Fresh and Original Film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Takes Home Best Picture at Oscars 2023
The Oscars 2023 was a night of surprises and triumphs, with the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” from A24 leading the way with a total of seven wins, including the coveted Best Picture award. This year’s frontrunner, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” from Universal, a biopic of the theoretical physicist played by Cillian Murphy, also made its mark with a likely 13 nominations and a strong chance of winning Best Picture.
Nolan’s film has already garnered critical acclaim, winning the Drama Golden Globe and the Critics Choice Award for Best Film, among many other accolades. It has also received 13 BAFTA nominations and recognition from various guilds, including the PGA, DGA, and SAG Ensemble. “Oppenheimer” presents a serious yet entertaining portrayal of a man who grapples with the consequences of his actions on the world. Despite its potential to be a weighty treatise, the film managed to captivate audiences worldwide, earning nearly $1 billion at the global box office.
One of the remarkable aspects of Nolan’s film is his commitment to practical effects over digital visual effects. He challenged his crew to create as much as possible in front of the cameras, resulting in a visually stunning production. The film boasts an impressive cast of 73 speaking parts, including 18 aging roles that had to meet the rigorous standards of IMAX cameras.
While “Oppenheimer” seems poised for success, it faces competition from other notable films. Feminist comedies “Barbie” from Warner Bros. and “Poor Things” from Searchlight have their own strengths but lack the same gravitas as Nolan’s film. Both are expected to earn multiple nominations, with “Barbie” projected to receive 11 nods and “Poor Things” with 12.
The race for Best Actress is particularly intriguing, with Emma Stone emerging as the frontrunner. Stone has already secured wins at the Comedy Globe and CCA, making her a strong contender for the Oscar. Directors Greta Gerwig and Yorgos Lanthimos, despite missing out on BAFTA nominations, have landed DGA slots, adding to the competition in this category. The recent switch of Gerwig and Noah Baumbach’s screenplay from Original to Adapted has pitted them against the formidable “Oppenheimer,” which is vying for multiple craft awards, including Costume, Hair and Makeup, and Production Design.
With Nolan’s British roots, “Oppenheimer” has garnered support from the international block, leaving other European favorites such as Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” and Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” to pick up a few nominations. “The Zone of Interest,” which received nine BAFTA nominations, is a strong contender for Best International Feature.
Another film that has been gaining momentum is Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” from AppleTV+. This true crime story is expected to receive 10 nominations, including Best Director for Scorsese, Best Actress for Lily Gladstone, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro. However, Leonardo DiCaprio’s absence from both SAG and BAFTA consideration puts his Best Actor nomination at risk.
In the top 10 Best Picture lineup, which aligns with the PGA nominations, Alexander Payne’s Christmas hit “The Holdovers” from Focus Features is expected to secure a nomination. Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s performance in the film is highly regarded and could potentially lead to a win in the Supporting Actress category. Another film that has been steadily building momentum is Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction” from Amazon/MGM/Orion, starring Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown. Jefferson’s screenplay won the CCA for Best Adapted Screenplay and could repeat its success at the Oscars.
Among Netflix’s contenders, Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” stands out as a potential favorite among voters. Cooper, who stars as composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as his wife, Felicia Montealegre, received acting and directing nominations from BAFTA. The film’s seven nominations at BAFTA indicate strong European support.
As always, the question of which films have been seen by Academy voters remains crucial. Fortunately, both “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” have enjoyed success at the global box office, ensuring a large audience for the Oscars. Fans around the world eagerly anticipate the show on March 10, where the winners will be revealed.
In conclusion, the Oscars 2023 promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event. While “Oppenheimer” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” have emerged as frontrunners, there are several other films vying for recognition in various categories. The competition is fierce, and only time will tell which films will ultimately take home the coveted golden stat
