Newsman: Taking home the Academy Award for best picture, “CODA” was the big winner of the Oscar night. “CODA” also won Oscars for best actor in a supporting role and best adapted screenplay. The film, which is on Apple TV+, is the first streaming movie to win the award. Jessica Chastain and Will Smith won best actress and actor in a leading role. Jessica Chastain won her first Oscar for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” playing Tammy Faye Bakker, which was also recognized for makeup and hairstyling. This is her third Oscar nomination and first win.
Winners who made history Sunday night included “The Power of the Dog” director Jane Campion, who became the third woman to win best director, and Troy Kotsur, who became the first deaf man to win an Academy Award for acting.
The Warner Bros was the other big winner of the night was the science-fiction epic “Dune” Dominating the technical categories. Film claimed six Oscars for sound, film editing, production design, cinematography, visual effects and Hans Zimmer’s musical score. It was the prolific composer’s second win out of a dozen nominations, the first coming for “The Lion King” in 1995. (CNN and Warner Bros. are both part of WarnerMedia.)
Disney’s “Encanto” was honored as best animated movie. Although the film performed reasonably well in theaters, it (and its music) appeared to particularly catch on after making its debut on the studio’s streaming service, Disney+, symbolic of a year viewed as streaming’s awards coming-out party. a colorful rendition of “Encanto’s” song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” — comedy bits like dropping Schumer from the rafters dressed as Spider-Man, and showcasing “fan favorites” as unscientifically voted on via Twitter.
“In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what god is calling on me to do and be in this world,” said Will Smith, who played Richard Williams, the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, in the Oscar winning film.
“Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father just like they said,” he continued, referencing a seemingly heated confrontation he had with comedian Chris Rock. “Love will make you do crazy things.”
“I want to apologize to the Academy,” Smith said about the moment on stage. “I want to apologize to my fellow nominees.”
Earlier in the show, the actor left many speechless after a seemingly heated moment on stage between comedians Rock.
Rock, who was presenting the award for best documentary feature, first addressed a few nominees of the evening including Javier Bardem and his wife, Penelope Cruz, then mentioned Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Jessica Chastain delivered a powerful message, about suicide awareness and discriminatory legislation in her acceptance speech. “Right now we are coming out of some difficult times that have been filled with a lot of trauma and isolation,” she began. “And so many people out there feel hopelessness and they feel alone. And suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States.”
She concluded her speech with a plea to those who feel “hopeless or alone.”
“I just want you to know you are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you,” she said.
“We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us,” she said. “There are violence and hate crimes being perpetuated on innocent civilians all over the world. And in times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love.”
Supporting actress and actor represented were among the most emotional, with Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur winning for Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story” and “CODA.” Kotsur becomes only the second deaf actor to be honored, following his co-star Marlee Matlin, who was recognized for “Children of a Lesser God” in 1987.
Questlove accepted an Oscar for his documentary “Summer of Soul,” and Japan’s “Drive My Car” earned best international film, with the three-hour drama having garnered a best picture nomination as well.
Kenneth Branagh, an eight-time nominee in various categories, received his first Oscar for writing “Belfast,” the deeply personal look at his homeland that he also directed and produced.
CODA has been named best picture, beating out the likes of Belfast, Drive My Car and Power of the Dog at the 2022 Academy Awards. It’s a historic win for a film that brings Deaf culture, and Deaf actors, to the forefront.
Written and directed by Sian Heder, CODA is based on the 2014 French film La Famille Bélier. The English-language remake centers on Ruby Rossi, the only hearing member of a Deaf family, who struggles to balance family obligations and her love of music.
“CODA does have a double meaning in the title because it’s Children of Deaf Adults, but it’s also the end of a piece of music,” director Sian Heder told reporters. “It’s a story about the end of childhood.”
