The 94th Academy Awards were held on Sunday March 27th, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The Oscars have been a long tradition, honouring the movies released from the past year. This year it honoured the movies released in 2021. This year’s ceremony was overshadowed by certain events. However, it should not be solely reduced to that. The ceremony saw some incredibly talented artists being rewarded for their amazing performances.
Actor in a leading role
The winner in this category was none other than Will Smith. King Richard is a beautiful biopic celebrating the lives of Venus and Serena Williams. Smith plays Richard Williams, the father of the legendary pair. King Richard tells the tale of a father hell bent on helping his girls achieve their maximum potential. This beautiful portrayal of legendary tennis coach ‘King Richard’ has earned Smith with a nomination and a win.
The nominees were:
JAVIER BARDEM – Being the Ricardos
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH – The Power of the Dog
ANDREW GARFIELD – tick, tick…BOOM!
DENZEL WASHINGTON – The Tragedy of Macbeth
Actor in a supporting role
The winner in this category was Troy Kotsur for his portrayal of Frank Rossi in the movie CODA. CODA is a beautiful story about Ruby Rossi, the only hearing member of a deaf family. She works to keep the family fishing business afloat but is also drawn to her love of music. This moving movie is adapted from the French film ‘La Famille Bélier.’
The nominees were:
CIARÁN HINDS – Belfast
JESSE PLEMONS – The Power of the Dog
J.K. SIMMONS – Being the Ricardos
KODI SMIT-MCPHEE – the Power of the Dog
Actress in a leading role
Jessica Chastain won for her role as Tammy Faye in the movie The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The film recalls the story of Faye and her husband Jim Bakker as they rose from humble beginnings to create the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and theme park. They were revered for their message of love. However it is not long before everything crumbles and they are plagued by financial difficulties and scandal. Chastain is unrecognisable in her role as Faye, who was legendary for her eyelashes.
The nominees were:
OLIVIA COLMAN – The Lost Daughter
PENÉLOPE CRUZ – Parallel Mothers
NICOLE KIDMAN – Being the Ricardos
KRISTEN STEWART – Spencer
Actress in a supporting role
Ariana Debose won for her incredible performance as Anita in West Side Story. It is the story of Tony and Maria, whose forbidden romance fuels the fire between the Sharks and the Jets; two rival gangs vying for the control of the streets.
The nominees were:
JESSIE BUCKLEY – The Lost Daughter
JUDI DENCH – Belfast
KIRSTEN DUNST – The Power of the Dog
AUNJANUE ELLIS – King Richard
Animated Feature Film
This year Encanto won the Animated Feature Film Award. The film follows the extraordinary family of the Madrigals. They live in the mountains of Colombia in a magical place called Encanto. Every child in the family has been blessed with a unique gift but not Miracle. However, it soon become clear that Miracle may be her families last hope when the magic around Encanto is in danger. This beautiful movie has quickly become a favourite of children and adults alike.
The nominees were:
FLEE
LUCA
THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON
Cinematography
This year science fiction movie DUNE won the cinematography award. Featuring a stellar cast of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and more, this epic science fiction movie won six awards. Dune is an adaptation of the 1965 book by the same name.
The nominees were:
NIGHTMARE ALLEY
THE POWER OF THE DOG
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
WEST SIDE STORY
Costume design
Jenny Beavan from Cruella who took home the award, and for good reason. Cruella, featuring Emma Stone, features some stunning costumes throughout the movie. The story follows Estella a young grifter determined to break into the world of fashion. However she soon become the raucous and revenge-bent Cruella we all know.
The nominees were:
CYRANO
DUNE
NIGHTMARE ALLEY
WEST SIDE STORY
Directing
Jane Campion who won the award for directing The Power of the Dog. Set in 1925 Montana, this western psychological drama has won over the hearts of those who have watched it. The movie covers the difficult themes of love, grief, resentment, jealousy, masculinity, and sexuality. It is regarded as one of the best movies of 2021. The Power of the Dog topped the nominations of this years academy awards, by being nominated 12 times.
