This year’s #Oscars also signified a trend reversal (whether it’s a real trend or not, we will have to look at the next few years) at least in Hollywood:

* After a few years where female-centric stories got the TOP prizes (Nomadland, EEAAO, CODA), male-dominated features are BACK in vogue – Oppenheimer, American Fiction, The Holdovers, Maestro, etc. while female-centric features hold on (Barbie, Poor Things, Anatomy of a Fall, Past Lives… except the Color Purple, which only garnered a Support Actress nomination)

* Big studio tentpole movies are back! BUT!!!! Audiences wanted to see quality, and the Academy wanted to award them

* After a few years, streamers are taking a backseat again at least in terms of wins (none of the big streamers such as Netflix, Amazon or Apple scored big this year – in fact, almost all of them got shut out)

* Special effects are not limited to big budget movies anymore – both The Creator and Godzilla Minus One (which won) are considered “low budget” by Hollywood standards and yet both are heralded as significant achievements

* Comedies are making a comeback as well. Good quality comedies anyway… the trend was set by EEAAO last year, and continues this year with 4 out of 10 best picture nominees!

* The Academy continues to tread along the diversity line with mixed results. This year we have a few BIPOC and LGBTQ+ nominees but they are still in the minority. Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Celine Song’s snubs are also controversial (even though their movies were nominated for best picture), although Justine Treit rightfully earned her spot