2023 Academy Awards — This One is for the Weirdos.
Who knew that a film described after its initial debut at SXSW on March 11, 2022 as “weird” and “mind-bending” and “bonkers” would end up 12 months later as the prohibitive favorite to win Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023.
Yet, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, the widely inventive and emotionally compelling story of a family struggling to survive in America only to realize that they are all players in a huge multi-universe saga full of special effects and martial arts, leads all films with 11 nominations. But in a strange, unpredictable awards season, it’s perhaps no surprise that the majority of this year’s nominated films celebrates, those on the margins and those who embrace nonconformity in so many ways.
A lot of nominated films, including those for Best Picture, have been called weird, and in a positive way.
There’s “TÁR,”, the engrossing film from writer/director Todd Field of an elite classical conductor who takes a fall from stature — featuring a command performance by Best Leading Actress nominee Cate Blanchett.
Brendan Fraser, who was a huge star back in the 1990s and 2000s before leaving Hollywood for many years, is nominated for Best Leading Actor for his comeback role in “The Whale.” The performance, in which Fraser plays a morbidly obese housebound English teacher, has been both lauded and criticized for Fraser’s use of prosthetics in the role. Yet Fraser himself has earned critical acclaim and overwhelmingly positive response for seeing him back in the movies.
Then there’s “The Banshees of Inisherin,” writer/director Martin McDonagh’s sweet, sad, and yes, somewhat twisted tale of two Irish friends, who become not friends throughout the film. While some viewers embrace the story, and the extreme lengths Best Supporting Actor nominee Brendan Gleeson takes to send his former friend Best Leading Actor nominee Colin Farrell, that their friendship is over, other viewers have found that twist rather repulsive. But then McDonagh, who also directed Farrell and Gleeson in “In Bruges” is known for his black humor, so viewers should have known that walking in.
Several performances based on real-life people, and superstars, who were both celebrated and criticized during their albeit all too short lives, are also nominated.
Austin Butler delivers a star-making turn as “Elvis” and is nominated for Best Leading Actor.
Ana de Armas, is somewhat a surprise Best Leading Actress for her role as Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde” which turned off most viewers. Perhaps “Blonde” would have received better reviews if the film had more closely followed the multi-layer psychological depths that Joyce Carol Oates’ book, which the film is based on, takes the reader on.
Even this year’s Best Documentary Feature nominees focus on outcasts or those who go against the grain of society.
From “Navalny,” the CNN Films expose on the life of imprisoned Russian dissident and lawyer Alexei Navalny, “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” which focuses on the life of acclaimed artist Nan Goldin and her fight against big pharma’s role in the opioid crisis, and “Fire of Love” about the doomed married volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft.
But of course, the question almost everyone is asking out of all the nominees is who will win.
“Everything” looks poised, if not to sweep, but at least win the bulk of the nominations it’s up for, including Best Picture.
The “Daniels” (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) are likely to win for Best Directing. However, the sentimental vote could well go to Steven Spielberg for helming his autobiographical tale of his days as an aspiring young filmmaker in “The Fabelmans.”
Best Leading Actor — many expect Brendan Fraser to win for “The Whale,” but don’t be surprised if Austin Butler wins for “Elvis.” Hollywood does love its biopics, after all.
Best Leading Actress is a toss-up between Blanchett for “TÁR,” and Michelle Yeoh for “Everything.” With Blanchett seeking her third Oscar, while this is Yeoh’s first nomination, the sentiment is that Yeoh will prevail, especially with Blanchett being one of Yeoh’s most prominent supporters during the whole awards season.
Best Supporting Actor will go to Ke Huy Quan for “Everything.” A stellar performance by an actor who had also almost given up on acting despite having been a child star back in the 1980s.
Two veterans could decide best Supporting Actress. Angela Bassett for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is in a close contest with Hollywood royalty and first-time nominee Jamie Lee Curtis for “Everything.” But Kerry Condon of “Banshees” is also considered a close competitor. Again too close to call.
Whatever this year’s Oscars brings, the show’s producers, and the industry itself, is hoping that the show brings back more viewers. Especially with blockbuster films like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” also nominated for Best Picture. In an industry still recovering from the pandemic, dealing with the rise of streaming services, and a looming Writers Strike, everyone is hoping that this year’s Oscars, while celebrating the weird in everyone, brings back a sense of normalcy, that yes, Hollywood and its biggest night, still matters to the masses.