2026 OSCARS RECAP
- Amy Madigan — Weapons
- Elle Fanning — Sentimental Value
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — Sentimental Value
- Wunmi Mosaku — Sinners
- Teyana Taylor — One Battle After Another
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
A deeply moving and emotional win to kick off the night. Amy Madigan was the soul of Weapons. Regarding the other nominees, I truly appreciated the subtle work of Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas in Sentimental Value; she excelled in a somewhat thankless role, especially alongside the film's more "showy" performances. I also enjoyed Wunmi Mosaku’s contribution to Sinners.
Ultimately, Madigan’s veteran Hollywood presence was impossible to ignore. Although I found the film Weapons to be a bit of a silly affair, Madigan stood out with a brave and eerie performance.
Amy Madigan is a fantastic actress, and this honor was a long time coming. She fully deserved the win, and it was wonderful to see the Academy recognize her in such a career-defining role. Most importantly, this victory likely ensures we will see her in many more projects to come.
- Sean Penn — One Battle After Another
- Jacob Elordi — Frankenstein
- Delroy Lindo — Sinners
- Benicio del Toro — One Battle After Another
- Stellan Skarsgรฅrd — Sentimental Value
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
Sean Penn was a notable absentee from the ceremony, but his performance as the villain was undeniably memorable and award-worthy. In all honesty, I was pulling for Delroy Lindo to take this one; it would have been a perfect opportunity for the Academy to honor Lindo’s entire stellar career.
However, it is clear that the Academy has a deep appreciation for Sean Penn’s craft.
There is a certain irony in this win, given that Penn seems increasingly distant from the "pomp and circumstance" of the Oscars. He reportedly chose to travel to Ukraine rather than attend the gala, a move that fits this stage of his career where he seems more focused on meaningful advocacy and good work than on chasing additional accolades.
This victory marks Sean Penn's third Oscar.
With this win, he officially ties Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Walter Brennan as the most decorated male actors in Oscar history—a record-breaking feat he will hopefully appreciate on some level.
Furthermore, this win solidifies the Academy's high regard for the entire cast of One Battle After Another. Having both Penn and Benicio del Toro nominated for the same film is a testament to the strength of Paul Thomas Anderson’s incredible ensemble.
- Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
- Will Tracy — Bugonia
- Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar — Train Dreams
- Chloรฉ Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell — Hamnet
- Guillermo del Toro — Frankenstein
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
Paul Thomas Anderson finally receives his due recognition for adapting the notoriously dense prose of Thomas Pynchon. Pynchon's novels have long been considered "unfilmable," yet PTA did more than just adapt the work—he excelled at crystallizing the heart of the story: the poignant father-daughter dynamic. This emotional core was balanced perfectly by the unrelenting tension and suspense of the film's extended chase sequences.
Perhaps the stiffest competition came from Will Tracy for his work on Bugonia. Tracy's script was taut and filled with riveting dialogue, though one wonders if the eccentric reputation of Yorgos Lanthimos’s previous films might have inadvertently telegraphed some of the story's "surprising" elements. Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar also deserve praise for the ethereal Train Dreams, while Hamnet and Frankenstein were rightfully recognized in what was an incredibly tough category. Ultimately, the craftsmanship of One Battle After Another stood out above the rest.
- Ryan Coogler — Sinners
- Robert Kaplow — Blue Moon
- Jafar Panahi— It Was Just an Accident
- Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein — Marty Supreme
- Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt — Sentimental Value
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
Coogler created an entirely original world here. It's rare for a genre thriller to take a screenplay prize, but Sinners was simply too smart to ignore.
Although marketed as a vampire movie, the film operates on many levels, rich with symbolism. It is an incredibly sophisticated work that will undoubtedly draw significant analysis in the years to come. Out of all the film's nominations, this win, along with Michael B. Jordan's performance, stands out as the most deserving of recognition.
Sinners seamlessly incorporates music, social commentary, and meticulous period details into a tight script driven by deep character work and riveting story elements.
I am thrilled the Academy recognized Ryan Coogler's vision with this award. While he certainly didn't need the validation, this win confirms that Coogler is one of the most vital creative voices working today. It will be fascinating to see how he follows up such a groundbreaking achievement.
- Sentimental Value — Norway
- The Secret Agent — Brazil
- It Was Just an Accident — France
- Sirฤt — Spain
- The Voice of Hind Rajab — Tunisia
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
A historic moment as Norway takes home its first-ever Oscar in this category. Joachim Trier's storytelling is world-class; although The Secret Agent was a very close second for me, I believe the exceptional performances tipped the scales for Sentimental Value. It’s the "acting between the lines", those moments of silence where so much is being communicated, that truly resonated. While The Secret Agent was impressive in its flashy use of style and tone, Sentimental Value captured something deeper.
The film masterfully explores the need for performance as a form of salvation. For many serious artists, performing isn't just an option; it is a necessity used to fuel and heal their damaged souls.
