The 95th Academy Awards will return to our screens on March 12th, 2023, but what are they all about?
“The Oscars” is the popular name for the Academy Awards, which are an annual ceremony held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to honor excellence in the film industry. The first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929, and the awards have been presented every year since then.
The Academy Awards are widely considered to be the most prestigious awards in the film industry, and winning an Oscar is often seen as the highest honor that a filmmaker or actor can achieve. The awards are divided into categories that recognize different aspects of filmmaking, such as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress, among others.
The nominees for the Academy Awards are chosen by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who are industry professionals including actors, directors, writers, and producers. The voting process for the winners is also conducted by members of the Academy, with each category having its own voting process and criteria.
The Academy Awards ceremony is typically held in late February or early March, and is broadcast live on television around the world. The ceremony features performances, speeches, and presentations of the awards themselves, which are famously heavy gold statuettes depicting a knight holding a sword standing on a reel of film.
Over the years, the Academy Awards have become a major cultural event, with millions of people tuning in to watch the ceremony and discussing the winners and nominees in the days and weeks after the event. The awards have also been the subject of much controversy and criticism over the years, with some critics arguing that the awards are biased or fail to recognize diverse voices and perspectives in the film industry.
What Type Of Awards are available?
There are several categories of awards that are presented at The Oscars. Here is a list of the most common award categories:
Best Picture: This award is presented to the producer(s) of the best film of the year.
Best Director: This award is presented to the director who has shown exceptional skill in directing a film.
Best Actor: This award is presented to the male actor who has given the best performance in a leading role.
Best Actress: This award is presented to the female actor who has given the best performance in a leading role.
Best Supporting Actor: This award is presented to the male actor who has given the best performance in a supporting role.
Best Supporting Actress: This award is presented to the female actor who has given the best performance in a supporting role.
Best Original Screenplay: This award is presented to the writer(s) of the best screenplay that is not based on previously published material.
Best Adapted Screenplay: This award is presented to the writer(s) of the best screenplay that is based on previously published material.
Best Animated Feature: This award is presented to the best animated film of the year.
Best International Feature Film: This award is presented to the best non-English language film of the year.
Best Documentary Feature: This award is presented to the best documentary film of the year.
There are also other categories that are occasionally presented at The Oscars, such as Best Original Song, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, and Best Costume Design, among others.
Who has the most Oscars?
The person who holds the record for the most Academy Awards is Katharine Hepburn, who won four Oscars for Best Actress. Hepburn won her first Oscar in 1934 for “Morning Glory,” and went on to win three more awards in 1968, 1969, and 1981.
There are also several individuals who have won three Oscars in competitive categories, including Daniel Day-Lewis, Meryl Streep, Ingrid Bergman, Walter Brennan, Jack Nicholson, and others.
In addition to competitive categories, there are also individuals who have received honorary or non-competitive Oscars. For example, composer John Williams has received five Oscars, but only three of them were for competitive categories; the other two were honorary awards for his contributions to the film industry.
It’s worth noting that the number of Oscars someone has won isn’t always a perfect measure of their talent or impact on the film industry, as the awards are subject to a number of factors including timing, competition, and the preferences of the Academy voters.
How about some famous quotes from the Academy Awards?
There have been many famous quotes over the years from actors, directors, and other industry professionals at the Oscars. Here are a few memorable ones:
“I’m king of the world!” – James Cameron, upon winning Best Director for “Titanic” in 1998.
“The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity.” – Viola Davis, in her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress for “Fences” in 2017.
“I see you, Dad.” – Halle Berry, in her emotional acceptance speech for Best Actress for “Monster’s Ball” in 2002, thanking her father who passed away when she was a child.
“I’d like to thank the Academy…just kidding, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. That’s the drinking talkin’.” – Jennifer Lawrence, in her acceptance speech for Best Actress for “Silver Linings Playbook” in 2013, jokingly pretending to be drunk.
“In Hollywood, all you have is your word and your reputation. Cherish them both.” – Jack Nicholson, presenting the award for Best Picture in 2008.
“Keep moving forward, and if it’s time to go, it’s time. Nothing lasts forever.” – Kobe Bryant, in his acceptance speech for Best Animated Short Film for “Dear Basketball” in 2018, just a year before his tragic death.
Oscar Criticism’s?
The Oscars have faced ongoing criticism on a number of fronts over the years. Here are some of the most common criticisms:
Lack of Diversity: The Academy Awards have faced criticism for their lack of diversity in nominations and winners. Critics argue that the awards tend to favor white, male, and English-speaking films and filmmakers, and that people of color and women are often overlooked in major categories.
Hollywood Nepotism: Some critics argue that the Oscars are often dominated by Hollywood insiders and the children of Hollywood elites, rather than recognizing fresh talent and new voices.
Campaigning and Politics: The Oscars have been criticized for being too political and too focused on lobbying and campaigning. Some argue that the awards have become more about marketing and promotion than about artistic merit.
Lack of Relevance: Some critics argue that the Oscars have lost their relevance in recent years, as audiences and critics have turned to other awards shows and platforms to recognize quality filmmaking.
