The 94th annual Academy Awards returned once again to Dolby Theatre as Cinema’s most prestigious night had altered course during the Pandemic. Taking top honours was Sian Heder‘s CODA, taking Best Picture. The Film is the first-ever Film with a predominantly Deaf Cast to win Best Picture. It premiered at Sundance in 2021, before selling to Apple for a record $25 million, proving a smart investment. The Film written and directed Heder, is based on the 2014 French coming-of-age film La Famille Bélier, centering on a young woman who is the child of deaf parents.
In addition to winning Best Picture, CODA also won Heder Best Adapted Screenplay and Troy Kotsur would take Supporting Actor.
Other major winners included Will Smith for his work in KING RICHARD, landing him Best Actor, proving third time’s the charm after having been nominated thrice for an Oscar.
Jessica Chastain gained much momentum in recent weeks, taking Best Actress for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE. This also was her third time being nominated for an Oscar, proving once again that third time’s the charm!
Best Director went to Jane Campion for THE POWER OF THE DOG, which was seen as the favourite to win Best Picture. She has the distinction of being the third woman ever to win the category.
Hosted by a Trio of Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, the night was not without drama. Funnyman Chris Rock when presenting Best Documentary, poked fun at Jada Pinkett Smith‘s baldness which landed him a slap on-stage from eventual Will Smith, in defense of his wife.
#Oscars | Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock In The Face On Oscars Stage After Jab At Wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s Appearance https://t.co/6TZkI48QNh pic.twitter.com/ibpffmh2Mc
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 28, 2022
Things got lighter as this year’s In Memoriam took an uplifting turn with a gospel choir paying tribute to among others Ivan Reitman, Sidney Poitier and Betty White.
Some of the evening’s standout looks at the Oscars:
Holy mother of God. Lupita Nyong’o in Prada. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/G2VU4JgVOB
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022
Jessica Chastain in Gucci channeling Hollywood Magic Hour. Stunning. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/sjunjKXCwX
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022
Wilmer Valderrama looks s👀 good in Dolce & Gabanna. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NswTRuM5LC
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022
The look of a winner. Ariana DeBose confident in Valentino pantsuit. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/5naNw1E39q
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022
One went shirtless. One wore a shirt. Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet at the #Oscars for DUNE. pic.twitter.com/6yld0ZWhpn
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022
A friggin’ Rockstar. Live for Kristen Stewart. Don’t care what the Academy thinks. She has won the night. Chanel has done amazing work tailoring her looks all Awards Season. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/JRNYXxEkgk
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022
Zoe Kravitz in Saint Laurent. Beautiful, simple. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/PgTuXnrEaQ
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022
Complete list of winners below:
Best Picture
“Belfast”
“CODA” (Winner)
“Don’t Look Up”
“Drive My Car”
“Dune”
“King Richard”
“Licorice Pizza”
“Nightmare Alley”
“The Power of the Dog”
“West Side Story”
Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Winner)
Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”
Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers”
Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”
Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”
Best Actor
Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick, Boom”
Will Smith, “King Richard” (Winner)
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Best Director
Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”
Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” (Winner)
Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story”
Best Original Song
“Be Alive” from “King Richard”
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto”
“Down to Joy” from “Belfast”
“No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” (Winner)
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”
Best Documentary Feature
“Ascension”
“Attica”
“Flee”
