Every film lover each year most likely tunes into the biggest movie night of the year — the Oscars. The night when the movies you watched get awarded (or at least nominated), and you get to cheer them on from your home.
This year for the first time I was able to watch all 10 best picture nominated movies and fully enjoy the Oscars better than any year previously. Watching all 10 was not easy but certainly made watching the ceremony much more engaging and entertaining.
Out of the movies that won an award, I watched all but one, which was “RRR.” (Not counting the categories of Documentary Feature, Documentary (short subject), Live Action Short Film, and Animated Short Film.)
I wanted to go over the night’s top awards to take a look back at who won. So, here are some of the winners and what I thought of them.
Best Picture – “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
This movie is my personal favorite of the nominees this year and it couldn’t be more deserving. The sci-fi action epic is both heart-warming and mind-boggling. It goes right to your heart and amazes you with the coolest visuals, and then brings you back down to earth in a laundromat. To me, there was no other winner.
Best Actor – Brendan Fraser in “The Whale”
After years away from Hollywood, Brendan Fraser made his return in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale.” The movie centers on a college professor suffering from severe obesity who is holed up in his apartment and wants to reconnect with his daughter. Fraser played the role extremely well bringing emotional depth to the character while also under layers of heavy, award-winning makeup. I could see the award going to Austin Butler for his role in “Elvis” but Fraser might’ve secured the award because of the final minutes of the movie.
Best Actress – Michelle Yeoh in “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Michelle Yeoh is now forever ingrained in Oscars history as the first Asian woman to win the award for Best Actress and she couldn’t be more deserving. Unlike many other winners, she didn’t win the award for playing the lead in a BIOPIC or transforming for the role, but for going above and beyond in her role. The second woman of color to win the award was handed it from the hands of the first woman of color to win the award, Halle Berry, which made the moment so much more special.
Best Supporting Actor – Ke Huy Quan in “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
I think this is the one award everyone watching can agree on. As soon as Ariana DeBose started choking up as she was saying his name, tears started streaming down my face. Ke Huy Quan has been both the most humble and most excited winner all award season and his comeback story, similar to Fraser’s is something everyone is rooting for.
Best Supporting Actress – Jamie Lee Curtis in “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
This is the one award given out that I think 100% should have gone to another nominee. Jamie Lee Curtis has had a great career, but I think awards like this should be given because of performance not because of what they have done previously. Stephanie Hsu’s performance outshines Curtis’s in every way in the same exact movie and Angela Bassett certainly played a more memorable role than Curtis.
Best Director – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Directing duo, known collectively as “the Daniels,” met in college and have been doing everything from music videos to comedic infomercials to award-winning movies together ever since. The effort that was put into the movie came right from the heart and that was so apparent on the screen, I couldn’t see the award going to any of the other nominees.
Best Animated Feature – “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
Guillermo del Toro’s first stop-motion animation film takes the award this year. Del Toro was inspired by the original and made his own take on the movie, which I really enjoyed and you can tell the love that was put into making it. Personally, my pick would have been “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” but they were both great and deserving of the award.
Overall, I enjoyed watching the Oscars this year and am happy for the winners.
Awards not mentioned – Best Original Song, Best International Feature Film, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary (Short Subject), Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film.