As far as a show as a whole, I thought that it really delivered with the Conan effect. Bring him back next year....and years after. It was a breath of fresh air that the Oscars has needed for awhile in terms of hosting duties for sure.
Some of the results I certainly don't agree with, but I will say that the show as a whole flowed very well. Speaking of Flow, I was delighted to see them take best animated film. I thought it'd be borderline impossible for them to also take the best international film but still quite an accomplishment because I felt like the animated category was really strong this year as I found four of the five films to be very, very excellent and I think I mentioned it before, but Flow to me is one of the best animated films since who knows when.
I always check out every years live action shorts in each of the three categories, and this year every winner I had as instead, the most unenjoyable of the five from each category respectively. So that was kind of weird.
Oscars seem to always have this theme that of a film gets momentum earlier in the night, they are almost a virtual lock for best pic winner. Other awards shows doesn't always lean that way. And once again it happened this year. While I didn't hate Anora, and enjoyed it pretty well enough, to me this was not anywhere near the years best. Conclave, Complete Unknown, Nickel Boys, Dune 2, Substance, Real Pain, Flow, The Apprentice....hell even September 5 which I watched right before the Oscars started was so much more relevant, If the idea is to be selecting some film that is actually poignant in our society and culture right now, that makes a bit of a statement in its narrative. Yes Anora had its moments but I'd even accept a best screenplay and directing win, but best pic and Mikey winning just seemed a stretch.