Jimmy Kimmel poked fun of the Academy’s handling of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars during his opening monologue at Sunday’s (12.03.23) ceremony.
He quipped: “We want you to have fun. We want you to feel safe. And most importantly, we want me to feel safe. So we have strict policies in place. If anyone in this theatre commits an act of violence at any point during the show, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and be permitted to give an 18-minute long speech.”
Everything Everywhere All at Once’ was the big winner at the Oscars on Sunday (12.03.23), taking home seven awards including the coveted Best Picture.
The surrealist comedy-drama became the most-awarded Best Picture winner since ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ – which won eight prizes in 2009 – with a string of successes at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for filmmaking duo The Daniels, and acting honours for Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan, who took home the Leading Actress and Supporting Actress and Actor awards respectively. In addition, the film also won for Best Film Editing.
In her acceptance speech, Michelle hailed her win as a “beacon of hope and possibilities” for Asian people and urged those watching at home to “dream big”.
She said: “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight. This is the beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof to dream big and dreams do come true.
“Ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are past your prime. Never give up… “Thank you to the Academy, this is history in the making, thank you.”
Meanwhile, Best Actor in a Leading Role went to Brendan Fraser, who was tearful as he picked up his prize for his work on ‘The Whale’.
He said: “So this is what the multiverse looks like. I thank the Academy for this honour and our studio A24 for making such a bold film.
“I’m grateful to Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship ‘The Whale’. It was written by Samuel D. Hunter who is our lighthouse.”
Ke Huy Quan wept as he received a standing ovation when he won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Ke Huy Quan said: “My journey started on a boat, I spent a year in a refugee camp and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage. They stay stories like this only happen in the movies, I cannot believe it’s happening to me This is the American dream.”
‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ co-star Jamie Lee Curtis also grew emotional when she accepted the equivalent female prize.
German war movie ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ also had a successful evening, taking home four of the prizes it was nominated for, Best International Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
This year’s Academy Awards saw all the nominated tracks for Best Original Song performed, but the accolade went to ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’, that became the first Indian song to win the Best Original Song Oscar.
The track, which is taken from the movie ‘RRR’ and was written by M.M. Keeravaani and Chandrabose. In his acceptance speech Keeravaani said: Thank you Academy I grew up listening to the Carpenters and now here I am with the Oscars. “‘There was only one wish on my mind so with Chandrabose and my families, RRR has to win, pride of every Indian and must put me on the top of the world.
John Travolta choked up as he he introduced In Memoriam remembering the “dear friends” Hollywood has lost over the last year, including his late co-stars Olivia Newton-John and Kirstie Alley.
John’s voice then cracked as he referenced Olivia’s song from ‘Grease’, ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’, and said: “Through their immeasurable contributions, each of them left an individual and indelible mark that shared and informed us. They’ve touched our hearts, they’ve made us smile, and became dear friends who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to.”
2023 Academy Awards full list of winners:
Best Picture: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Michelle Yeoh, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Brendan Fraser, ‘The Whale’
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Ke Huy Quan, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jamie Lee Curtis, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
Best Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
Best Original Screenplay: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’
Best Adapted Screenplay: ‘Women Talking’
Best International Feature Film: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (Germany)
Best Animated Feature Film: Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’
Best Documentary Feature: ‘Navalny’
Best Film Editing: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
Best Cinematography: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’
Best Original Score: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front
Best Original Song: ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ – music by M.M. Keeravaani, lyrics by Chandrabose
Best Sound: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Best Visual Effects: ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’
Best Production Design: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’
Best Costume Design: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: ‘The Whale’
Best Animated Short Film: ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse’
Best Live Action Short Film: ‘An Irish Goodbye’
Best Documentary Short Film: ‘The Elephant Whisperers’
Source: Bang Showbiz
