Oscars 2023
No slaps, lots of emotions and an ass
Host Jimmy Kimmel had a special movie star in tow.
© getty/Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Oscars for the third time. This year it came without violence and with plenty of emotional outbursts.
How will the first Oscars be after the slap scandal surrounding Will Smith (54) and Chris Rock (58)? Will the scandal steal the show from the winners a second time, or will it be completely hushed up? Not only the local people in Los Angeles asked themselves these questions, but also all film fans and night owls in Germany. A difficult balancing act to work through the story properly, but at the same time not give it too much limelight. It was primarily Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel (55) who had to lift him, who did a solid, albeit well-behaved job on his third engagement as a moderator.
Kimmel first parachuted into the Dolby Theater in Top Gun fashion with a handful of tame jokes. But then he not only addressed the Oscar bell, but also unpacked a full verbal slap for those present: If there was another outbreak of violence on stage, the people on site would simply have to behave like last year.” and do absolutely nothing”. There was also a dig in the direction of the Oscar organizers: Anyone who smacks someone during the course of the evening will be punished with an Oscar for best leading actor and a very long speech.
Political messages and a guest star donkey
Joke self-critically but not too crudely about last year’s scandal? Check! After that, however, the real stars were in the foreground. Ke Huy Quan (51) gave the audience the first emotional highlight of the evening with his triumph as a supporting actor in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. Who would have thought that Shorty from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom would ever win an Oscar and bring millions to tears with his acceptance speech?
A similar question could also be asked about Brendan Fraser (54) at the end of the evening. Did “Steinzeit Junior” really receive the Oscar for best actor for the drama “The Whale”? A beautiful twist of fate connects the two men, because what was the name of one of Fraser’s co-stars in the 1992 slapstick film? That’s right, Ke Huy Quan!
History was written by Michelle Yeoh (60), who was honored as the leading actress for the sweeper “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. She was the first Asian woman to win an Oscar in this category and used the stage for two important messages: “For all the girls and boys who look like me: […] It’s proof that dreams can come true.” And to all women: “Never let anyone tell you your heyday is over.”
Also a strong moment of the 95th Oscar edition: The documentation “Navalny” about the currently imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (46) was awarded, his wife Julija Navalnaja (46) addressed a few haunting words to the assembled Hollywood squad. The hall even smelled a “Happy Birthday” serenade shortly afterwards and was also happy about the presence of the secret star of the film “The Banshees of Inisherin”, donkey Jenny.
An even bigger surprise on stage: Contrary to what Oscar director Glenn Weiss (61) said before the ceremony, the nominated Lady Gaga (36) performed her “Top Gun: Maverick” song “Hold My Hand”. Originally it was said that she could not perform because she was too busy filming “Joker: Folie à Deux”.
Laudator Elizabeth Banks (49) made the weirdest appearance. At first she almost stumbled over her expansive dress, then a man in a bear costume followed her onto the stage, based on her film “Cocaine Bear”, and last but not least her hoarse voice failed several times.
John Travolta (69) also had to clear his throat several times, but for different reasons. Emotions overwhelmed him as he delivered his monologue in honor of the stars who have passed away. Hardly anyone in Hollywood knows better than he how difficult it is to have to say goodbye. His wife Kelly Preston died around two and a half years ago, his son Jett died in 2009 at the age of just 16 and in 1977 he had to say goodbye to his partner Diana Hyland. His “Grease” love Olivia Newton-John, who died of cancer last year at the age of 73, also appeared in the list of the deceased.
The conclusion of the 95th Academy Awards
After two of the biggest scandals of the Oscars within a few years – first the envelope, then the blow – you could tell from the 95th edition that everything was done to make the evening run smoothly. In 2023, positive outbursts of emotion during the acceptance speeches by the filmmakers provided the necessary dose of unpredictability.
Jimmy Kimmel, meanwhile, led the show calmly, with no major outliers up or down. As expected, Will Smith got his fat off at several points in the gala, but Kimmel generally chose a very well-behaved approach to his jokes. The main thing, scandal-free, seemed to have been the motto here as well.