94th Oscars Rundown: A Night of Surprises, Or Predictable Choices?
Other than one moment that we will remember forever, the Oscars trudged along typically. Were the Academy’s choices anything but the expected victories? Let’s take a look at the winners this year.
Best Picture: ‘CODA’
Surprise? - NO
CODA features an impressive representation of deaf actors, and it's exactly the kind of comedy-drama that appeals to audiences and critics equally, marking a clear choice for Best Picture.
Best Director: Jane Campion, ‘The Power of the Dog’
Surprise? - NO
Judging by Campion’s numerous other awards and nominations this year, this was pretty much guaranteed but welcome as Campion is the third woman to receive this award.
Best Actor: Will Smith, ‘King Richard’
Surprise? - NO
King Richard is another of the exact kind of film that Oscar voters love, and Will Smith is overdue for this award.
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
Surprise? - NO
While Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, and Kristen Stewart turned in too subtle of performances in their 2021 roles, Jessica Chastain is what made The Eyes of Tammy Faye even remotely worthwhile.
Best Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur, ‘CODA’
Surprise? - NO, but great choice!
Troy Kotsur’s performance in CODA was perfect for a supporting actor, as the memorably funny, moving, and nuanced role of the main character’s father.
Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, ‘West Side Story’
Surprise? - NO
A historic win for the youngest of this year’s nominees made sense for her standout role.
Best Original Screenplay: ‘Belfast,’ Kenneth Branagh
Surprise? - NO
Belfast is a highly personal, moving film, another type of film that works for the voters and deserves a Best Picture nomination.
Best Adapted Screenplay: ‘CODA,’ Sian Heder
Surprise? - NO
Apart from the actors, the Academy needed to recognize the overarching work put into this Best Picture winner.
Best Animated Feature: ‘Encanto’
Surprise? - NO
Let’s face it: despite its historic nominations, Flee was never going to win, and out of the other choices, Encanto was the obvious go-to vote.
Best International Feature: ‘Drive My Car’
Surprise? - NO, but great choice!
Another necessary award, considering Drive My Car is good enough to deserve Best Picture!
Best Documentary Feature: ‘Summer of Soul’
Surprise? - NO, but great choice!
Easily one of the best films on the list, Summer of Soul is an undeniable must-watch.
Best Original Song: “No Time to Die”
Surprise? - NO
Though Beyoncé and Lin-Manuel Miranda also received a nomination, “No Time to Die” came out two years ago and is as good or better than most of the other James Bond themes of the 21st century.
Other Awards:
Best Visual Effects: ‘Dune’
Best Editing: ‘Dune’
Best Costume Design: ‘Cruella’
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
Best Cinematography: ‘Dune’
Best Production Design: ‘Dune’
Best Sound: ‘Dune’
Best Original Score: ‘Dune’
In short, the voting was standard, but the winners were deserving all around. The Power of the Dog winning only one out of 12 awards seems like a bit of a letdown, but it has received recognition from countless other awards ceremonies this year.
All of these movies are now available for streaming!
Send Comment