if there is a universe where everything together everywhere didn’t dominate the 95th Academy Awards, we wouldn’t want to be there. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s insane multiversal adventure took home seven statues on Hollywood’s big night, including wins for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress as Michelle Yeoh made history — the first Asian actress to take home the award.
Expertly steered by the return of host Jimmy Kimmel, the 2023 ceremony actually wasn’t full of surprises — everything Everywhere It was the odds-on favorite in almost every class – but it didn’t lack for speeches and great reunions… such as watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom The gang in the same room again, nearly four decades after that 1984 blockbuster. moments like that make up for occasional missteps like that part of the night where Oscar suddenly turns into a little Mermaid commercial. Here’s our recap of the highs, lows and head-scratchers of the 2023 Oscars.
high: the everything together everywhere were cast everywhere
Talk about accuracy in a movie title. everything together everywhere The cast won nearly every acting award, with Ke Hui Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh all taking home for their performances in the indie blockbuster. And each of them gave memorable acceptance speeches to boot, with Quan calling their victory “the American Dream” and Curtis memorably doing her scream queen scream starts at the end of the same week Scream VI dominated the box-office charts. Meanwhile, Yeoh’s “dream big” message in his passionate speech was really all we had.
High: Jimmy Kimmel really mastered those celebrations
The third time was the charm for Jimmy Kimmel, who put the memories of Envelopegate to rest with a steady turn as host of the 95th edition of the Oscars. Gently carrying on last year’s slapstick in his opening monologue, the late-night host keeps the gossip light and fun — with the exception of a sick Robert Blake joke — and the evening moves on, even Even during the now-standard mid-show meltdown. Somewhere Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway are smiling.
Less: the little Mermaid commercial was not part of our world
You may have forgotten that ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company… but The Mouse House certainly wasn’t. Disney took advantage of being the home of the Academy Awards by infusing the ceremony with a little promotion for the upcoming live-action adaptation of the 1989 animated classic. the little Mermaid, First, Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy took the stage to talk the Rob Marshall-directed film, and then a new trailer showed off familiar tunes paired with special effects who were less than particularly special, Personally, we prefer it when commercials are saved for commercial breaks.
The High: The musical performance had us singing and dancing
Alexa, play “Natu Natu”. Breakout hit musical number of Breakout Tollywood RRR electrified the Oscars with a performance that drew timely applause along with the cast. But that wasn’t the ceremony’s only memorable musical moment: Former Talking Heads David Byrne and his Hot Dog Fingers took the stage for “This Is a Life” with Stephanie Sue and Son Lux. everything together everywhere; Lady Gaga returns to the Oscars stage for the first time since her barnstormer bradley cooper duet to belt it Top Gun: Maverick the anthem, “Hold My Hand”; And Rihanna brought down the house with a Chadwick Boseman-dedicated wakanda forever The song “Lift Me Up.”
Low: Winners of color didn’t always get to finish their thoughts
All Oscar winners are theoretically given 45 seconds to accept their statues and thank their colleagues. but twitter noticed that some winners took longer than others. Case in point: The Indian women behind the Best Documentary Short winner, elephant whispering, hastily played offstage by the Oscar Orchestra, while the white British director of the Best Animated Short winner, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, Was able to finish his speeches uninterrupted. At least Yoh didn’t have fun during her speech — we know what happens if you try to do that.
High: Colin Farrell was this year’s Jack Nicholson
For years, Jack Nicholson reigned as Oscar king from his front row seat at ceremony after ceremony. But with the veteran actor out of the public eye, other actors have taken over that role. This year, the crown went to Colin Farrell, who was front and center all night playing down everything and everyone that came his way. Whether fielding fan questions or greets his (fake) ass co-star Banshee of Inishrinwas an irish actor Fake‘ life of the party.
Low: Hugh Grant was in one mood
Hugh Grant is known for having a stinging personality, but he was stinging more than ever during his time at the Oscars — starting with a divisive pre-show appearance where he engaged in a frosty exchange with model Ashley Graham. Did, who was anchoring the white carpet for ABC. , He later took the stage with his Four Weddings and a Funeral Co-star Andie MacDowell introduced the Best Production Design Oscar and compared his appearance to a “scrotum”. Are we sure he was not performing method for preparation Paddington 3,
The High: Feels like a big screen Indiana Jones and the Short Rounds reunion destiny
Call it (Dial Off) Destiny: Indiana Jones himself, Harrison Ford present his former Kid sidekick Quan and everyone else everything together everywhere Team up with their Best Picture statue. Meanwhile, the director who put together the dynamic duo for their temple of misfortune Adventure – Steven Spielberg – looked proudly at him from the crowd. Kwan shared backstage that during a commercial break, the just-crowned winner “went over to Steven Spielberg, and he gave me a big hug. He put his arms around me, and he says, ‘K , You are now an Oscar-winning actor.’ And hearing him say that meant the world to me, and I still can’t believe it. We’re making our predictions right now: The short run Desire In the fifth Indiana Jones film… again through the magic of shooting.
LESS: Angela Bassett Forever
wakanda forever Tara came This Closer to working — that is, winning a Best Supporting Actress statue — than just hearing Curtis’ name. In that moment, Bassett’s disappointment was clear and understandable, and Twitter felt the loss along with her. luckily, he black Panther Co-star Michael B. Jordan attempted to lift her up as both he and Jonathan Majors called on her “Auntie” from the stage while presenting the Best Cinematography award. In times like these, it’s a shame that All candidates Can’t be a winner.
Head-scratcher: A star gone too soon was omitted from the in memoriam segment
sudden death of triangle of sadness Star Charlie Dean made international headlines ahead of the film’s release last August. Apparently, Oscar producers didn’t read those headlines because the 32-year-old actress was notably absent from the annual “In Memoriam” event highlighting talented artists and craftsmen who passed away in the past year. Dean’s absence was stranger to all as his film received several nominations, including Best Picture. Someone in the academy has something to explain.
