Awards Season 2026: The 98th Academy Awards

So the curtain has fallen on the 98th Academy Awards. The winners and losers will now be on their way to the myriad Los Angeles parties to celebrate or drown their sorrows whilst, here in the UK, it's gone 3am and I'm struggling to stay awake to form cogent sentences about my thoughts on the ceremony. It's a very different life I lead. 

Conan O'Brien returned to host for a second year and the show began with an amusing- if slightly overlong- pre-recorded skit showing Conan (in similar make-up to Aunt Gladys from Weapons) being chased by a pack of ravenous kids through some of this year's nominated films. His opening monologue was, much like last year, hit-and-miss but there were a couple of good lines (I particularly liked the dig about the alternate Super Bowl half-time show and I genuinely snort-laughed with his comment about the response to the lack of British acting nominees), although the flight of fancy about what he'd do if he won an Oscar- replete with a Josh Groban cameo- fell flat for me. 

In fact, it felt like this was not a good year for the "guest host banter" sections. Many felt painful and just not very funny, and some went on way too long. There were a couple of standouts: Will Arnett's anti-AI bit when hosting the Best Animated Short Film award was pretty good, and I liked Kumail Nanjiani's quip about the Live Action Short tie. This certainly isn't going to be a banner year for those listicles of "best zingers from the Academy Awards".   

It wasn't all bad. The "In Memoriam" section was beautifully observed, starting with a heartfelt tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner by Billy Crystal (and featuring many stars from Reiner's films). After some VT, Rachel McAdams gave a touching eulogy to Diane Keaton. The last section ended with a tribute to Robert Redford from none other than Barbra Streisand, concluding her tribute with a short rendition of "The Way We Were". It was very sobering to see just how many losses the film industry has endured over the last twelve months. 

The two musical performances- "I Lied To You" from Sinners (recreating the powerful performance from the film live on stage) and "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters- were both polished, accomplished and energetic. I liked how they presented the inaugural Best Casting award, by having an actor from each of the nominated films to pay tribute to the individual casting director. I hope that's something they keep going forward. 

How did I do with my predictions? 3/6 as expected. I should have stuck my neck out a bit more. 

Amy Madigan gave a wonderfully flustered acceptance speech, the first award of the evening. Sean Penn was not in attendance at the event, so Kieran Culkin accepted the Oscar on his behalf; Penn is notoriously anti-awards campaigning and schmoozing. I was absolutely delighted that Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor, not just because his performance as the Smokestack Twins is superb but because it meant that the fairly odious Marty Supreme got totally shut out (Chalamet was the movie's best chance of taking home any gold). Hey, schadenfreude can be quite cathartic. Jessie Buckley's acceptance speech was also beautiful. Much like last year with Conclave, I'd liked to have seen Hamnet get a bit more awards love but I'm glad it got recognised in such an important category, and for such a powerful performance.

This ceremony has also seen a couple of "firsts". In addition to the first Best Casting award being handed out, Autumn Durald Arkapaw becomes the first female cinematographer to win the Best Cinematography Oscar, for her stellar work on Sinners (her acceptance speech was one of the highlights of the evening). "Golden" also becomes the first KPop song to receive a Best Original Song Oscar. 

One Battle After Another is the big winner of the night with six Oscars, with Sinners coming second with four, and Frankenstein in third with three. Despite multiple nominations, Marty Supreme, Bugonia, The Secret Agent, Train Dreams, Blue Moon and It Was Just An Accident all walked away empty-handed. 

Below is the full list of winners at the 98th Academy Awards:

Best Motion Picture of the Year: One Battle After Another

Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year: KPop Demon Hunters

Best International Feature Film of the Year: Sentimental Value

Best Cinematography: Sinners

Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another

Best Production Design: Frankenstein

Best Costume Design: Frankenstein

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein

Best Original Score: Sinners

Best Original Song: "Golden" (KPop Demon Hunters)

Best Sound: F1

Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire And Ash

Best Casting: One Battle After Another

Best Documentary (Feature): Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best Documentary (Short Subject): All The Empty Rooms

Best Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Live Action Short Film: The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva (tie)

Congratulations to all winners!

So that's awards season 2026 done and dusted for another year. Now it's time for bed. Goodnight, my loves. 

