The victory of “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” is a considerable divergence from the prestige films that have usually dominated the Academy Awards.
The 95th Academy Awards were given on Sunday, and “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” won seven honors, including best picture, original screenplay, and direction. The film, about a Chinese-American laundry entrepreneur, earned the independent company A24 an amazing $100 million at the box office, despite the restricted market for art-house films.
The film’s leading lady, Michelle Yeoh, was the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for best actress. Yeoh, who has had a lengthy career in martial arts and action films, said, “This is a beacon of hope and opportunity for all the young boys and girls that resemble me and are watching today.”
Brendan Fraser won the award for best actor for his role in “The Whale.” He thanked the film’s director, Darren Aronofsky, for “giving me a creative lifeline and pulling me onboard.”The victory of Fraser, who had had major health and personal difficulties in the past, represents a tremendous turnaround.
Ke Huy Quan got the award for best supporting actor for his role in “Everything Everywhere at Once.” Due to a lack of prospects, the former child star, who starred in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies,” gave up acting. He revealed his personal background, explaining that his journey started on a boat, continued for a year in a refugee camp, and culminated on the largest platform in Hollywood. He urged people to maintain their aspirations.
Jamie Lee Curtis, who won best supporting actress for her part in “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,” dedicated her prize to “everyone who has supported the genre films I’ve created over the years” and honored her family’s heritage in the entertainment industry. Yet, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has evolved drastically in recent years, with a campaign to increase the number of persons of color and women in its voting pool.
The event took place at a difficult period for Hollywood, as consumers moved away from cable and towards subscription streaming services. The entertainment sector has experienced a period of consolidation, which has resulted in enormous debt for many businesses. Investors are worried that large media businesses are overleveraged and that their new revenue streams, such as streaming, have not replaced their old revenue streams, such as cable subscriptions and movie ticket sales. With a probable recession coming and studios facing complex labor discussions with the unions representing writers, directors, and actors that may lead to strikes, there were gathering gloomy clouds that could have cast a pall over the Oscars.
Jimmy Kimmel, returning for his third year as Oscars host, kept things light-hearted despite the difficulties, recalling the scene from last year when Will Smith attacked the stage and smacked Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s baldness.
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