«A Night of Worldwide Celebrations at the Oscars»

All Quiet On The Western Front had fans hoping for a major success story, but it wasn't to be. In the end, Everywhere All At Once stole the show, winning seven of its eleven nominations including best picture, best original screenplay, best director, best supporting actor and actress, best actress, and best editing. Other movies heavily tipped to win--Tár, The Banshees of Inisherin, The Fabelmans, and Elvis--came away with nothing.

Of the 20 acting nominees across lead and supporting categories, 16 were first-time nominees - and they all won the Awards. The Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress went to two very different "newcomers": Ke Huy Quan, whose speech reflected the incredible journey of his previous career, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Born to Oscar-nominated parents Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis began her own success story in 1978 through the horror film Halloween, and has since gone on to make films of different genres, including comedies, family movies and of course, more horror films. It was clear that she was incredibly grateful for everyone she has worked with over the years.

Superstar Michelle Yeoh was the third recipient of the Everything Everywhere acting award, marking a momentous occasion as she became the first Asian woman to win best actress. She graciously thanked her parents, family, and the film for its part in making history. Additionally,Brendan Fraser, well-known for his handsome young face in hot films before fading away in the industry, was recognized for his role in The Whale this year. His win demonstrates that, albeit rarely, Hollywood can bring back forgotten talent.

In his monologue, host Jimmy Kimmel reflected on 2022 as the year when people returned to the theaters, two years after the coronavirus threw the movie industry into chaos. Major films like 'Avatar: The Way of Water' and 'Top Gun: Maverick' made a mark on the box office and were nominated for Best Picture. This year's sentiment was unmistakable - we're back. It's noteworthy that 'Avatar' won the award for its visuals and 'Top Gun: Maverick' got the award for sound, awards that relate to their grandeur and status.


Making this the comeback Oscars logically follows with the sector’s chosen account of revival. However, it's also part of the Academy's initiative to spark engagement in the event again after much discussion related to the opinion that the ratings were declining because blockbusters weren't being recognized. That theory might turn out to be right or incorrect, but if this year didn’t accomplish it, then nominating large movies isn’t a remedy to the ratings dilemma as is often assumed.

The night's milestones - most notably Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan becoming the first and second Asian performers to win in their respective categories - were widely noted, yet unfortunately sat alongside other disheartening facts. For instance, Ruth Carter won for the costumes in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, making her the first Black woman to ever win two Oscars, highlighting the limited number of Black nominees in the awards. While these firsts demonstrate progress, overall there remain numerous areas of representation that are still severely out of balance, suggesting that progress is still slow and disjointed.

The success of Netflix's update of All Quiet on the Western Front had people raving by the time awards night rolled around. As it began scooping up prizes such as score, cinematography, production design and international feature, it was evident that the Academy still holds a strong appreciation of epic war sequences. It was made all the more remarkable by the fact that the movie is not in English.

It's clear that Netflix has gained a foothold in the Oscars, with All Quiet and Ana de Armas's Blonde nomination serving as examples of their campaigning power.

This was a year that was fairly typical in terms of the Oscars; the goal seemed to be to keep the ceremony as traditional as possible. Of all the memorable moments, there were montages, a tear-jerking In Memoriam segment, a tolerable monologue, marvelous musical performances from Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and a return to standard theater seating instead of the novelty of the cocktail tables and train station from last year. The awards show looked and felt thoroughly conventional, with no sleight of hand or stunts. Most of all, David Byrne's performance with hot dog fingers became a highlight of the night.