Despite a contretemps at the Oscars—a slap seen round the world—the ceremony and awards proceeded as expected, apace, with favorites winning all around. When Will Smith accepted his Best Actor award, he tearfully mentioned defending family, as his character Richard Williams did coaching his daughters Venus and Serena to top tennis honors. Of course, Smith had just hit Chris Rock for a dumb, inconsiderate joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, mumbled while Smith’s expletives were bleeped out. The morning after, many are thinking his tearful Oscar acceptance speech is not sufficient to brush aside his behavior.
Last year’s Best Actor, Anthony Hopkins, present this year after missing the 2021 Academy Awards; so sure he would not win, he stayed home in Wales. Smith was the favorite for his prize as were the best supporting actors, Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur. Jessica Chastain, awarded for Best Actress for her role as televangelist Tammy Faye spoke about being seen. The Oscars –spreading the love-- made sure many were both seen and heard. CODA –the smaller film that could—about a young hearing woman coming into her own in a deaf family--took top honors.
After a social media campaign, West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler did attend as a presenter, and joked about having just been invited. Song writer Diane Warren did not win for the 13th time. While this viewer was pleased to see Billie Eilish and her talented brother Finnegan took Best Song honors—well what about the mega talented Warren? Dune got the most Oscars—six in the tech categories. And the Japanese Drive My Car took home Best International Feature. Jane Campion took the only award for The Power of the Dog—Best Director.
Lady Gaga gets her own prize for assisting wheel-chair bound Liza Minnelli when she announced the Best Film award, the final one of the stellar night. Just as Lady Gaga helped Tony Bennett in a concert earlier this year, she displayed a kindness as well as a big heart, so needed at this fragile time. Yes, the Oscars are back with emotion, pageantry --and a touch of grace.
Interesting. What about Encanto?
Posted by: Nina | March 29, 2022 at 08:58 PM