Gala of the 95th Oscars – on the night from Sunday to Monday
“Everything Everywhere at Once” by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Ghosts of Inisherin” by Martin McDonagh, “Fabelmans” by Steven Spielberg and “IO” by Jerzy Skolimowski – including these titles are vying for this year’s Oscars. We will find out who will get the statuettes on the night from Sunday to Monday.
Although the 95th Oscars gala is fast approaching, many of its details remain a mystery. It is known, however, that the organizers took to heart the voices of the film community against last year’s decision to shorten the ceremony. Let us remind you that it resulted in the fact that we could not see the moment of awarding the awards in eight categories live – m.in. Best Live Action Short Film, Editing, Makeup and Hairstyles. As the director general of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bill Kramer, this time the ceremony will be “a celebration of the communal nature of the art of film.” “It’s part of the Academy’s mission. I very much hope that we will provide a fun and engaging show that will accommodate all the components of film production,” he stressed, quoted by Collider.
A sure-fire favorite in the Best Picture category is Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s sci-fi comedy “Everywhere at Once” about a woman who discovers parallel worlds. The production has already won Independent Spirit Awards, Critics’ Choice, Gotham and The Los Angeles Film Critics Association. As predicted by critics, her main competitors will be Martin McDonagh’s Inisherin Ghosts, Edward Berger’s All Quiet in the West and Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans. The new film from the creator of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” about two men whose friendship suddenly ends, triumphed at the Golden Globes in the category of best comedy or musical. Netflix’s wartime production, based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, “Same in the West,” was appreciated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the best foreign language film, and Spielberg’s autobiographical work – the Golden Globe for the best drama.
It is more difficult to predict who will be distinguished by the Academy in the category of best director. According to industry portals, the strongest contenders for this statuette seem to be Kwan and Scheinert. They are closely followed by Spielberg and McDonagh. The least likely award will go to Ruben Ostlund for “In the Triangle” or Todd Field for “Tar”. Cate Blanchett’s chances of winning the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Tar” are also said to be diminishing. The role of an outstanding conductor brought her many awards, e.g. the Volpi Cup in Venice and the BAFTA award, but there is no shortage of opinions that the Academics will rather focus on the Malaysian Michelle Yeoh and her dynamic performance in “Everything Everywhere at Once”. If so, she would have become the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. In addition to Blanchett and Yeoh, Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”), Ana de Armas (“Blonde”) or Andrea Riseborough (“It’s Leslie”) could be winners.
The best leading actor may turn out to be Brendan Fraser, who underwent a drastic metamorphosis for the role of a lonely, extremely obese teacher in “The Whale”. Right behind him in the rankings is Colin Farrell, moving in “Ghosts of Inisherin” as the good-natured Padraic. The role of Austin Butler in “Elvis” was also a high-profile creation last year. Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”) and Bill Nighy (“Living”) were also among the nominees.
For the Polish audience, the verdict in the category of the best international feature film will be particularly interesting, where “IO” by Jerzy Skolimowski is competing for the statuette. The story of a donkey wandering around the world, observing the world of people full of cruelty and pride, referring to Robert Bresson’s “By Luck, Balthazar”, received the jury award at the last Cannes festival. Also in the United States, it was received with great enthusiasm, providing the creators with, among others, awards from the National Society of Film Critics and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Industry portals place “IO” high in their rankings, although the winner is chosen by “No change in the West” representing Germany. It is less likely that the statuette will go to “Argentina, 1985” by Santiago Mitrego (Argentina), “Quiet Girl” by Colm Bairead (Ireland) or “Close” by Lukas Dhont (Belgium).
The Oscars ceremony – the most prestigious awards in the film world, awarded by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – will take place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. It will be shown live on Canal+ Premium and on Canal+ online. The ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. The actor and comedian has held this position twice in the past – in 2017 and 2018. “The proposal to host the Oscars for the third time is either a great honor or a trap. Anyway, I’m grateful to the Academy for inviting me after all the strong candidates said “no,” the artist joked, quoted by US Magazine.
In 2019, after comedian Kevin Hart, who was accused of ****phobia, resigned from the role of host of the Oscars, the Academy decided for the first time in 30 years that the ceremony was held without a host or hostess. In 2020 and 2021, this formula was repeated. As the members of the Academy argued at the time, ceremonies based on “celebrity award-giving personalities” attract more viewers to the screens. Last year, the traditional formula of the gala was restored. The hosts were actresses Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall.
According to Variety, citing Nielsen’s Live + Same Day data, last year’s Oscars ceremony was watched by “16.6 million viewers, an increase of 58 percent compared to 2010.” compared to the previous year”, when a record low viewership was recorded: 10.5 million viewers. Viewership rose in three notable moments: when Troy Kotsur won Best Supporting Actor for his role in +CODA+, when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, and during Smith’s acceptance speech for Best Actor in a Leading Role. (PAP)
by Daria Porycka