I don't think any film has captured that concept better than Sentimental Value. It is a celebration of the craft that avoids typical acting tropes. By framing the need to tell stories through a deeply personal lens, it shows that art, when done right, isn't created for glamour or financial gain.
I was absolutely blown away by this film. I am thrilled that Sentimental Value received recognition in such a competitive category. While it may lack the flashy glare of Sinners or One Battle After Another, it is undoubtedly a memorable, award-worthy film that deserves its place in cinematic history.
- Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler — Sinners
- Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme
- Chloe Zhao— Hamnet
- Joachim Trier — Sentimental Value
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
PTA is undoubtedly one of this generation's greatest directors. This win felt like a career achievement award and a technical masterclass rolled into one; the logistics behind those action sequences were simply breathtaking.
I particularly enjoyed this film following Licorice Pizza, which I felt was one of his weaker efforts. It is impressive that PTA was able to create a work that speaks so pointedly to our current political climate while remaining entirely timeless, especially regarding the central father-daughter dynamic.
The film flows with incredible fluency. Audiences often get so caught up in the intensity of the narrative that they overlook the flashy, technical brilliance PTA brought to the screen. Off the top of my head, I recall the tension of Leo's character holding his breath while shimmying through a makeshift escape tunnel, the rooftop gap jumps with the skateboarders, and that incredible car chase. From the gunfight at the holding house to the interrogation scenes, the movie is packed with unforgettable sequences.
Then, of course, there is the quiet power of the ending, the simple, haunting acceptance of Sean Penn's character sitting in his chair. It is a testament to the film’s cohesion that viewers sometimes need to be reminded of these individual moments; the work feels so immediate and immersive that style and substance become one.
I truly appreciate that the Academy refused to take PTA's directorial vision for granted, an oversight they often seem to make with masters like Quentin Tarantino or David Fincher.
- Jessie Buckley — Hamnet
- Emma Stone — Bugonia
- Rose Byrne — If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
- Renate Reinsve — Sentimental Value
- Kate Hudson — Song Sung Blue
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
Buckley's performance was shattering. As the heavy favorite for most of the season, her win was one of the night’s safer picks. However, I still deeply appreciated Renate Reinsve's incredible work in Sentimental Value. It was a complex, fleshed-out, and lived-in performance that truly celebrated the inherent challenges of the craft. While I was a little disappointed the Academy didn't lean in that direction, it certainly doesn't mean Buckley was undeserving.
I have very strong feelings about Hamnet; at times, it felt as though it exploited trauma and was perhaps too pretentious for its own good. Yet, Buckley was outstanding, stripping away all safeguards for a truly brave performance.
Emma Stone also deserves significant recognition for her impressive work in Bugonia. It is remarkable that a career-defining role like hers likely only placed third, but that speaks to just how competitive this awards season has been.
It is wonderful to see so many powerhouse female performances this year. This was undoubtedly one of the most contested categories we’ve seen in several years.
- Michael B. Jordan — Sinners
- Leonardo DiCaprio — One Battle After Another
- Ethan Hawke — Blue Moon
- Wagner Moura — The Secret Agent
- Timothee Chalamet — Marty Supreme
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
Michael B. Jordan has been delivering Oscar-tier work for years. His intensity in Sinners was matched only by Ethan Hawke’s theatrical, dialogue heavy performance in Blue Moon. In my view, the tiebreaker was Jordan’s ability to portray two distinctly different twin characters within a single film. Thankfully, the Academy recognized the immense challenge and seamless execution required to deliver two such memorable, individual performances.
One could delve deep into Ryan Coogler’s writing here, particularly the analogy of the twin brothers representing two sides of the same coin. The symbolism of selling one’s soul while simultaneously fighting personal demons, all while essentially being the same person, is incredibly layered.
It is a complex piece of work that perhaps defies the amateur social commentary analysis of a reviewer like me. I am simply thrilled that this award will forever be a highlight for Michael B. Jordan fans as they continue to examine his impressively growing filmography.
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
- The Secret Agent
- F1 - The Movie
- Marty Supreme
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Sentimental Value
- Bugonia
๐ฌ Ray's Thoughts
The night ended exactly as it should have. One Battle After Another is a masterwork of modern cinema. While there was a bit of late-season drama as Sinners gained significant traction following its Screen Actors Guild ensemble win, both films were deeply deserving. Along with the profound dramatic work in Sentimental Value, this was a truly memorable year for film. For the most part, the Academy did an excellent job of recognizing the year's best offerings.
Let’s be honest: it is always a bit surreal to have such drastically different movies competing against one another. I’ve always felt that, in terms of sheer recognition, there are no losers. All the nominees, and even many films that missed out on a nod, deserve to be celebrated.
But for posterity’s sake, there must be a winner. History is usually the final judge of which films truly stand the test of time, and the Academy has certainly had its share of misfires in the past. One only needs to look at how masterpieces like Citizen Kane and Raging Bull failed to take home the top prize.
However, I believe One Battle After Another is a worthy selection to represent the excellence of this cinematic year. It is a film that will undoubtedly be remembered for its ambition and craft.
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