Oscars 2022: Will Smith, Jessica Chastain win Best Actor, Best Actress; ‘CODA’ bags Best Picture
The 94th Academy Awards finally kicked off on March 28 5.30 am (IST) to a loud packed hall after two years of silence caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
For its big return, the Oscars turned to some of the biggest stars in the industry, including Beyonce, who opened the prestigious ceremony with her much elaborated performance all the way from an open-air stage in Compton, where the Williams sisters grew up, as she sang her nominated song ‘Be Alive’ from film ‘King Richard’.
Hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall then began the awards ceremony as the ladies took the stage. “All right, we are here at the Oscars,” Hall said.
During the live telecast all the way from the Dolby Theatre, three female comedians-turned-host for the evening joked about several issues including pay equity as they said three female hosts were “cheaper than one man”.
Soon the announcements for big winners at the Oscars began. Ariana DeBose made history as she became the first Afro-Latina to win an Academy Award for supporting actress, while Troy Kotsur became the first deaf actor to bag an acting award.
‘Dune’ ruled the Oscars by winning six awards out of its 10 nominations, while ‘CODA’ bagged the biggest title of the evening – Best Picture award.
Actor Will Smith, who is already making headlines for his heated interaction with award presenter Chris Rock as the actor punched him for cracking a joke on Jada Pinkett Smith, reappeared on the stage to accept the Best Actor award for ‘King Richard’. However, his previous act did steal the award thunder from him.
Best actress went to Jessica Chastain, making it her first ever Oscar award. Chastain won for her empathetic portrayal of the televangelist Tammy Faye in ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’, a movie she also produced. The award was presented by legendary star Anthony Hopkins.
Film-maker Jane Campion won the Oscar Best Director for ‘The Power of the Dog’. Campion, who had been the first woman ever twice nominated in the category (previously for 1993’s ‘The Piano’), is only the third woman to win best director at the Academy Awards.
It’s important to note that this is also the first time the directing award has ever gone to women in back-to-back years, after ‘Nomadland’ film-maker Chloe Zhao won last year.
Here’s a complete list of winners at the Academy Awards 2022:
Best picture: ‘CODA’
Best actor: Will Smith – ‘King Richard’
Best actress: Jessica Chastain -‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
Documentary feature: ‘Summer of Soul (Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)’
Original song: ‘No Time to Die’ from ‘No Time to Die,’ music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
Best director: Jane Campion -‘The Power of the Dog’
Best supporting actor: Troy Kotsur – ‘CODA’
Best international film: ‘Drive My Car – ‘ Japan
Costume design: ‘Cruella’
Original screenplay: ‘Belfast’
Adapted screenplay: ‘CODA’
Best supporting actress: Ariana DeBose
Cinematography: ‘Dune’
Visual Effects: ‘Dune’
Sound: ‘Dune’
Music (original score): ‘Dune’
Film editing: ‘Dune’
Production design: ‘Dune’
Best animated feature: ‘Encanto’
Makeup and hairstyling: ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
Documentary (short subject): ‘The Queen of Basketball’
Best animated short film: The Windshield Wiper’
Live action short: ‘The Long Goodbye’
