Oh, he was never there. With a sudden, shocking outburst of anger from actor Will Smith, who was about to slap Chris Rock on stage after the comedian joked about his wife’s appearance, the theater fell into a state of profoundly uncomfortable shock. “Did we just see that?” people said to each other as they realized that the outburst was not premeditated or intended for a joke. Phones were ringing, too, with many in the audience saying they were receiving messages from friends or relatives watching at home, asking if they had seen what they thought they were doing. The trouble continued until the end of the show, even when a tearful Smith, as expected, won the Best Actor award for “King Richard” and apologized to the academy, though not to Rock. Every Oscar show has its great moments, but it overshadowed them all. However, there were others: The shocking “CODA” had a great night, winning Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and The Great Kahuna, Best Picture, concluding the ceremony with a brilliant note. It was the feeling that won over there as well, as voters watched the movie that so many said made them cry, not the nice elegance of their previous favorite, “The Power of the Dog”. There were other victories that made history, passionate speeches, a little politics and almost a thought about the pandemic as the revelers were squeezed into Governor’s Ball after the show. Some Oscar highlights, some you saw on TV and some not: —— A FIRST START Remember when the most controversial thing about these Oscars were those awards to which they transferred the time before the television broadcast began? In the end, the theater was about two-thirds full and the winners were receiving their awards with great protest, and the most exciting talk of the loose (non-television) process was when a winner paid tribute to the craftsmen on all film sets. “Dune” took the lead in these awards early on, eventually winning six Oscars. And the team responsible for Jessica Chastain’s transformation into “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” won an Oscar for hairstyle and makeup.
THE AMAZING VICTORY OF KOTSUR It’s the day of Oscar nomination, when Troy Kotsour, learning that his second actor nodded for “CODA”, literally fell from his chair in a video that went viral. He continued to fascinate Hollywood and until the night of the Oscars, Kotsur, who plays a rady father in the film about a deaf family with a hearing child, was clearly a favorite. However, his victory was moving – many in the audience, including Chastain, Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman, responded by waving their hands – what is known as a deafening clap. Even his interpreter drowned during Kotsour’s speech. He joined “CODA” actress Marlee Matlin as the only deaf Oscar winner. “I just wanted to say that this is dedicated to the Deaf community, the CODA community and the disabled community,” Kotsur signed. “This is our moment.” BE IN AMERICA Holding her Oscar triumphantly, Ariana DeBose echoed the words of her famous character in “West Side Story”, Anita. “Now you understand why Anita says, ‘I want to be in America,’” said DeBose, who won the Best Supporting Actress award, as expected. “Because even in this tired world we live in, dreams come true.” There were many that were particularly in her victory. DeBose won the trophy 60 years after Rita Moreno claimed the award in 1962 for the original film version of the Broadway musical. And she made history, becoming the first Afro-Latina and openly LGBTQ actress to win in the category. “To anyone who has ever questioned your identity,” he said, echoing more lyrics from “West Side Story,” “I promise you have a place for us.”
ΠΕΣ GAY One would expect that there would be more political references on this night of the Oscars. In fact, there were not many, but several presenters and winners referred to the so-called “Do not say gay” Florida bill. Co-presenter Wanda Sykes – one of three groups with Sumer and Regina Hall – fired a shot at a bill passed by a Republican-controlled state parliament earlier this month. “We’re going to have a great night tonight,” said Sykes, who is openly gay. “And for you in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night.” Chastain, the winner of Best Actress for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” later told the crowd: “We are faced with discriminatory and fanatical legislation that sweeps our country with the sole aim of further dividing us.” BEGONSE COURT (TENNIS). After an opening greeting from Venus and Serena Williams, whose tennis youth and life with their father is the theme of “King Richard”, the opening number was interpreted by none other than Beyoncé. The superstar sang her nominee song, “Be Alive,” in a dance performance from an outdoor stage in Compton, where the Williams sisters grew up. Even the power star did not win the song an Oscar, however. It was Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas, who won for their song “No Time to Die” James Bond. Phineas thanked the twins’s parents with words that brought smiles to many, saying: “We love you as parents and we love you as real people.” BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT “KING RICHARD”… (You knew we had to go back to that.) “King Richard” may not have won the best song, but it did get the award for Smith himself, shortly after the “all over the world” slap. An extremely emotional Smith stood up to accept his trophy and began with a clear reference to what had just happened, noting that “Richard Williams was a staunch defender of his family. At this time in my life, at this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling me to do and to be in this world. .. “, he also noted that Denzel Washington had told him that” At your highest moment, be careful. That is when the devil comes for you “. He apologized to the academy and said he hoped he would be called back. And Hollywood clearly expressed its love: A number of celebrities came to comfort Smith after his slap in the face, including Washington, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, Tyler Perry and others. CAMPION CELEBRATES At Governor’s Ball after the Oscars, where stars and guests ate champagne and ate Oscar-shaped smoked salmon appetizers (and more), it was a pleasant mood, but especially for Jane Cambion, who burst out dancing in the crowded room. definitely an expression of joy that I won the Oscar for Best Director for “The Power of the Dog”. Her victory was a moment in history, as it marked the first time the directorial award was given to women in recent years, with Chloé Zhao winning last year for “Nomadland”. Cambion is the third woman to win in the category. Her victory was the only one for her redesigned western despite 12 nominations. Cambion lost the best adapted screenplay by “CODA” ‘s Sean Heather. AND SPEAKING ABOUT “CODA”…. It was just that kind of night. After the emotions of the previous hours, it seemed appropriate for “CODA” to get the final prize. (And, fortunately, it was the final prize, reversing last year’s tradition reversal.) Apart from being a huge moment for the Deaf community, it was the first win for a streaming service. Although a small film, it had deep support for Apple TV +, which won first prize for best film. Later at Governor’s Ball, the entire cast came in and was furious with photographers and well-wishers, with Kotsour holding his Oscar in one hand and Matlin’s happy co-star in the other. Oh YES, THE PARTY IS BACK After last year’s distancing Oscar pandemic, the party returned with revenge. The audience — all vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 twice — gathered in a bar during the awards and then at Governor’s Ball, where a mask was barely visible. The main topic of discussion at the Ball was, unsurprisingly, the developments in Will Smith. “At first everyone thought it was fake,” said one guest, real estate agent Sara Roche of Charlotte, NC. “Everyone was texting from home and saying, ‘What’s going on?’ But Roche also had thoughts about “CODA”. whose victory made her happy. “I’m not an emotional person and I do not cry,” he said. But I got a lump in my throat when he won the CODA.
