The 98th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien at Dolby Theatre on March 16, delivered edge-of-your-seat drama as ‘One Battle After Another’ emerged as the night’s powerhouse with 13 nominations and multiple wins, stealing thunder from ‘Sinners’ despite its record 16 nods.
Sound design took center stage with ‘F1’ clinching Best Sound for its immersive engine growls and tire shrieks, defeating nominees including ‘Frankenstein,’ the dominant ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Sinners,’ and ‘Sirat.’ ‘Sinners’ composer Ludwig Göransson swept Best Original Score, surpassing talents like Jerskin Fendrix, Max Richter, and Jonny Greenwood.
Breaking barriers, Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for ‘Sinners,’ marking her as the first Black woman to achieve this honor. ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ dominated Best Documentary Feature against ‘The Alabama Solution,’ ‘Come See Me in the Good Light,’ ‘Cutting Through Rocks,’ and ‘The Perfect Neighbor.’
Best International Feature went to ‘Emotions Value,’ and ‘All the Empty Rooms’ captured Best Documentary Short. Ryan Coogler’s original screenplay for ‘Sinners’ triumphed once more. ‘Avatar: The Fire and Ash’ dazzled in Visual Effects, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s work on ‘One Battle After Another’ earned Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing accolades.
‘Frankenstein’ excelled in Makeup and Hairstyling. Casting director Cassandra Kulukundis won the inaugural Best Casting Oscar for ‘One Battle After Another.’ Sean Penn’s commanding supporting turn in the film netted Best Supporting Actor, echoed by Amy Madigan’s Best Supporting Actress win. ‘The Singer’ and ‘Two People Exchange Saliva’ shared Best Live Action Short, underscoring a night of bold cinematic achievements.