And the Oscars Go to...
Everything Everywhere All At Once
I’m not one for awards shows. Never have been.
It’s not that I don’t like them. But, I also don’t like them. I haven’t watched many, but the ones I have sat through couldn’t really hold my attention. I was not moved by them or captivated. And I get it — that’s not really the point.
In the same way that people have parties to watch the Super Bowl, because otherwise watching it by yourself isn’t fun, people get together to watch awards shows because you otherwise might find yourself scrolling on your phone because you’re so bored. So maybe I also just haven’t been invited to enough to viewing parties?
Or maybe I could sit through the Academy Awards if I had a hands-on hobby, such as knitting or cross-stitching. Then at least I would be doing something productive while watching something so… unproductive? As it is, I would rather be reading a book (like I used to do when football was on in my house growing up) or watching one of the films up for an award.
Okay, so maybe it’s just that I don’t enjoy the obsession with Hollywood, all the pre-show red carpet fanfare, as if these actors and actresses are the Greek gods and goddesses of our world (which, well, they basically are).
Maybe, just maybe, it’s that I’m a 4 on the enneagram, and I like to be different. I don’t want to be sitting in my house watching the Super Bowl or the Oscars or fill-in-the-blank on a Sunday night just like everyone else.
I do enjoy reading my favorite critic (who also happens to be one of my college professors and my senior thesis advisor — yes, I am name-dropping! I’m writing low-key criticism here on this Substack and I need some street cred!) after the fact, and hearing about and watch the three minute clip of insane things that happen on awards nights.
So, here are a few short clips!
Ke Huy Quan, who took a 20 year hiatus from acting, won his first Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Everything. His acceptance speech is so heartwarming and inspiring: “Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive!”
And before you keep reading, go watch a great film analysis on Waymond’s character, and how it’s a subversive and challenging representation of masculinity. This is a long, not short, clip, but totally worth it. Thank you to my boyfriend Ben for showing it to me! But wait! Don’t watch that video analysis until you’ve seen Everything Everywhere All At Once! Bookmark that page for later and go watch the movie now!
Jamie Lee Curtis won her first Academy Award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Her acceptance speech is lovely and touching: “I know it looks like I’m standing up here by myself, but I am hundreds of people… To all of the people who have supported the genre movies that I have made for all of these years… the hundreds of thousands of people… we just won an Oscar together!” (Her Freaky Friday remake is a personal fave.) She directs her final words to her parents, who were formerly in the industry and are no longer on this earth to witness the victory.
Michelle Yeoh won her first Academy Award as Best Actress in a Lead Role. She is also the first Asian woman to win best actress in a lead role. Michelle is one of the most timeless and beautiful women I have ever seen. Just this past month I watched her in two other film: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians. I just love her. “And ladies, don’t let anybody ever tell you you are past your prime… I dedicate this to all the moms, because they are really the superheroes and without them, none of us would be here tonight.” Heck yeah.
The Daniels team won their first Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Motion Picture of the Year.
I love what Daniel Kwan interjects at the end of their acceptance speech for Best Picture:
Thank you to everyone here. You’ve all inspired me. One of the things I realized growing up is one of the best things we can do for each other is shelter each other from the chaos of this crazy world we live in. The world is changing rapidly and I fear our stories are not keeping pace… These stories have changed my life, and I know they have done that for generations, and I know we will get through this.
Whether or not you agree with what Daniel Kwan might think of as a story that is “keeping pace,” I for one would not shed a single tear if not another Disney live action remake film was ever produced ever again (and I would personally add any film from the MCU to that no tears list, too). The same goes for Broadway! Please stop turning movies in musicals. Give me something original!
There’s a reason we retell specific stories, and that certain myths and tropes live on. Some stories deserve multiple stagings and imaginings. But Mean Girls the musical, or Shrek the musical, or Heathers the musical are not those kinds of stories. Anyways, that’s another soap box I’ll step down from for now.
Everything Everywhere All At Once is an original, quirky, exciting, and heartfelt ride, with familial relationships at its core. Again, you might not agree with its conclusion. But you’ve got to hand it to them — the execution of storytelling deserved all 7 oscars and it has several incredibly talented leading ladies sharing the stage.