The nominees are
BELFAST
DRIVE MY CAR
LICORICE PIZZA
WEST SIDE STORY
Documentary (Feature)
Summer of Soul (… or when the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is a documentary following the thousands of people who attended the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music, and fashion.
The nominees were:
ASCENSION
ATTICA
FLEE
WRITING WITH FIRE
Documentary (short subject)
It is the Queen of Basketball that won the award. The documentary recalls the life of Luisa ‘Lucy’ Harris Stewart. She was considered to be one of the pioneers of women’s basketball.
The nominees were:
AUDIBLE
LEAD ME HOME
THREE SONGS FOR BENAZIR
WHEN WE WERE BULLIES
Film Editing
For Film editing it is Joe Walker for Dune who won the award.
The nominees were:
DON’T LOOK UP
KING RICHARD
THE POWER OF THE DOG
TICK, TICK … BOOM!
International feature film
It is Japanese movie who won the award this year. The movie tells the story of an actor and his new chauffeur, a 20-year-old girl. They quickly develop a special relationship together.
The nominees were:
FLEE – Denmark
THE HAND OF GOD – Italy
LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM – Bhutan
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD – Norway
Makeup and hairstyling
Once again it was The Eyes of Tammy Faye that brought the award home.
The nominees were:
COMING 2 AMERICA
CRUELLA
DUNE
HOUSE OF GUCCI
Music (Original Score)
It is Hans Zimmer who composed the score for Dune that won the award this year.
The nominees were:
DON’T LOOK UP
ENCANTO
PARALLEL MOTHERS
THE POWER OF THE DOG
Music (Original Song)
It is Billie Eilisih, Finneas O’Connell and No Time to Die who won the award for their song No Time to Die from the most recent James Bond movie.
The nominees were:
BE ALIVE – from King Richard
DOS ORUGUITAS – from Encanto
DOWN TO JOY – from Belfast
SOMEHOW YOU DO – from Four Good Days
Best Picture
It is the beautiful movie CODA that won best picture this year. CODA (child of death adults) became the first ever Best Picture recipient in the academy’s history to be distributed by an internet streaming service (Apple TV+).
The nominees were:
BELFAST
DRIVE MY CAR
DON’T LOOK UO
DUNE
KING RICHARD
LICORICE PIZZA
NIGHTMARE ALLEY
THE POWER OF THE DOG
WEST SIDE STORY
Production Design
It is again Dune who won the award for production design.
The nominees were:
NIGHTMARE ALLEY
THE POWER OF THE DOG
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
WEST SIDE STORY
Short film (animated)
The Windshield Wiper is a short film that poses the question ‘What is love?’
The nominees were:
AFFAIRS OF THE ART
BESTIA
BOXBALLET
ROBIN ROBIN
Short Film (live action)
It is The Long Goodbye that won the short film live action category. The movie places the audience at the frontline as witnesses to the consequences of what hate speech and racism can lead to. A poignant, thought reflective movie.
The nominees were:
ALA KACHUU – TAKE AND RUN
THE DRESS
ON MY MIND
PLEASE HOLD
Visual Effects
It is Sci fi movie Dune, that took home the award for visual effects.
The nominees were:
FREE GUY
NO TIME TO DIE
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Writing (adapted screenplay)
It is CODA who took home the award. The movie is adapted from the French original ‘La Famille Belier.’
The nominees were:
DRIVE MY CAR
DUNE
THE LOST DAUGHTER
THE POWER OF THE DOG
Writing (original screenplay)
It is Belfast who took home the award this time. Belfast follows the life of a working class family and their son’s during the late 1960s amid the turmoil in Northern Ireland.
The nominees were:
DON’T LOOK UP
KING RICHARD
LICORICE PIZZA
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
There you have it! All the winners and the nominees assembled in one article. We can’t wait for next year’s Oscars to see what superb movies will win. Is there a movie you are interesting in watching? I know there are a number on my list!