It sounded at the 94th edition of the Oscars Nobody talks about Bruno, the most popular song Charm (but not the one that was nominated), with the stellar addition of Megan Thee Stallion and the enthusiastic palms of Zendaya. It was one of the few moments of genuine, palpable fun to be captured during a worryingly dull gala. And a few minutes later, the thing that changed everything happened.
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Chris Rock came out on stage. She made a joke about hair loss Jada Pinkett-Smith, a sensitive topic. Will Smith He got up from his seat, went up on stage and punched the comedian. Was he ready? Nothing led to think otherwise. Well, yes: Smith’s immediate subsequent shouts of anger. “Don’t talk about my wife with your fucking mouth!” he started yelling. The gala rarefied 200%.
More people came out to hand out prizes, as if nothing had happened. Nobody talks about Will, no, no… Until the award for best actor came, the protagonist of Williams method He won it, as planned, and, through tears, gave a strange speech that sought to justify his aggression while apologizing to the Academy (not Chris Rock).
If not for the shock of Will Smith’s reaction, who ate everything, we could have remembered this gala for the triumph of CODA, the overtaking full-fledged one feel good movie that is committed to good feelings and gives visibility to deaf and dumb people, just like the gala itself with speeches in sign language by its director’s interpreter, Sian Heder, awarded in the category of best adapted screenplay; and of course from Troy Kotsur, impeccable winner as best supporting actor.
Curiously, Kotsur gave what was probably the most genuine moment of the gala, the most heartfelt, moving and eloquent speech; much more than those of Jessica Chastain for best actress (Tammy Faye’s eyes) O Jane Campion for best direction (the only prize of The power of the dog; on Netflix they have to be trilling: Apple TV+ they have been advanced as a platform with an Oscar for best film).
And he did it with something as typical of the Oscars as the thank you speech of a professional whose artistic merit is celebrated. Just what this year has wanted to cut to the maximum… with catastrophic results. The idea was to achieve the most dynamic gala of the last decade. At least enough to overcome last year’s abysmal audience figures.
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To do this, the Hollywood Academy sacrificed eight categories of the broadcast of the gala, organizing its delivery practically secretly during the red carpet, in order to lighten the ceremony of speeches of thanks – they were broadcast later already edited, such as the one from Alberto Mielgo after winning the Oscar for best animated short for The Windshield Wiper– and thus give space to crazy tributes with anniversaries worthy of a trend magazine or a Twitter account hungry for retweets. The Academy launched into celebrating arbitrary anniversaries such as the 30 years of The whites don’t know how to put it in, the 15 of Juno…. Or the 28 of Pulp Ficion! Because everything does not matter, including round figures.
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Has this kind of Faustian pact been worth it? From the beginning it was possible to verify that no. It is possible that the gala itself will increase in audience, or at least in impact and relevance in the public conversation in the coming days. But everything will revolve around the punch of Will Smith. A blow of reality that, once again, the cinema will have to fit in the best possible way. The worst we have already seen what it is.
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Oscar Awards 2022, live: Will Smith apologizes for the slap to Chris Rock, reactions, red carpet and winners
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