‘One Battle After Another Was Totally Meh’: 3 Opinion Writers Size Up the Oscars

By Michelle CottleRobin GivhanNaveen Kumar and Stephen Stromberg

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Oscars on Sunday evening, with “One Battle After Another” winning best picture. Stephen Stromberg, an editor in Opinion, convened the Opinion writer Michelle Cottle, the Opinion contributing writer Robin Givhan and the critic Naveen Kumar to talk the winners, the losers, the fashions and the flubs.

The conversation has been edited for clarity.

Stephen Stromberg: Let’s jump right in. Which of the evening’s results are you happiest about, and which outraged you?

Robin Givhan: I was thrilled to see Michael B. Jordan win for best actor and his longtime collaboration with filmmaker Ryan Coogler bear Oscar fruit. His work in “Sinners” was poetic and charismatic and perfect for the moment that we’re living through — when identity, diversity and history are under assault.

Michelle Cottle: Michael B. Jordan, baby!!!! I didn’t think he had a prayer, despite the fact that he so deserved it. Playing twins well is almost impossible, and he nailed it. His win almost made up for Sean Penn getting best supporting actor for his performance in “One Battle After Another.” Almost.

Naveen Kumar: I was stoked to see Autumn Durald Arkapaw win for her stunning work on “Sinners,” becoming the first woman to win for cinematography, as well as the first Black winner in the category. She asked all the women in the house to stand up, as Frances McDormand memorably did in 2018, one of the few moments when the question of representation and who’s making stories in Hollywood was explicitly raised.

Givhan: I also loved seeing the history-making win for Arkapaw. Coogler didn’t take home the Oscar for directing, but in some ways I think these other wins were more important. Jordan and Coogler aren’t just creating films but building a legacy that’s connected to artists who have come before and that will, hopefully, come after.

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Michelle Cottle writes about national politics for Opinion. She has covered Washington and politics since the Clinton administration. @mcottle

Stephen Stromberg is a Times opinion editor, focused on politics and economics. He has covered U.S. politics and policy since 2001. He joined The Times in 2025 from The Washington Post, where he was deputy editor of the opinion section.

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