I had the TV on while I was doing other stuff, so I did catch much of the show.
The highlight was definitely Jimmy Kimmel and a contingent of actors invading the movie theatre across the street to distribute snacks and thank the audience for going to see movies. It was a fun and fresh segment.
The running gag with the jet ski was also a plus. Helen Mirren doing the Price Is Right model thing was a treat. Apparently she had already won the evening by bombing tequila shooters on the red carpet before the show.
On the down side, the Star Wars cast attempting to do comedy was awkward and cringy.
Harvey Weinstein was mentioned only briefly by name, but the situation that erupted last fall figured large in the evening's events. A segment introduced by Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek, and Annabella Sciorra, three of Weinstein's accusers, featured a great amount of back-patting for increasing diversity in Hollywood, and self-congratulation for creating change. Some of the featured speakers in the segment argued persuasively for the importance of diversity and inclusion and representation. But the amount of back-patting on display for already fixing things in the industry seemed entirely unwarranted. Despite lots of face-time for the few women who were actually nominated in male-dominated categories, which would be ... uh, Greta Gerwig and a cinematographer... it was about the same as any other year.
What would probably be the most talked about moment will be Frances McDormand's speech. She was half hysterical with excitement during her speech, but asked all the female nominees to stand up for recognition. Then she said that they all have projects and ideas that need financing, so come talk to us. "Not at the after-party, but in a couple of days in your office."
-k