Oscars: 'One battle after another' triumphs with 6 statuettes

Triumph at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for Paul Thomas Anderson's wonderful One Battle After Another, which won the statuettes for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor in Sean Penn, Best Casting (a novelty in this edition), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. Anderson, director of cult films such as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, The Oilman, and The Hidden Thread, has thus finally and deservedly obtained the statuette that he had always lacked in the past: he did it with this great film rightly awarded in this ninety-eighth Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien. The evening, which was particularly fast-paced and without any major shocks from a more political point of view, had one of its most emotional moments with the awarding of the Best International Film, which deservedly went to the Norwegian Sentimental Value: the statuette was presented by Javier Bardem, who began with an emblematic "No to war, free Palestine". Collecting the award was director Joachim Trier who, quoting American writer James Baldwin, said "all adults are responsible for all children", and added: "don't vote for politicians who don't accept it";

And speaking of politics, if at the opening of the evening there was satire about AI and the Epstein files, a few words could and should have been spent on the non-attendance of actor Motaz Malhees, star of the film The Voice of Hind Rajab, a touching feature film on the tragedy of the Palestinian people, nominated in the five best international films, which the United States did not allow into the country because of his Palestinian citizenship.

Michael B. Jordan is the best leading actor, for The Sinners, well beyond the predictions that had Timothée Chalamet as favourite until a few weeks ago, who, with his controversial statements on Opera and Ballet, saw his chances of winning wane.

Irish actress Jessie Buckley (sensational) won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Hamnet.

Other heavyweight statuettes went to the aforementioned Sean Penn (One Battle After The Other) who, in protest and without giving reasons, did not pick up the award (this is his third Oscar), while Best Supporting Actress was Amy Madigan for the powerful horror Weapons.  The award for best costumes was won by Frankenstein, which also won for best set design and best make-up and hairstyle; while best animated film was the overrated KPop Demon Hunters (we would have much preferred Little Amèlie), which also won the Oscar for best original song with Golden.