Genre Bias: The Oscars have also been criticized for their bias against certain genres, such as horror and comedy, which are often overlooked in major categories.
Length and Format: The Oscars have been criticized for being too long and too bloated, with some viewers and critics complaining that the show is boring and overly self-congratulatory.
These criticisms have sparked ongoing debates about the value and importance of the Oscars, and the Academy has made efforts to address some of the issues raised by critics, such as increasing diversity in its membership and voting procedures. However, the Oscars remain a subject of ongoing scrutiny and discussion within the film industry and among audiences.
Oscar Controversies
There have been several major controversies throughout the history of the Academy Awards. Here are some of the most notable ones:
Lack of Diversity: As previously mentioned, the Academy Awards have faced criticism for their lack of diversity, particularly in the nominations for major categories such as Best Picture and acting awards. In 2016 and 2017, the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite trended on social media, drawing attention to the fact that all of the nominees in those years were white. In response, the Academy made changes to its membership and voting procedures to increase diversity.
Best Picture Mix-Up: In 2017, there was a major mix-up during the presentation of the Best Picture award. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced that the winner was “La La Land,” but it was later revealed that “Moonlight” had actually won. The mistake was attributed to a mix-up with the envelopes that contained the winners’ names.
Harvey Weinstein Scandal: The Academy faced criticism for its ties to disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, who was accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women in 2017. The Academy expelled Weinstein from its membership, but some critics argued that the organization had been complicit in his behavior.
Kevin Hart Hosting Controversy: In 2018, comedian Kevin Hart was announced as the host of the 2019 Oscars, but he stepped down after past homophobic tweets resurfaced and he faced backlash from the LGBTQ+ community.
Pandemic Changes: The 93rd Academy Awards held in 2021, faced several challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was held in multiple locations, and several changes were made to the usual format, such as the absence of a traditional red carpet and the nominees attending from various locations via video conferencing.
Will Smith: At the 94th Academy Awards, an incident occurred between Will Smith and Chris Rock, which is now referred to as “Slapgate” or “The Slap.” During Rock’s presentation for Best Documentary Feature, Smith walked onstage and slapped Rock across the face. The reason for the slap was Rock’s joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which she had been doing due to alopecia areata since 2021. After the slap, Smith returned to his seat and yelled at Rock twice to “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth!” Rock briefly responded, then finished his presentation without further disruption.
Later that evening, Smith won Best Actor and apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other nominees in his acceptance speech, but not to Rock.
These controversies have sparked debates about the relevance and integrity of the Academy Awards, and the organization has made efforts to address some of the criticisms and issues raised by these controversies.
What are the current nominations for some of the more competitive awards?
Best Picture
All Quiet on the Western Front – Malte Grunert, producer
Avatar: The Way of Water – James Cameron and Jon Landau, producers
The Banshees of Inisherin – Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin, and Martin McDonagh, producers
Elvis – Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick, and Schuyler Weiss, producers
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, and Jonathan Wang, producers
The Fabelmans – Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg, and Tony Kushner, producers
Tár – Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan, and Scott Lambert, producers
Top Gun: Maverick – Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison, and Jerry Bruckheimer, producers
Triangle of Sadness – Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, producers
Women Talking – Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Frances McDormand, producers
Best Director
Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Steven Spielberg – The Fabelmans
Todd Field – Tár
Ruben Östlund – Triangle of Sadness
Best Actor
Austin Butler – Elvis as Elvis Presley
Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin as Pádraic Súilleabháin
Brendan Fraser – The Whale as Charlie
Paul Mescal – Aftersun as Calum Paterson
Bill Nighy – Living as Mr. Rodney Williams
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett – Tár as Lydia Tár
Ana de Armas – Blonde as Norma Jeane Mortensen / Marilyn Monroe
Andrea Riseborough – To Leslie as Leslie Rowlands
Michelle Williams – The Fabelmans as Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman
Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Evelyn Quan Wang
Best Supporting Actor
Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin as Colm Doherty
Brian Tyree Henry – Causeway as James Aucoin
Judd Hirsch – The Fabelmans as Boris Schildkraut
Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin as Dominic Kearney
Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Waymond Wang
Best Supporting Actress
Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Queen Ramonda
Hong Chau – The Whale as Liz
Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin as Siobhán Súilleabháin
Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Deirdre Beaubeirdre
Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Joy Wang / Jobu Tupaki
Best International Feature Film
All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany) – directed by Edward Berger
Argentina, 1985 (Argentina) – directed by Santiago Mitre
Close (Belgium) – directed by Lukas Dhont
EO (Poland) – directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
The Quiet Girl (Ireland) – directed by Colm Bairéad
Best Original Score
All Quiet on the Western Front – Volker Bertelmann
Babylon – Justin Hurwitz
The Banshees of Inisherin – Carter Burwell
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Son Lux
The Fabelmans – John Williams
Best Original Song
“Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman – Music and lyrics by Diane Warren
“Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick – Music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop
“Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson; Lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler
“Naatu Naatu” from RRR – Music by M. M. Keeravani; Lyrics by Chandrabose
“This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once – Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski; Lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne