Voter Admits Voting Without Seeing All Oscar Films

Final Oscar balloting recently concluded, prompting anonymous interviews with Academy voters. One costume designer voter confessed to casting ballots without seeing every film in a category, a practice they acknowledged was contrary to new Academy rules. This voter saw approximately 40 films this year and felt justified in voting based on their viewing. They singled out "One Battle After Another" as their Best Picture choice, calling the year otherwise 'pretty slim,' with notable exceptions in international cinema.

The voter expressed disappointment with the adaptation of "Hamnet," feeling it missed the richness of the source material. They also voiced a strong dislike for director Yorgos Lanthimos, impacting their choices. In other categories, they championed Paul Thomas Anderson for Best Director and Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor. Sean Penn's supporting actor performance was praised for its 'out there and insane' nature, while Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas received acclaim for a nuanced supporting role.

Discussions also touched on cinematography, with "Frankenstein" lauded for its visual beauty, though "Train Dreams" was later considered for its natural lighting. Costume design for "Frankenstein" was highlighted for its intricate, unique creation. The voter also praised the humor and absurdity in the original screenplay "It Was Just an Accident."

Animated features saw a vote for "Zootopia 2" due to family preference, and the documentary "The Perfect Neighbor" was described as outstanding and heartbreaking. Several short films also received mentions, including "Retirement Plan" for Animated Short and "Singers" for Live Action Short.