As the official photographers concluded their pre-ceremony pictorial marathons, the eventcommenced. Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ swiftly surged ahead of its fellow nominee heavyweight, Yorgos Lanthimos’s ‘Poor Things’ (13 nominations to 11). Ultimately, ‘Oppenheimer’ clinched the season’s top honors (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography), and triumphed in four other categories (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing, Best Music). Meanwhile, ‘Poor Things’ garnered a collection of accolades for its artistic vision, winning Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design. Emma Stone was lauded with the Best Actress Oscar for her exceptional portrayal of Bella Baxter.

The ceremony’s next highlight was not another victory, nor Ryan Gosling’s musical performance—widely acclaimed as one of the ceremony’s most unforgettable acts (regrettably, there’s no separate accolade for such feats). Rather, it was the Academy’s oversight of Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ that captured attention. Of course, Scorsese’s legacy in film is undisputed, and he might use his once-won statuette even to crack nuts, yet ‘Killers’ stands out as a poignant piece in this age of historical introspection, meriting at least a few secondary honors.

Perhaps a similar theme echoed more vividly in Jonathan Glazer’s ‘The Zone of Interest,’ which triumphed in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ and ‘Best Sound’ categories. ‘Anatomy of a Fall,’ another standout of the European 2023 season, was honored for its original screenplay. Sandra Hüller, leading lady in both films, may have left without a golden souvenir from the USA, but her talent was undoubtedly noticed and earmarked by major Hollywood studios, reminiscent of the rise of Marion Cotillard and Christoph Waltz, who were once newcomers to the North American scene.

The Dolby Theatre, during the Oscars, offers an unparalleled stage for impactful declarations.This year, Mstislav Chernov delivered perhaps the most poignant message. Choking back emotion with the best documentary film statuette in hand, he expressed a willingness to trade Ukraine’s first Oscar for a world where ‘20 Days in Mariupol’ need not be filmed. Jonathan Glazer brought attention to another military conflict, highlighting the grave repercussions of denying human rights to entire populations. Jeffrey Wright, star of ‘American Pulp’ (Best Adapted Screenplay), advocated for the positive image of African American actors in his speech, while the charming Da’Vine Joy Randolph reflected on acceptance upon winning Best Supporting Actress for ‘The Holdovers.’

Amidst these profound moments, Jimmy Kimmel, in his fourth stint as host, interlaced the evening with his standard jokes, as if crafted by Hollywood’s own AI. Of course, the razzle-dazzle, noise, luxury, spectacle, and pomp are inseparably associated with cinema, but when the garish outfits are put away, the jewels returned to their custodians, the statuettes placed on the nightstand, and the jesters fall asleep, there’s a serene satisfaction in the retreat to cinema’s essence—pondering in solitude which works merit our undivided attention once the fanfare fades.

Here’s the complete list of winners: