CODA, a heartwarming movie about a deaf family with a hearing daughter, won a landmark best picture prize during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on 27 March 2022.
The film won Oscars also for best supporting actor and best adapted screenplay. CODA became the first movie from a streaming service, Apple TV+, to win the film industry’s biggest prize.
US actor Will Smith received the Best Actor award in a Leading Role for the film King Richard while Jessica Chastain received the Best Actress award in a Leading Role for ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’.
CODA beat Netflix Inc’s contender, dark Western The Power of the Dog, epic science fiction Dune and other entries from traditional Hollywood studios.
“I really want to thank the Academy for recognizing a movie of love and family at this difficult time that we need today,” producer Patrick Wachsberger said in front of the film’s cast standing on stage.
Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony returned to all-out glitz after pandemic restrictions limited last year’s event.
Dune and The Power of the Dog didn’t have to go home empty-handed: Dune swept six technical awards, including best editing, visual effects, cinematography, production design, original score and sound. Jane Campion made Oscar history with The Power of the Dog, becoming only the third woman to receive the best director award.
The ceremony started off to a fairly smooth start, but the finale included some of the most large drama in the show’s history. On stage, Will Smith appeared to strike Chris Rock for making a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Smith slapped Rock following the comedian’s reference to the 1997 movie “G.I. Jane,” in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head. The comment was directed at Smith’s wife, who told Billboard in December she has been battling the autoimmune disorder alopecia, which can cause hair loss and balding.
In his vague apology when accepting the award, he said, “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things.”
The altercation contrasted with the feel-good moments associated with “CODA.” When the movie won Oscars for best picture, best supporting actor and best adapted screenplay, nearly everyone in the audience stood and applauded in sign language.
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See the full list of winners at Oscars 2022 below:
Best picture award at 94th Oscars ceremony goes to CODA.
Other nominated films in the category were:
- The Power of the Dog
- Dune
- King Richard
- Nightmare Alley
- Belfast
- Don’t Look Up
- Drive My Car
- Licorice Pizza
- West Side Story
Best Actress
Best actress award in a leading role at 94th Oscars goes to Jessica Chastain for her role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Other nominated actresses were:
- Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter)
- Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos)
- Penélope Cruz (Parallel Mothers)
- Kristen Stewart (Spencer)
Best Actor
Best actor award in a leading role this year goes to Will Smith for his role in King Richard.
Other nominated actors were:
- Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)
- Andrew Garfield (Tick, Tick … Boom!)
- Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos)
- Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth)
Best Director
Best director award at Oscars 2022 goes to Jane Campion for her film The Power of the Dog.
Other nominated directors were:
- Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)
- Kenneth Branagh (Belfast)
- Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)
- Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza)
Best Original Screenplay
Best original screenplay award goes to Kenneth Branagh for the film Belfast.
Other competitors for the award were:
- King Richard (Zach Baylin)
- Don’t Look Up (Adam McKay and David Sirota)
- Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson)
- The Worst Person in the World (Joachim Trier)
Source: Reuters & CNET