Jack Mathews of the Detroit Free Press commented, "In any event, the 52nd Academy Awards presentation will stand as one of the smoothest, most predictable, most reasonable Oscar nights in history. Also, alas, one of the most boring." The Baltimore Sun television critic Bill Carter quipped, "We found out Monday night when this year's edition of the Oscarcast streamlined to the point of emaciation (and still more than three hours long), thudded along like some awards dinner of the meat-packing industry."
The remarks from Jack Mathews of the Detroit Free Press and Bill Carter of the Baltimore Sun highlight their contrasting perspectives on the 52nd Academy Awards ceremony, with Mathews viewing it as refined and expected but lacking excitement, while Carter portrays it as dull and overly lengthy.