u201cSinners\u201d was going to win best picture, it would have taken this Oscar. I suppose it\u2019s still possible, but not winning this and the wide-open supporting actress category doesn\u2019t bode well. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t think she got bonus points for discovering Chase Infiniti? \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
\u201cSinners\u201d and \u201cOne Battle\u201d both have outstanding, deep ensembles. I thought Maisler\u2019s long history of working with every A-list Hollywood director (not to mention casting the Roy family in \u201cSuccession\u201d) would give her the edge. She found Miles Caton, basically the equivalent of finding Chase Infiniti. Again, it starting to feel like a \u201cOne Battle\u201d sweep. Now if Delroy Lindo wins supporting actor … \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
I know your awards-actuary method is historically successful but sometimes the Oscars get messy and spread things around. So I\u2019m still considering it an open BP race. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
5:01 p.m. Nice that they\u2019re making the first casting Oscar special with someone from each nominated movie singing the casting director\u2019s praises. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exquisite invisible architecture you built\u201d \u2014great line from \u201cMarty Supreme\u2019s\u201d Gwyneth Paltrow praising that film\u2019s nominee, Jennifer Venditti. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
Who did you predict, Glenn? \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
\u201cSinners\u201d and Francine Maisler. She\u2019s a legend. Would be the perfect choice for the first winner of this Oscar. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
4:56 p.m. \u201cFrankenstein\u2019s\u201d Oscars for costume design and makeup and hairstyling are very well deserved. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
I suppose. I would have gone with Ruth E. Carter and \u201cSinners\u201d for costumes. But she does have two Oscars. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
4:53 p.m. Anna Wintour for the win. She should co-present every award just to shut down the patter when it gets annoying. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
Did costume design winner Kate Hawley (\u201cFrankenstein\u201d) just curtsey to Wintour? \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s probably terrified of what she thinks of her outfit! \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Emily\u201d: Wintour stumping for \u201cThe Devil Wears Prada 2\u201d as she and Anne Hathaway continue with the makeup and hairstyling prize. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n
My interest in seeing that movie just went up a couple of notches. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
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Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway present during the 98th Academy Awards.<\/p>\n
(Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
4:50 p.m. That iPhone bit felt a little too real to be funny. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n
4:42 p.m. The Oscars recreating the best scene in a movie this year<\/a>? I\u2019m here for it. Gonna feel a little awkward if \u201cSinners\u201d doesn\u2019t win, though. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n Seriously. Before the Actor Awards, I was afraid that \u201cSinners\u2019\u201d April premiere would mean people would forget how amazing it was. But it would seem they have not. (And Misty Copeland making a climactic appearance here plays even stronger after brouhaha over Chalamet\u2019s comments about opera and ballet, especially given that Chalamet\u2019s in the front row.) \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n Miles Caton, center, performs \u201cI Lied to You\u201d from \u201cSinners\u201d during the 98th Academy Awards.<\/p>\n (Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n 4:38 p.m. Well … the animated short category makes another year of not getting a perfect predictions score. I did say \u201cThe Girl Who Cried Pearls\u201d could win haha… \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n 4:33 p.m. Now there\u2019s a surprise \u2014 not. \u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d wins animated feature. I know you knew that one, Glenn. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n It is the movie that kept all the kids entertained at our New Year\u2019s Eve party while the grown-ups ate and drank. Thank you \u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d! \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n \u201cMom, this is for you\u201d \u2014 the reason for all awards shows ever. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n I\u2019m glad she got to thank her mom after nearly being played off! \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n 4:31 p.m. The dig at the Oscars\u2019 move to YouTube with the appearance of random loud and obnoxious ads was right on \u2014 though I will watch any ad that stars Jane Lynch. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n Amy Madigan accepts the supporting actress Oscar for \u201cWeapons.\u201d<\/p>\n (Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n 4:22 p.m. Amy Madigan win supporting actress, the night\u2019s first prize \u2014 I am so happy!! Would have been terrible if her character opened the Oscars and she lost. And oh, that laugh! \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n Yeessssssssssss! (And not just because I predicted Amy Madigan.) \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n First acceptance speech to reference leg shaving? Also, Madigan defends the \u201crattling off\u201d of names. \u201cThey\u2019re the people who helped me get here.