Review: Black Panther (UK Cert 12A)

After the events of Captain America: Civil War, T'Challa now takes up the mantle of Black Panther and assumes the throne of Wakanda after his father's death. Wakanda is a technologically advanced place, thanks to its reserves of vibranium (the strongest metal in the world). Traditionally, Wakanda stays out of world affairs, doesn't offer aid or refuge, and keeps itself to itself. However, that may be about to change as a powerful adversary- with an unexpected link to Wakanda's past- comes to challenge T'Challa for the throne. 

Performances are really strong across the board. Chadwick Boseman gives a performance of great integrity and power as new king T'Challa, struggling with what it means to be a good ruler as Wakanda is threatened.Danai Gurira steals the spotlight several times as General Okoye, head of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan royal guard) with a performance of wit and warmth, and Letitia Wright is great as T'Challa's sister, Shuri. A cheeky tech wizard, Shuri is essentially T'Challa's Q, creating some spectacular gadgets. Forest Whitaker provides decent support as wise old counselor Zuri, and there's a nicely dignified performance by Angela Bassett as Queen Mother Ramonda. 

As T'Challa's love interest Nakia, Lupita Nyong'o is superb and there's a real chemistry between her and Boseman. Nakia isn't just a swooning wallflower though- she's a spy for Wakanda, and a kickass heroine in her own right. Martin Freeman is given more to do this time as CIA Agent Everett Ross and acquits himself well. Daniel Kaluuya is strong as tribesman W'Kabi who clashes with T'Challa over the course Wakanda will take, whilst Winston Duke adds menace as rogue tribe leader M'Baku- and gets a couple of the funniest lines of the film. 

As for the villains, whilst Andy Serkis gets a bit broad with his portrayal of villainous arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (complete with wandering South African accent, which sometimes wanders off completely), he's clearly having a lot of fun. On the other hand, Michael B. Jordan brings a brooding intensity to main antagonist Erik Killmonger, a man full of anger and rage. Unusually for a Marvel movie, the main bad guy has a plausible- some may say, legitimate- motivation for his actions. 

Ryan Coogler showed his prowess with action sequences with the kinetic matches in Creed, and the big action set-pieces- a high-octane chase through Busan, the casino shoot-out, the ceremonial battles- don't disappoint. The entire production design of the film is superb- everything from the sets to the costumes, the make-up to the visual effects. Rachel Morrison's cinematography is sublime- from the gritty streets of South Korea to the sweeping plains of Wakanda, the film looks amazing. But it has substance too.

Critics tend to get very sniffy about comic book movies. They're low culture, popcorn fodder, sit-back-amd-turn-your-brain-off-and-watch-the-pretty-colours. Not only is this snobbery of the highest order, it's also wrong. The best comic book movies use the fantastical to examine the human condition. Black Panther touches on colonialism, empire, globalisation versus isolationism, what it means to be a good ruler as well as a good person, and the sins of the father being visited upon the son. These are weighty subjects, but they're dealt with in a sensitive manner- there doesn't feel like there's any preaching or speechifying, nor are they treated lightly or as a joke. It's powerful stuff and it sparked a conversation between my friends and I after the film finished about museums and 'civilisation'. 

In summary, Black Panther is just superb. Another triumph for Marvel Studios. 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Tez

Countdown: 10 Actors Who Have Played Multiple Comic Book Characters On Screen

It was announced yesterday that Josh Brolin has been cast as Cable in the upcoming Deadpool 2 movie. Comic book movie fans will know that Brolin also plays Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Before he played Captain America, Chris Evans also appeared as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in two Fantastic Four movies. Brolin's Deadpool co-star Ryan Reynolds was also Hal Jordan in the Green Lantern movie, while Halle Berry has played both hero and villain as Storm and Catwoman respectively.

So here are ten more actors who have played different comic book characters on screen.

1. Ben Affleck

Before he was the Dark Knight, Affleck was Daredevil in the 2003 big screen version.

2. Angela Bassett

Appearing in Green Lantern as Amanda Waller, Bassett is taking the role of Queen Mother Ramonda in the upcoming Black Panther film.

3. Willem Dafoe

Dafoe played Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films; he will be playing Atlantean advisor Nuidis Vulko in Justice League and Aquaman

4. Laurence Fishburne

Known for playing Perry White in the DC Extended Universe films, Fishburne provides the voice of the titular character in  Fantastic Four: Rise Of The SIlver Surfer.

