Oscars reactions: Timothy Chalamet shuts out, Marty Supreme wins nothing, Conan hosts

Summary

One Battle After Another swept major categories and dominated the night. Warner Bros emerged as the ceremony's biggest winner, a result Debra Birnbaum calls ironic given recent industry scrutiny of the studio.

Conan's hosting earned praise for self-aware jokes about the Oscars moving to YouTube and the awkwardness of speech cutoffs. Birnbaum flagged speakers losing time mid-acceptance as a recurring source of uncomfortable television. Internet-native distribution could solve this by offering customizable feeds that let viewers watch acceptance speeches uncut on separate streams while the main broadcast stays on schedule.

Michael B. Jordan's win marks a historic moment, and Birnbaum emphasizes the emotional resonance as central to what the Oscars should deliver.

AI in Hollywood

AI remains a raw nerve in the industry. Studios, guilds, and talent use AI extensively—from recommendations to post-production tools—but avoid admitting how deeply it's embedded. Birnbaum frames it as unconscious adoption: everyone uses it without always recognizing it. Sensitivity is acute enough that another strike is a real possibility if protections aren't hammered out.

The guilds want to protect writers' rights and prevent AI from writing scripts outright. Birnbaum supports pre-emptive negotiation because the technology is moving fast enough that waiting risks missing emerging use cases. She distinguishes between unacceptable AI application (writing scripts, making creative decisions) and legitimate assistance (technical rendering, dialogue restoration, post-production efficiency).

The Brutalist campaign illustrated the tension. Controversy over ADR and dialogue manipulation may have hurt Adrian Brody's chances, but it also raises whether AI assistance actually harms performances or just speeds production. Birnbaum is cautious about drawing hard lines. If AI helps VFX teams deliver better visuals faster and doesn't undermine acting performances, the industry should interrogate whether the resistance is principled or reflexive. The Josh Brolin/Thanos example shows the pragmatic case: AI upscaling of facial capture data created a better character without diminishing the performance.

Theatrical experience and format

Studios focus primarily on theatrical experience as streaming and home viewing have eroded attendance. Anything enhancing the in-theater experience moves the needle. K-pop Demon Hunters' second theatrical run offered a singalong version after viral success, and Taylor Swift's concert film shows the playbook: audiences will return for collective experience, even if they've seen the content before.

VR headsets and immersive formats like 4DX remain marginal in industry conversation but offer another vector for recapturing the theatrical grip. The real lever is butts in seats, not format innovation.

Category evolution

Oscar category change moves glacially. Casting took 25 years to add; stunts are arriving this year. AI-specific categories remain distant, though stunts may face disruption first due to insurance and safety concerns favoring digital stunt work. Birnbaum notes that A-list talent like Tom Cruise will likely resist, anchoring their brand to the real stunt work and behind-the-scenes mythology that sells tickets.