All of the signposts along the way led to the incredible achievements of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” at the 95th Oscars.
The independent film scored seven out of its 11 nominations: best picture, best directors for Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, who also won the golden statue for their original screenplay.
The film’s Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis took three of the four marquee acting prizes–whose other awardee was also from an A24 film, Brendan Fraser, who starred in “The Whale.”
Every single one of the four actors was a first-timer. Every single one of them is over the age of 50, all working in the industry for decades and finally receiving its ultimate accolade. Their joy was expressed in memorable acceptance speeches, all of which pay tribute to their families or loved ones for getting them to this moment in history. (You can check out all the speeches here.)
The fact that “Everything Everywhere” simply steamrolled everyone else left a number of acclaimed best picture nominees in the dust with zero take-home trophies for “Elvis,” “Tár,” “The Fabelmans” and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” all of whose above and below the line talent had racked up a number of awards previously during the season.
The two off the charts blockbusters that were nominated, “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water ” each took home a little golden man.
Host Jimmy Kimmel, emceeing for the third time, noted that neither of their respective producers Tom Cruise nor James Cameron was in attendance at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood Sunday night, where the show was broadcast on ABC.
Kimmel also addressed the elephant in the room – several times – but never mentioned Will Smith by name as the perpetrator of last year’s infamous on-stage slap of Chris Rock seen and heard around the world.
“We want you to have fun, feel safe and, most importantly, we want me feel safe,” Kimmel told the audience. “So, we have strict policies in pace. If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point during the show, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech. But seriously, the academy has a crisis team in place. If anything unpredictable or violent happens during the show, sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug.”
Several of his other jokes included references to “getting jiggy with it” and things going off without a hitch, or “Hitch.”
He wrapped up the show with one last slap joke, walking backstage to a sign titled “Number of Oscars Telecasts Without Incident” and flipping the zero to one.
The telecast also featured noteworthy musical performances by Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Lenny Kravitz at the piano singing “Calling All Angels” for the In Memoriam segment. It was introduced by John Travolta, who teared up thinking of his dearly departed friends Olivia Newton John and Kirstie Alley.
Afterwards, as always, there was criticism of who didn’t make the cut. Among them, Paul Sorvino, Ann Heche, Tom Sizemore and Robert Blake.
On a more upbeat note, dancers from the film “RRR” performed to the song “Naatu Naatu” before it went on to win the Academy Awards for best song.
Check out all of the winners here.
