The gala evening of the 94th edition of the Oscars, supreme awards of the American cinema industry, took place this Sunday in Hollywood, where the ceremony was back on the red carpet after a forced move due to pandemic last year .
They are sisters Serena and Venus Williams, whose beginnings are traced in the film “The Williams Method“, which kicked off, launching a live performance by Beyoncé from a tennis court in suburban Los Angeles. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards a total of 23 golden statuettes during this evening where the main favorites for the Best Feature Oscar are “The Power of the Dog“, “CODA” and “Belfast“.
“CODA” crowned best feature film
The film “CODA” triumphed at the Oscars on Sunday with the supreme award for best feature film, but also the award for best actor in a supporting role for Troy Kotsur, deaf from birth, and for best screenplay.
Remake of the French film “The Aries Family” d’Eric Lartigau (2014), “CODA” tells the story of a deaf family in difficulty. Deaf actors play the main roles. Its title is the acronym of “Child of deaf adult“which literally means”hearing child of deaf parents“.
The American actor Troy Kotsur, deaf from birth, had already been crowned best actor in a supporting role during the ceremony.
The 53-year-old artist thus makes history by becoming the first deaf male actor to win an Oscar thanks to this role, all in humor and sensitivity, of a grumpy but loving father in “CODA“.
Director Sian Heder also won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The victory of this film adapted from the French success “The Aries Family“allows Apple TV+ to become the first streaming platform to win the Oscars in the flagship category of best feature film.
This low-budget film defied other big hitters, as the “Power of the Dog” and “Belfast” also competed for the supreme award for best feature film.
Will Smith Oscar for best actor and Jessica Chastain best actress
Will Smith received the Oscar for best actor on Sunday for his role in “The Williams Method“, where he plays the coaching father of tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams. Shortly after, actress Jessica Chastain won an Oscar for her role as a televangelist in “In the eyes of Tammy Faye“.
The popular Will Smith received the Oscar with great emotion and tears, and wanted to apologize “at the Academy” of the Oscars. He had indeed caused a moment of amazement in the room a little earlier after going on stage, apparently furious, to slap the comedian Chris Rock who had just made a joke about the shaved head of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, suffering from alopecia, severe hair loss.”Love makes you do crazy things“, said Will Smith after receiving his trophy.
American Jessica Chastain won the Oscar for Best Actress on Sunday.
The actress, just 45 years old, had already been unsuccessful candidate for an Oscar twice, first for “The colour of feelings“then for”Zero Dark Thirty“. She finally prevailed on Sunday in a close competition against four other very popular stars: Penelope Cruz (“Parallel Mothers“), Kristen Stewart (“Spencer“), Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos“) and Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter“).
Troy Kotsur, deaf actor, receives the Oscar for best supporting actor
American actor Troy Kotsur, born deaf, won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “CODAat Sunday’s Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles.
The 53-year-old artist thus makes history by becoming the first deaf male actor to win an Oscar thanks to this role, all in humor and sensitivity, of a grumpy but loving father in “CODA“. Troy Kotsur, who dedicated his victory to the “deaf and disabled community“, was applauded in sign language by the guests of the Oscars when he came to collect his prize on stage.
Ariana DeBose best supporting actress for “West Side Story“
American actress Ariana DeBose won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar on Sunday for her portrayal of Anita in “West Side Story“, le remake de Steven Spielberg.
The 31-year-old actress won the award for her brilliant portrayal of a Puerto Rican migrant who comes to work as a seamstress in New York and helps her fiancé’s sister, Maria, through her first heartbreak.
The actress thus succeeds with dignity to the legendary Rita Moreno, originally like her from Puerto Rico, who had already received an Oscar in 1962 for the role of Anita in the original version of the film. “I am so grateful to you, your Anita paved the way for thousands of Anitas like me“, she launched to the star of 90 years who applauded her in the room.
And “to all those who have seen their identity questioned one day, in one way or another“, added the one who defines herself as queer and Afro-Latina, “I promise you: yes, there is room for us!“, she launched in front of the crowd of Hollywood.
Upon release of “West Side Story“Last December, the young woman was considered one of the favorites for the film awards season.
Disney’s ‘Encanto’ crowned Best Animated Film
Disney magic once again operated on Sunday at the Oscars where “Encanto, the fantastic Madrigal family“, a celebration of Colombia, its culture and its traditions, won the prize for best animated film.
“Charm” tells the adventures of an ordinary teenager, Mirabel, born into a family in which each member is endowed with magical powers, in the heart of the Colombian mountains. The film was in competition against the previous opus of Disney studios, “Raya and the last dragon“, the animated documentary “Flee“, “Luca” Pixar Studios (subsidiary of Disney) and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines“.
Jane Campion crowned best director for “The Power of the Dog“
New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion received the Best Director Oscar on Sunday for her film “The Power of the Dog“, becoming the third woman to be honored with this prestigious award, just one year after Chloé Zhao.
The pioneer in this category was Kathryn Bigelow, for “Minesweepers“, in 2010. Jane Campion had already been rewarded in 1994 by the Oscar for the best adapted screenplay for “The piano lesson“.
The director and her work had already been crowned at the Golden Globes in January.
Minute of silence in support of Ukraine
Organizers of the 94th Academy Awards called for a minute of silence on Sunday.in support of the Ukrainian people“. Some actors have made references to Ukraine in their attire.
During the ceremony, the organizers took advantage of a commercial break to display a message calling for “a minute of silence to show our support for the Ukrainian people, who are currently under invasion“.
On the red carpet, several personalities displayed a small blue ribbon in support of Ukrainian refugees from the conflict, such as actress Jamie Lee Curtis who displayed it like a ring on her finger. Others made reference to Ukraine in their clothing, such as Jason Momoa who had slipped a handkerchief in the colors of the Ukrainian flag into his jacket pocket, as well as Benedict Cumberbatch who had hung the same flag in the form of a pin to his costume.
Will Smith bangs Chris Rock on stage
“What just happened?‘: Oscars viewers were stunned on Sunday night after an altercation between actors Will Smith and Chris Rock resulted in the former stepping onto the stage to slap the latter.
Chris Rock, one of the presenters at the 94th Hollywood Awards, had just made a joke about Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
He compared her hair, cropped close, to Demi Moore’s shaved head in the movie “A Equal Arms” de Ridley Scott (1997).
Jada Pinkett-Smith, who has publicly spoken about her alopecia (hair loss) in the past, rolled her eyes. At first hilarious, Will Smith then went on stage and slapped Chris Rock, the sound of the blow resonating in the microphones in front of the stunned spectators, in the room where the ceremony was taking place as on their sofa.
ABC channel muted the sound during the ensuing scene, but the dialogue was audible on foreign televisions.
“wow. wow. Will Smith just knocked my head off“, dropped Chris Rock. “It was a joke on ‘On equal arms’“, he justified himself to the actor.
“Leave my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth“, yelled Will Smith, returned to the side of his wife.
The actor went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for “The Williams Method“, where he plays the father trainer of champions Serena and Venus Williams.
“I want to apologize to the Academy“of the Oscars, he launched in tears.
“Love makes you do crazy things“, he added, his face covered in tears.