The 94th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films released between March 1 and December 31, 2021, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 27, 2022.
TALKING POINTS:
The Slap
Of course the outstanding point is that SLAP by Will Smith (the Slapor) to Chris Rock (The Slapee). Chris Rock had made a joke at the expense of Jada (Will’s wife) regarding her hair (or the lack thereof) and Will didn’t find it funny and walked to the stage and issued a slap that was heard live around the world. I did find it disappointing that Will did that but the most amazing part (to me) is how Chris Rock continued like nothing happened. Look ehn, I aspire to that level of composure because if na me, I for don burst bottle for him head.
The Hosts:
The ceremony was hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. It was the first ceremony since the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011 to feature multiple hosts. I particularly liked how they joked that the Academy chose all three of them to host the ceremony as it was cheaper than getting one single host. Though a sarcastic joke, the message regarding pay disparity between actors and actresses was loud and clear.
Talking about jokes, the one targeted at Leornardo Dicaprio by Amy Schumer made me flinch. She said “He’s done so much to fight climate change and leave behind a cleaner, greener planet for his girlfriends”. TBH, that joke is more deserving of a slap than the joke at Jada.
All in all, the host did a good job keeping the event engaging and lively. Kudos to them.
The Awards:
Dune (deservedly) got the most awards carting 6 awards out of the 10 Oscar nominations. Dune scooped the Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
My favourite of all the awards it won is the best original score award which was scored by the great Hans Zimmer. I don’t know why that award hasn’t been renamed the Hans Zimmer award for best original score??!! Hans is a legend and from the day I watched Dune, I knew that score was definitely wining for that category.
By the way Army of the Dead “won” in the category of Army of the Dead has claimed the inaugural Academy Award for the fan favourite film of 2021 as voted by film fans from across the world. Beating out a long list of hopeful blockbusters, including Snyder’s own cut of Justice League starring Henry Cavill, Jared Leto and Ezra Miller. However, what you need to now is that, No, this category is NOT a real Oscar award, it is just a way to make the ceremony to be more inclusive of popular films that aren’t technical or artistic in nature.
HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF ALL THE NOMINEES AND WINNERS OF THE 2022 OSCAR AWARDS
Best supporting actress
Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter)
Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) – WINNER!
Judi Dench (Belfast)
Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog)
Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard)
Best costume design
Cruella – WINNER!
Cyrano
Dune
Nightmare Alley
West Side Story
Best sound
Belfast
Dune – WINNER!
No Time to Die
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
Best original score
Don’t Look Up
Dune – WINNER!
Encanto
Parallel Mothers
The Power of the Dog
Best adapted screenplay
Coda (Sian Heder) – WINNER!
Drive My Car (Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe)
Dune (Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve)
The Lost Daughter (Maggie Gyllenhaal)
The Power of the Dog (Jane Campion)
Best original screenplay
Belfast (Kenneth Branagh) – WINNER!
Don’t Look Up (Adam McKay, David Sirota)
Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson)
King Richard (Zach Baylin)
The Worst Person in the World (Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier)
Best animated short
Affairs of the Art
Bestia
Boxballet
Robin Robin
The Windshield Wiper – WINNER!
Best live action short
Ala Kachuu – Take and Run
The Dress
The Long Goodbye – WINNER!
On My Mind
Please Hold
Best supporting actor
Ciarán Hinds (Belfast)
Troy Kotsur (Coda) – WINNER!
Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog)
JK Simmons (Being the Ricardos)
Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog)
Best film editing
Don’t Look Up
Dune – WINNER!
King Richard
The Power of the Dog
tick, tick… BOOM!
Best makeup & hairstyling
Coming 2 America
Cruella
Dune
The Eyes of Tammy Faye – WINNER!
House of Gucci
Best animated feature
Encanto – WINNER!
Flee
Luca
The Mitchells Vs the Machines
Raya and the Last Dragon
Best documentary feature
Ascension
Attica
Flee
Summer of Soul – WINNER!
Writing With Fire
Best documentary short
Audible
Lead Me Home
The Queen of Basketball – WINNER!
Three Songs for Benazir
When We Were Bullies
Best original song
Be Alive (King Richard)
Dos Oruguitas (Encanto)
Down to Joy (Belfast)
No Time to Die (No Time to Die) – WINNER!
Somehow You Do (Four Good Days)
Best cinematography
Dune – WINNER!
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Best international feature
Drive My Car – WINNER!
Flee
The Hand of God
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
The Worst Person in the World
Best production design
Dune – WINNER!
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Best visual effects
Dune – WINNER!
Free Guy
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
No Time to Die
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Best actress
Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) – WINNER!
Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter)
Penélope Cruz (Parallel Mothers)
Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos)
Kristen Stewart (Spencer)
Best actor
Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos)
Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)
Andrew Garfield (tick, tick … BOOM!)
Will Smith (King Richard) – WINNER!
Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth)
Best director
Kenneth Branagh (Belfast)
Drive My Car (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi)
Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza)
Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) – WINNER!
Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)
Best picture
Belfast
Coda – WINNER!
Don’t Look Up
Drive My Car
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