“Summer of Soul” (Winner)
“Writing with Fire”
Best Adapted Screenplay
“CODA,” Sian Heder (Winner)
“Drive My Car,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
“Dune,” Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
“The Lost Daughter,” Maggie Gyllenhaal
“The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion
Best Original Screenplay
“Belfast,” Kenneth Branagh (Winner)
“Don’t Look Up,” Adam McKay, Story by McKay and David Sirota
“King Richard,” Zack Baylin
“Licorice Pizza,” Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Worst Person in the World,” Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier
Best Costume Design
“Cruella” (Winner)
“Cyrano”
“Dune”
“Nightmare Alley”
“West Side Story”
Best International Feature Film
“Drive My Car” (Winner)
“Flee”
“The Hand of God”
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”
“The Worst Person in the World”
Best Supporting Actor
Ciarán Hinds, “Belfast”
Troy Kotsur, “CODA” (Winner)
Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog”
JK Simmons, “Being the Ricardos”
Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”
Best Animated Feature
“Encanto” (Winner)
“Flee”
“Luca”
“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”
Best Visual Effects
“Dune” (Winner)
“Free Guy”
“No Time to Die”
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
“Spider-Man: No Way Home”
Best Cinematography
“Dune” (Winner)
“Nightmare Alley”
“The Power of the Dog”
“The Tragedy of Macbeth”
“West Side Story”
Best Supporting Actress
Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”
Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” (Winner)
Judi Dench, “Belfast”
Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“Coming 2 America”
“Cruella”
“Dune”
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Winner)
“House of Gucci”
Best Production Design
“Dune” (Winner)
“Nightmare Alley”
“The Power of the Dog”
“The Tragedy of Macbeth”
“West Side Story”
Best Editing
“Don’t Look Up”
“Dune” (Winner)
“King Richard”
“The Power of the Dog”
“Tick, Tick, Boom”
Best Original Score
“Don’t Look Up”
“Dune” (Winner)
“Encanto”
“Parallel Mothers”
“The Power of the Dog”
Best Live Action Short
“Ala Kachuu – Take and Run”
“The Dress”
“The Long Goodbye” (Winner)
“On My Mind”
“Please Hold”
Best Animated Short
“Affairs of the Art”
“Bestia”
“Boxballet”
“Robin Robin”
“The Windshield Wiper” (Winner)
Best Documentary Short Subject
“Audible”
“Lead Me Home”
“The Queen of Basketball” (Winner)
“Three Songs for Benazir”
“When We Were Bullies”
Best Sound
“Belfast”
“Dune” (Winner)
“No Time to Die”
“The Power of the Dog”
“West Side Story”
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
While it felt the latter part of 2021 was rather hectic on the release side for films, it certainly was a memorable, although sometimes chaotic year in Cinema. As we saw several films which should’ve surfaced in 2020, banked for our enjoyment on the big screen this year, it makes it even more challenging to narrow down our favourites. Truly, the Films that made the cut in 2021 truly were outstanding as they had to shine amongst a quality slate of releases.
Though it seems we’re making one step forward and two steps back in making it through this Pandemic, we were so happy to have been able to be back in theatres once again and enjoy a hybrid version of the Toronto International Film Festival. For that we are grateful and we look forward to sitting in a theatre once again, full capacity with popcorn and drink in-hand, even if not yet.
Team Mr. Will break down their favourite releases of 2021 for us and as always, it is an exciting and eclectic mix. Films like CODA, ROADRUNNER, NINE DAYS, C’MON C’MON and MASS might not be on all Critics’ Top Tens, but they fared well among the Team and found a home with us. If you’re still deciding what to see or are on the fence about, let us help you out!
So grateful for this amazing family of Writers and their esteemed opinions and hard work delivering for us year-round.
I think Cinema is at its best when it entertains, increases empathy and enlighten us. The films in my Top Ten check those boxes for me. However, 2021 is filled with impactful Cinema and my list could easily be 20! Other films I love are Awards Season favourites King Richard, Belfast & Spencer. This list was made before viewing A Hero, Parallel Mothers & Cyrano.
The Worst Person in the World & Petite Maman would be below but they release in 2022. Keep an eye out for them!
Top Ten Narratives (in alphabetical order):
C’mon C’mon
CODA
Drive My Car
Judas & the Black Messiah
The Lost Daughter
Nine Days
Passing
The Power of the Dog
tick, tick… BOOM!