\u201d \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n What a lovely speech. And funny! Love the leg-shaving reference. Ed Harris and Amy Madigan are one of the town\u2019s most enduring couples. Madigan\u2019s point about the \u201cSinners\u201d and \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d actors embracing her was touching too. She was out there on her own, the only nominee from \u201cWeapons.\u201d Great start to the evening! \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n 4:20 p.m. I don\u2019t know who is going to win this supporting actress Oscar! \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n What? You always know everything! I feel so… unsafe! \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n 4:18 p.m. Very moving testament to optimism of global filmmaking, as represented here: Movies are made in the hopes that things around the world will get better. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n A monologue so good that I could even tolerate Josh Groban. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n Yeah, I was typing through that part so it didn\u2019t bother me. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n 4:14 p.m. \u201cFirst time since 2012 no British actors nominated in best actor or actress. British spokesman: \u2018Well, at least we arrest our pedophiles.\u2019\u201d Massive applause. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n That and the nod to L.A.\u2019s Spanish-language culture really landed. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n 4:09 p.m. First Chalamet opera and ballet joke: \u201cThey\u2019re just mad you left out jazz.\u201d \u201cThings could get political; there\u2019s an alternate Oscars hosted by Kid Rock.\u201d And a Ted Sarandos joke. I swear they are reading our comments, Glenn! \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n Is Sean Penn there? No on-camera reaction shot. Also, the best picture race is so close this year<\/a> I was trying to determine which movie got the loudest applause, \u201cSinners\u201d or \u201cOne Battle After Another.\u201d \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n Conan O\u2019Brien during the 98th Academy Awards.<\/p>\n (Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n 4:06 p.m. \u201cI can\u2019t believe I learned Norwegian for this\u201d: High point of Conan O\u2019Brien racing through scenes from best picture nominees as Amy Madigan\u2019s character in \u201cWeapons\u201d to open the show. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n I have fond memories of Billy Crystal\u2019s Oscar openers, but that was the best. I can\u2019t stop laughing. Almost sad it had to end. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n 3:51 p.m. The time is throwing me too, especially so close to the daylight savings change-up. I keep thinking about Maggie Smith\u2019s great line in \u201cCalifornia Suite\u201d: \u201cNo woman can be expected to look good at 4 p.m. except Tatum O\u2019Neal\u201d \u2014 who was a child at the time. Which is just another way of me saying \u201cI miss Maggie Smith.\u201d \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n Maggie Smith would be my dream red-carpet interviewer. It\u2019s hot! We need a little frostiness! \u201cSo, Mr. Chalamet … have you brought your opera glasses to the show?\u201d \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n 3:46 p.m. Quick question, Glenn. Will this be the hottest Oscars ever? As in, literally. Today has been a bit cooler than last few days, and next few days, but still. My weather app just said 85 degrees in Hollywood, which is pretty hot for March. No one seems to be visibly sweating, probably because most of red carpet is covered. And I guess it\u2019s better than rain. Still I feel for those in long sleeves and\/or tons of sequins. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n It feels like September Emmy weather, Mary! And I\u2019m still getting used to this new start time. There\u2019s too much daylight for the Oscars to be starting in 10 minutes. \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n 3:40 p.m. Here we are again at the Oscars, Mary, once again an hour earlier and with more questions than usual heading into the ceremony. Who is going to win the lead actor Oscar<\/a>? Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet? Michael B. Jordan? Leonardo DiCaprio? I\u2019ve misread this category so thoroughly this year they could open the envelope, say the name of an actor not even nominated and I would think, \u201cYes! Of course!\u201d Will Sean Penn win his third Oscar? Will Paul Thomas Anderson<\/a> have his first three Oscars by the end of the evening? Will the academy troll Chalamet (and the rest of us) with an interpretative dance performance<\/a>? What\u2019s on your mind as we prepare to watch this year\u2019s show? \u2014 G.W.<\/p>\n Glenn! Is this the man normally so clear and confident about his well-calculated predictions that I, with my more emotion-based hopes, often want to scream? Already the show is more interesting and it hasn\u2019t even started! I have been rooting for \u201cSinners\u201d<\/a> since I saw it almost a year ago \u2014 vampires haven\u2019t been used with such spot-on metaphoric resonance since Bram Stoker wrote \u201cDracula.\u201d And as I have said before, Michael B. Jordan gives two fine, powerful performances to his fellow nominees\u2019 one. I imagine there will be a ballet\/opera joke or two, though that brouhaha occurred after voting closed so if Chalamet does not win, no hate should be directed at the Royal Opera company. I am mostly interested in if\/how current events, including the war in Iran and the protests against ICE, are mentioned in any way. Especially given the politico-cultural themes of some of the top nominees. \u2014 M.M.<\/p>\n![\"Miles](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773622935_104_.jpeg\")
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