5. Tommy Lee Jones

From villain to hero: Jones played Harvey Dent/Two-Face in Joel Schumacher's camptastic Batman Forever, before taking the role of Colonel Chester Phillips in Captain America: The First Avenger

6. Michael B. Jordan

Jordan is one of the few bearable things in Josh Trank's disastrous Fantastic Four reboot; he will appear in Black Panther as the wonderfully named Erik Killmonger.

7. Michael Keaton

From hero to villain: Keaton played the lead role in Tim Burton's two Batman movies, and will play Adrian Toomes/The Vulture in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming

8. Nicole Kidman

Kidman appeared with Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever as Dr. Chase Meridian; she will also play Queen Atlanna in the upcoming Aquaman film.

9. J.K. Simmons

Oscar-winner Simmons will be swapping The Daily Bugle for the Gotham City Police Department, going from playing J. Jonah Jameson in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films to Commissioner Gordon in Justice League.

10. Terence Stamp

Stamp played General Zod in Superman and Superman II (and also went on to be the voice of Jor-El in Smallville). He also played Elektra's mentor Stick in the 2005 Daredevil spin-off.

Bonus: Sylvester Stallone

Stallone played Judge Dredd in the 1995 film version of the 2000AD comic; he has a small role in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (but the character has not yet been revealed)

Review: Creed (UK Cert 12A)

Michael B. Jordan reunites with director Ryan Coogler (after the powerful drama Fruitvale Station) for Creed, the next film in the Rocky franchise.

However, rather than focusing on Rocky himself, Creed focuses on Adonis 'Donny' Johnson (Jordan), the son of the legendary Apollo Creed. When we first meet Donny, he's working in an office but travelling to Tijuana on the weekends to take part in boxing matches. Realising that's where his true passion lies, Donny quits his job and moves to Philadelphia to start training as a boxer. Donny wants to be trained by the best and so seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), who is now retired and running a restaurant. Eventually Rocky agrees to mentor Donny and this unlikely pairing takes Donny to the fight of his career.

I've never been a massive fan of the Rocky films; they've been entertaining enough but they've never really stuck with me (to the point where I had to be reminded of a major plot point from a previous Rocky film as we were sat in the cinema). However, Creed is a real pulse-racing, edge-of-your-seat movie which I enjoyed a whole lot more than I was expecting to.

Essentially, it's a soft reboot of Rocky. It takes all the beats of the original film and uses them in a slightly different way (or puts a slightly different twist on them). This is no bad thing; it gives fans of the previous films a feeling of recognition, whilst making it fresh for first-time viewers. It's like Star Wars: The Force Awakens but for a sports movie.

Jordan is just brilliant in the lead role. He's an absolute firecracker on screen, quick to anger, incredibly powerful yet vulnerable as well. The conflict of being associated with the name Creed is central; does he want to trade on his old man's name or make it on his own? Is he worthy to take the name Creed? You absolutely root for him throughout. His relationship with musician Bianca (a lovely supporting turn by Tessa Thompson who isn't just window-dressing) adds another element and some of his interactions with Stallone are just dynamite. 

What can I say about Stallone's performance? Well, firstly, the awards hype he's been getting is absolutely deserved. The way Rocky is used in this film is exactly how a supporting role should be used; support the main character but have enough of a storyline of your own without overshadowing the lead. Stallone has played Rocky off and on for the best part of forty years and he knows the character inside and out. He's funny, he's wise, he's incredibly moving (yep, he made me cry). 

Coogler's direction is slick, and there are a couple of really cool technical tricks he employs. The fight sequences are particularly strong (which you'd expect in a boxing movie: one of Donny's first fights (a two-round bout) is filmed in one continuous take, bobbing and weaving around the fighters expertly without pausing for breath. The long walk from the dressing room to the ring in the final fight- which takes place at Goodison Park (home ground of Everton FC)- is another great moment. 

If you know the Rocky films, you'll get a lot out of Creed (there's a couple of nice nods to the past). However, it's not absolutely essential. Creed is accessible, high-octane, powerful and a whole load of fun. I loved it. 

Rating: 4 out of 5

Tez