West Side Story
Fav Docs (in alphabetical order):
Flee
Summer of Soul
Writing With Fire
In a near-tie for my favorite this year: two Documentaries attempting to process recent history. Life in a Day revisits the original 2010 experiment, sourcing thousands of hours of amateur footage from across the world shot on a single day in 2020 that might as well represent the era. Spike Lee‘s NYC Epicenters–a four part miniseries available on Crave–looks at every major New York disaster since 9/11 up to the present moment with absolutely crushing clarity. Sidenote: Netflix‘s ‘Turning Point‘ gives 9/11 some much-needed context as the inciting incident in a much broader tragedy for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Bo Burnham’s Inside grapples with our collective quarantine routine, and though I have misgivings about how accurate it is to Burnham‘s real experience of the pandemic–dropping it a bit further down the list–I cannot deny the singular power of his music to bring meaning to our perpetually sealed-off lives. In third–and the first narrative on the list–The Last Duel failed to connect with the Box Office but succeeded in keeping me locked at a 70° angle as I untangled the all-too-familiar cycle of assault, denial, and public scorn told from three distinct perspectives, brought together by a relentless, titular duel more explosive than anything Ridley Scott has ever yelled at a journalist. Dune could not be less connected to our present, so it was nice to become ensnared in its deadly world with the most well-integrated Visual Effects I’ve ever seen. Roadrunner and C’mon C’mon are both stories of Documentarians who live their work. For Joaquin Phoenix, it’s a spiritually healing act. For Anthony Bourdain, it’s a bit more complicated. Spencer synthesized Diana‘s tragedy into a devastating weekend of pheasant hunting, pea soup and Jazz. Sidenote: ‘Diana the Musical‘ is worth a Netflix skim for a horrific glimpse into yet another way of defining her story. The Green Knight revitalized title cards–along with reflections on destiny and death. And Annette finally put an end to our cultural obsession with selfish toxic male stars–j/k!
2021 was the year I capitulated, when it came to the Movies. I firmly believed that they HAD to be seen on a big screen to even be considered worthy candidates to make my personal “Best” list. To me, VOD always stood for movies that studios deemed unworthy of a theatrical release and streaming services were like HBO: good stuff but, like HBO movies, should not be considered Oscar-worthy. My feelings came crashing down when I saw my first movie in a darkened theatre when we were finally allowed to do so. It was the Documentary “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain”. It was also the 107th movie I had watched this year. The final nail in the coffin was when I was given the choice to see “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” in the theatre or to stream it and I chose the latter.
Whittling down the 288 titles I watched in 2021 to my Top Ten was no easy task! And apologies to the movies I haven’t seen yet (The Lost Daughter, Drive My Car, A Hero, Parallel Mothers and The Green Knight) that could have made the list and those that I could not squeeze-in (Annette, Flee, Belfast, Being the Ricardos, Don’t Look Up, In the Heights and Passing).
What a mess 2021 has been, we thought we couldn’t possibly still be in this god damn pandemic anymore but here we are. Thankfully, even through the endless, and I mean ENDLESS delays we got some content this year that was absolutely incredible. Only one movie on this Top Ten list only played the festival circuit, and I cannot stress enough that it must be viewed when it comes out. Everything on this list deserves its placing, and if you haven’t seen some of these picks, please please please go and see it to warm your Cinephile heart. I present to you my top 10 of 2021. May 2022 bring forward some other excellent Cinema!
Alone With You Green KnightNote: at the time of publication I have not seen Drive My Car, or Parallel Mothers.
Happy New Year everyone, and Bon Cinema!
Were we wrong thinking 2021 would be better than 2020? While it was not nearly as much of a dumpster fire, there is still so much wrong and so few lessons learned. I loved being able to experience movies in a theatre again, yet am depressed at how few people turned up for anything that did not involve Marvel characters (though I did enjoy some of those ones too). Fingers crossed we can lose the increasingly annoying “Exclusively in Theatres” rhetoric at some point in 2022. All of that said, I was able to experience a whole world of titles at digital festivals and likely saw more movies this year alone than I have in previous years (or at least compared to all the years I have tracked on Letterboxd!). So it was not all doom and gloom.
Here is a look at my ranked Top 10 list of titles that had a profound effect on me, inspiring my creativity endlessly in a year where I felt so little, followed by alphabetical lists of 2020 films I could not see until 2021 and a few festival favourites waiting for proper release.
2020 Favourites That Were Available This Year
Minari
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Saint Maud
Unreleased Festival Favourites
Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes
Catch the Fair One
The Fallout
Petite Maman
Sundown
Three things we always look for in a great film. One, it has to take us on a real journey and there’s gotta be something at stake that’s meaningful. It doesn’t matter how big the stakes are. It is the Director and Actors’ jobs to make it feel like the journey they are going on matters. Two, we love it when an Actor transforms and we laud bravado in a performance. Three, we want to feel something when we walk away from a film. These Films meet all the criteria for me. Whether it be Kristen Stewart’s transcendent performance as Diana in Spencer which we’re still obsessed with, or what it means for a father to go for broke because he believes so much in his daughters in King Richard, or films like Zola and Red Rocket which pushed the envelope giving us a glimpse into the lives of Sex Workers, my eyes were opened and sometimes welled-up from some of the masterful work I saw in my Top Ten.
