Maybe Will Smith slapping Chris Rock was the only reason some people knew the Oscars even happened, or, for that matter, still exist. Either way, the 94th Academy Awards that aired on March 27, contained a share of emotional speeches, surprising wins and a moment between Smith and Rock that will forever be preserved in meme history.
This year’s Oscars featured a variety of hosts and performances in contrast to the past three years—which featured no hosts. This year, Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall provided equally funny and provocative comments about nominees and current events. The three women jested during their performance that, when hosting the Oscars, “…three women are still cheaper than one man.”
Highlights from the night include “CODA,” an arguable underdog film in the running for Best Picture, winning both the top award of the night and the writing (adapted screenplay) award. The film follows Ruby, a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) as she navigates balancing the uncertainties of her parents’ fishing business and her desire to pursue music in college. Actor Troy Kotsur won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the film, making history as the first deaf male actor to win an Oscar. Kotsur delivered a humorous speech, recounting a visit to the White House where he was not allowed to teach the president dirty words in ASL, also emphasizing the influence his father has had on his career.
“Dune,” the film readaptation of the books by Frank Herbert that has received mixed reviews from audiences—specifically fans of the books—took home a total of six awards, with wins in cinematography, film editing, music (original score), production design, sound and visual effects. Fans and critics have described the film as “an incomplete experience” while others believe the film perfectly encompassed the original story. “Dune” follows the heir of a noble family who controls one of the galaxy’s most crucial assets, but who is also troubled with visions of the future. The renowned composer Hans Zimmer accepted his second Oscar for the score of the film.
Disney’s most recent and beloved animated film “Encanto” won best-animated feature film. Each cast member was given equal time to thank their families, an abnormality in the award show’s history.
“The Power of the Dog,” nominated for 12 Oscars, only brought home one for Best Director. The film was submitted by the online streaming service Netflix and was submitted based on viewership instead of the standard box office commissions. The submission of the film from a streaming service marks a new era in which viewership alone can impact nomination status at the Oscars. Ariana Debose took home the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “West Side Story” while becoming the first Queer Afro-Latina to win an Oscar.
The best International Feature Film was awarded to Japan’s “Drive My Car” by director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi. The film has received 95 nominations from International and Japanese film festivals and has won a total of 72 awards since its release last year.
Of course, one of the most memorable scenes from the Oscars was when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after the comedian delivered a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss. Pinkett Smith had been vocal beforehand about her struggles with Alopecia, a condition that leads to hair loss. Around twenty minutes later, Smith won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film “King Richard” and delivered a tearful apology to the Academy while accepting the award. While various celebrities, media and social media outlets have expressed mixed responses in the days after, the Academy has released statements of disciplinary proceedings and Smith has since left the Academy.
The Oscars face an unseen future plagued by a socially troubled past. This year, 15.4 million tuned in from ABC to watch the ceremonies, the second-lowest in its history, breaking a record from last year’s 10.5 million. The program implemented a new strategy, giving out selected awards before the show airs on ABC with hopes that shortening the program and giving out the more prominent awards live would increase viewership. However, this has raised questions about the importance of work in the film, along with common critiques of diversity and inclusivity in the awards. The Oscars strive to represent and reward the visual creativity of diverse filmmakers and creators, yet the awards fall short and face backlash every year. The viral moment that happened this year can be the cause for so much attention, and without it—would the public still care?
