Cannonball with Wesley Morris What the Oscars Got Right
Mar 17, 2026
Sasha Weiss, culture editor at The New York Times Magazine, brings sharp film criticism and cultural context. She and Wesley debate whether awards still matter. They dig into casting choices, surprising wins for animated and song categories, Timothée Chalamet’s campaign missteps, and why Michael B. Jordan’s performance landed emotionally.
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Oscars As Cultural Canon Maker
- Wesley Morris argues the Oscars act as a canon-making exercise that guides what films people see each year.
- He frames the broadcast as a cultural crucible that reveals how the industry and public value movies in a given moment.
Madigan Win Reframed The Debate
- The Supporting Actress win for Amy Madigan shifted debate from Tiana Taylor's polarizing role to the film Weapon as a whole.
- Morris says Madigan 'stole the movie' and her victory diffused controversy over Taylor's portrayal.
Casting Award Spotlighted Gratitude
- Wesley loved the new casting award presentation where one cast member per nominee praised their casting director onstage.
- He highlights names like Delroy Lindo, Paul Mescal, Gwyneth Paltrow and how the moment showed gratitude to casting directors.