Don’t forget to check-out highlights from our 2021 Star Sightings in Toronto here!
1. SpencerTo another amazing year in Film ahead! Thank you for continuing to join us!
Team Mr. Will
It’s hard to believe Summer’s almost over, so now’s your chance to get away on an escape before it’s too late. Some new releases for you to check-out including some soulful journeys, wild escapes and whodunnits!
Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez team-up on darkly-comedic Mystery series ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. The Series, consisting of eight episodes, streams on Disney+ in Canada. Neighbours Charles (Martin) is an Actor of former glory, while Oliver (Short) is a Director and Mabel (Gomez), is a bit of a mystery how she can afford to live in their upscale building. After a death occurs in their building, the trio get into some antics trying to take matters into their own hands, sneaking into the victim’s apartment for clues. Wild on paper they might be an odd mix, the three complement each other well and there’s something for everyone here. Stars Nathan Lane and Sting also appear on this pager-turner of a Series, which is a quick watch. The first three episodes arrive August 31, 2021, with new episodes arriving weekly on Tuesdays.
Based on Liane Moriarty‘s best-selling Novel, NINE PERFECT STRANGERS brings together an eclectic group of characters who unite at a wellness resort. At the center of it all is crude Russian founder Masha (Nicole Kidman) who is just as mysterious as the rest of the guests, who all uncover secrets about themselves in their stay over eight episodes. Jonathan Levine directs the Series which also stars Melissa McCarthy as Frances, a successful Writer dealing with her own personal issues; Luke Evans as Lars, a man with a hidden agenda; Melvin Gregg and Samara Weaving as Ben and Jessica, a wealthy young couple facing their own relationship problems; Regina Hall as Carmel, whose husband left her for a younger woman; Michael Shannon as Napoleon, a father at the resort with his family, coping with a loss; and Bobby Cannavale as Tony, a recovering addict. The Series is a tonal mix of grief and tragedy with Dark Comedy, feeling at times subdued, but the brilliant Ensemble come together to delve deep into their characters’ struggles to keep us engaged. Uncanny that this surfaced around the same time as similarly escapist THE WHITE LOTUS. The first three episodes arrive on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes arriving Wednesdays.
If you’re looking for some fun this weekend, look no further than the raunchy ride that is VACATION FRIENDS. This Buddy Comedy sees Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and Emily (Yvonne Orji) head off to resort to get married. They encounter a whacky couple, Ron (Jon Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hanger) who land them in all sorts of craziness, crashing on their plans. The Film is everything you’d want on a weekend romp and the chemistry between Cena and his superb Physical Comedy and Howery are comedic gold, not too mention Hanger who really brings a chaotic, upbeat energy. We have a feeling this story might continue between these buddies, and while the Film is rich in laughs, there is heart in the center of it all. VACATION FRIENDS streams now on STAR via Disney+. Read our Chat with the Film’s Director and Cast here.
Winning tons of raves out of Sundance and also nabbing the London Award there, Sian Heder‘s CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) has arrived on Apple TV+. The Coming-of-Age story centers on Ruby (Emilia Jones), whose parents (Troy Kostur, Oscar winner Marlee Matlin) are hearing-impaired. She aspires to explore her musical side with the gift of a beautiful voice, but she never had the reassurance of her family who are unable to hear. She auditions for a school choir where Mr. V (Eugenio Derbez) quickly realizes her potential, pushing her to apply to a prestigious musical school despite her reluctance. She falls for choirmate Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) and in ways they find themselves in their Music and eachother. I cannot stress how touched I was by this beautiful story, packed with emotion, phenomenal performances, joy and amazing Music. A definite must-see, streaming now on Apple TV+. Check-out Dave Baldwin‘s review here.
Also, don’t forget to check-out the Team’s reviews of new theatrical releases like SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, CANDYMAN, TILL DEATH, DEMONIC, RAGING FIRE, RESPECT, NINE DAYS, THE NIGHT HOUSE and more right here.
By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Though Sundance had to adjust to the pandemic, they were able to offer a slew of content in their program. It screened 71 Features, 50 Shorts, 4 Indie Series, and 14 New Frontier Projects.
