The 95th Academy Awards aired on Mar. 17 and honored a multitude of films and filmmakers. From tear-jerking moments and heartfelt speeches to shocking upsets, this year’s show was one to remember.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” won Best Picture, bringing home six other awards, including Best Director for duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.
Kwan and Scheinert’s wacky science-fiction film made Oscars history, winning seven awards at the show. The film is the highest-winning Best Picture winner since 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire. Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian actress and second woman of color to receive the best actress award. She is second to Halle Berry, who won for her performance in 2001’s Monster’s Ball. Berry was also the presenter who handed Yeoh the award and was the first to congratulate her on her milestone.
Fan favorite actor Ke Huy Quan won Best Supporting Actor for "EEAAO," becoming the first Vietnam-born actor to win an Oscar. During his heartfelt acceptance speech, the actor described his fear that he had peaked with his roles in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Goonies, giving up acting in the early 2000s. After seeing the success of 2018’s "Crazy Rich Asians," Quan was inspired to return to acting.
“My mom is 84 years old, and she’s at home watching,” Quan said. “Mom, I just won an Oscar!”
According to IGN, “EEAAO” is also now the most-awarded film of all time and the most celebrated science fiction film, with 165 total wins to date. The film achieved this honor before the Oscars even occurred, dethroning Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King's” 101 major awards.
Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for his role in “The Whale.” The film, which won Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling, has garnered much praise on its film tour, with Fraser winning nearly every Best Actor award along the way. Fraser first thanked director Darren Aronofsky “for throwing [him] a creative lifeline,” dedicating his award to his online fans, saying he hopes he lives up to the award.
Ruth E. Carter also made Oscar history, winning Best Costume Design for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Because she previously won the same award for the original “Black Panther,” she is the first Black woman to win two Oscars.
Jamie Lee Curtis won Best Supporting Actress for her character in "EEAAO." The win proved divisive on Twitter, with fans arguing Angela Bassett or Stephanie Hsu were robbed for their performances in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and "EEAAO" respectively.
Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion adaptation of “Pinnochio” won the Best Animated Feature award, surpassing Dreamwork’s highly acclaimed journey of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and Pixar’s exploration of generational trauma with “Turning Red.” This marks the seventh time the award has been given to a non-Disney or Pixar film. In his acceptance speech, del Toro once again challenged the academy and the audience’s perception of the animation medium.
“Animation is not a genre for kids,” del Toro said during his BAFTA award speech. “It’s a medium for art, it’s a medium for film, and I think animation should stay in the conversation.
Several fan-favorite award choices were snubbed during the show. The Cate Blanchett-lead “Tár,” Austin Butler’s “Elvis,” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” were all nominated for multiple awards, yet walked away with nothing.
The adaptation of the World War I novel “All Quiet on the Western Front,” however, took home several technical awards including Best International Feature Film, Best Musical Score for Volker Bertelmann’s haunting composition, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design.
In the technical categories, “Top Gun: Maverick” won Best Sound, “Avatar: The Way of Water” won Best Visual Effects, and “Navalny” won Best Documentary.
The Telugu epic “RRR” made award history as well, becoming the first song from an Indian production to win an academy award for Best Original Song with “Naatu Naatu.” The film beat Rhianna’s “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” for “Top Gun: Maverick.” Talking Heads frontman David Bryne was also nominated for "EEAAO’s" “This is a Life” and Diane Warren’s “Applause” from “Tell it like a Woman” was nominated, too.
