The 91st Annual Academy Awards

With no host and no stupid skits, the 91st Oscar ceremony went smoothly and relatively quickly, only going 20 minutes over the appointed time.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the winners. This is real, tangible progress of a more inclusive Academy, especially with 'below the line' nominations - Which were all aired.

#4: If Beale Street Could Talk

Mr. Jenkins seems to like those unusual narrative choices. Moonlight ("- Best Picture - Moonlight") had 3 sections, and Beale Street had a lot of asides that are common to a story like this - Pointing out how shit life was (is) for black people in the unjust country that is America. That anti-blackness is not just reserved for white people or cops, that belief in stereotypes run rampant no matter what race you are.

That the first black person you see is the one that did the crime, that your trauma will ruin someone else's life and, oh well.

Stephan James and Kiki Layne are just so sweet and hopeful it made me cry.

Unlike Moonlight, this is not nominated for Best Picture, or Director, but there is an Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress for Regina King, and Best Score. Better than nothing.

I have long, long thought that the faith Black Americans have in a white God is misplaced and useless, and I'm glad there is a movie where it's clear that the God-loving black people are, frankly, pieces of shit.

Disasters.

Abhorrent.

No one is light-skinned except arguably one side character.

Tyler Perry is shaking!