Some films were lucky enough to be bought ahead of the Festival, such as Together Together, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World and Prisoners of the Ghostland. And some were acquired following their Sundance debut, such as Feature films CODA, Flee, Jockey and Cryptozoo. The former sold of a record-smashing $25 million to Apple Studios. Along with Documentaries Ailey and Playing With Sharks. Make sure you keep an eye out in the future for these titles.
Tonight was the Awards Ceremony hosted by Patton Oswald. Some presenters included Alison Brie and Diego Luna. Check out the list of winners below.
U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: CODA
Audience Award: CODA
Directing: Siân Heder (CODA)
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Ari Katcher and Rya Welch (On The Count of Three)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Clifton Collins Jr (Jockey)
Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble: CODA
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: Summer of Soul… (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Audience Award: Summer of Soul… (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Directing: Natalia Almada (Users)
Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: Kristina Motwani and Rebecca Adorno (Homeroom)
Special Jury Award for Emerging Filmmaker: Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt (Cusp)
Special Jury Award for Non-Fiction Experimentation: Theo Anthony (All Light, Everywhere)
WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: Hive
Audience Award: Hive
Directing Award: Blerta Basholli (Hive)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Jesmark Scicluna (Luzzu)
Special Jury Award for Creative Vision: One For The Road
WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Grand Jury Prize: Flee
Audience Award: Writing With Fire
Directing Award: Hogir Hirori (Sabaya)
Special Jury Award: Verite Filmmaking: President
Special Jury Award: Impact for Change: Writing With Fire
OTHER AWARDS
NEXT Audience Award: Ma Belle, My Beauty
NEXT Innovator Award: Cryptozoo
Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize: Son of Monarchs
SHORT AWARDS:
Short Film Grand Jury Award: Lizard
Short Film Jury Award: US Fiction: The Touch of the Master’s Hand
Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction: Bambirak
Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction: Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma
Jury Prize for Animation: Souvenir Souvenir
Special Jury Award for Screenwriting: Serhat Karaaslan (The Criminals)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Breanna Gibson (Wiggle Room)
(Photo credit: Sundance)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
17-year-old Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) is a CODA, which stands for Child of Deaf Adults. She has spent her entire life interpreting for her parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) and brother (Daniel Durant). When she joins her high-school choir club, her passion for singing grows deeper. When choirmaster Bernardo (Eugenio Derbez) takes a special interest in her talents, he offers to help get her into the Berkley College of Music. Now Ruby must choose between pursuing her dreams or stay in the fishing town to help her family and their business.
Director-Writer Siân Heder has created a heartwarming film that pulls at heartstrings while making us laugh. Heder’s decision to cast deaf actors creates authenticity and vibrancy into this touching narrative. The Film is more than just a coming-of-age story. It’s also about fishing villages and the struggles those families face. This storyline is examined even deeper through the Rossi family who faces more obstacles than others.
Heder’s Script is funny, honest and full of touching moments that bring the audience into the emotions of a deaf family. Scenes, where the Rossis are conversing over dinner or arguing in their living room, are delightful. Heder also has something to say about how the world looks at the deaf community. Many scenes express the frustration of not being able to communicate with those in the town. However, there are steps society can take to make the world an inclusive place for the deaf community. Heder shows this in a powerful scene near the end when Ruby signs a song she’s singing, to her family.
Heder uses the camera and sound to bring audiences right into the life of this family. In the beginning, we are viewing the world through Ruby’s eyes. Everyday sounds that are common to us sound louder because her family doesn’t realize the noise they’re making. Then during scenes where we switch into the viewpoint of the family members, we are brought into silence. This powerful use of sound expertly brings us into the experiences of all members of the family.
At the centre of this Film is the breakout performance from Jones. She embodies the passion Ruby has for singing while showing her obligation to her family. And when she sings, we get goosebumps and chills throughout the body. Matlin and Kotsur give comedic and grounded performances as her parents, Jackie and Frank. They show the fear for losing their daughter while also wanting her to achieve her dream. And Derbez is brilliant as the free-spirit yet stern choirmaster Bernardo.
Overall, CODA is a moving film with outstanding performances from the entire cast. A must-see.
CODA screens at Sundance:
Live Premiere: January 28 at 8 PM (EST)
On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 30 at 10 AM (EST)
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