By Andrew Sanford | News | March 3, 2025 |
Header Image Source: Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
I love going to the movies. Yes, this is despite people having lost their minds regarding what is and isn’t acceptable in a theater. Sure, folks take out their phones to check the news or have long conversations about things that could probably wait. Some crazed patrons have gone beyond chatting with their friends to doing what can only be described as an in-the-moment podcast. But I continue to go, and don’t feel like going to a theater that discourages such behavior (I don’t have easy access).
The movie theater-going experience is important. There are annoying folks, and I won’t let them ruin every experience I have. Plus, I have more good experiences in a theater than bad ones. Most of the theatergoers I see movies with are well-behaved, ready to enjoy themselves, and dwindling. People just aren’t going to movies as much anymore, something that also got worse after lockdown. So, it made me deliriously happy to see one of my favorite people ever pushing theaters at the Oscars last night.
Conan O’Brien hosted the 97th Academy Awards and he friggin’ nailed it. I knew he would, so my bias is absolutely showing, but I don’t care! The whole night felt like classic Conan. The jokes were silly. Conan was as self-deprecating as can be. Someone was dressed as the sandworm from Dune 2, complete with a Bow Tie, and played instruments with the orchestra. The show felt alive! Conan rattled off plenty of great jokes in his monologue, which I’ll post here, but my favorite bit was pre-taped.
Look at that gorgeous, hilarious man! He was made for this! I liked Kimmel, and I do think he had a kind of outsider vibe, but strictly in the sense that he doesn’t make movies. He still feels like he belongs at the fancy event (which is a real change from his Man Show days). Conan feels like he snuck onto the lot and stole somebody’s tux. Nothing about him belongs at the Oscars, which is why he was a perfect choice to host the show. Despite being an outsider, he had his finger on the pulse of something that was concerning to one of the biggest winners of the night.
Sean Baker, who wrote, edited, and directed the Best Picture-winning Anora, took one of his many times at the podium to lament the loss of movie theaters. He encouraged people to keep making movies for the big screen in what was an inspiring plea. It was an idea that Conan had already touched on with CinemaStreams. The bit revolved around getting people to “stream” movies in a theater and the confusion it would bring. It was great.
Yes, it’s more tongue-in-cheek than Baker calling folks to go to the movies, but the sentiment is still the same! Moviegoing is a communal experience and one that is culturally important. We need people going back to theaters. I would prefer if they didn’t spend their time there treating it like their living or podcast studio, but it may take a few steps to get there.
