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‘CODA’ wins the Oscar in a streaming breakthrough, but Will Smith steals the show

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‘CODA’ wins the Oscar in a streaming breakthrough, but Will Smith steals the show
Essentially the most memorable alternate on the movie trade’s largest evening wasn’t the sort anybody would have anticipated or needed. Earlier than successful his Oscar for “King Richard,” Smith appeared upset a couple of joke that Chris Rock informed about his spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, marching to the stage and showing strike him throughout the face. Rock regarded genuinely shocked, whereas Smith returned to his seat, shouting phrases that had been bleeped out at Rock.

Wiping away tears, Smith throughout his acceptance speech referenced that the character he performed, Richard Williams, protected his household, then mentioned, with out particularly mentioning Rock or what occurred, “I need to apologize to the Academy. I need to apologize to all my fellow nominees.” He added, “Love will make you do loopy issues.”

The very best-picture suspense between two streaming nominees perceived as frontrunners lasted all through the evening. “CODA’s” Sian Heder received for greatest tailored screenplay, however “The Energy of the Canine’s” Jane Campion, the primary lady to be nominated twice as greatest director, later turned the third lady ever to assert that prize. (Heder was missed in that balloting.)

Based mostly on outcomes from different awards main as much as the Oscars, this was already seen as a landmark yr for streaming providers, which, led by Netflix, have steadily chipped away at trade resistance to seeing them as full rivals with main studio releases.

For all its exhausting work, although, Netflix did not catch the bouquet, as voters went with Apple’s extra uplifting story, in regards to the listening to baby of deaf dad and mom. Together with this yr’s contenders “The Energy of the Canine” and “Do not Look Up,” seven Netflix films have now been nominated for greatest image, however to this point none have received.

The worldwide pandemic, which pressured the complete leisure trade into streaming mode for a time, has helped hasten streaming’s acceptance, with final yr’s winner, “Nomadland,” having been directed to a rival streamer, Hulu.

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Along with Smith, Jessica Chastain nabbed her first Oscar for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” enjoying Tammy Faye Bakker, which was additionally acknowledged for make-up and hairstyling.

In her acceptance Chastain spoke of “discriminatory and bigoted laws that’s sweeping our nation” in opposition to the LGBTQ+ group, citing Bakker’s compassion towards these teams, which was depicted within the movie.

With a 3rd of the Oscars being handed out earlier than the reside telecast formally started, the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences guess that individuals would watch the 94th annual Academy Awards as a lot to be entertained as to seek out out who received what.

The Academy, which presents the awards, carried out a controversial plan at hand out awards in eight classes previous to the primary telecast, then edit these choices into the present. Regardless of that call, the telecast nonetheless ran greater than 3 ½ hours.

"Dune" won multiple Oscars on Sunday, including best cinematography
The opposite huge winner of the evening was the science-fiction epic “Dune.” Dominating the technical classes, the Warner Bros. movie claimed six Oscars for sound, movie modifying, manufacturing design, cinematography, visible results and Hans Zimmer’s musical rating. It was the prolific composer’s second win out of a dozen nominations, the primary coming for “The Lion King” in 1995. (CNN and Warner Bros. are each a part of WarnerMedia.)
The televised present underscored the emphasis on bringing extra leisure into the telecast, opening with Beyoncé performing the nominated track from “King Richard” outdoors the venue, earlier than turning it over to hosts Regina Corridor, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes, who gently roasted a few of the nominees (“Home of Gucci” was known as “Home of Random Accents”) and taking purpose at Florida’s “Do not Say Homosexual” invoice, promising, “We’re gonna have a homosexual evening.” Sykes later directed a joke at Texas over its voter-registration legal guidelines.
"Encanto" won best animanted feature film.

Disney’s “Encanto” was honored as greatest animated film. Though the movie carried out fairly effectively in theaters, it (and its music) appeared to significantly catch on after making its debut on the studio’s streaming service, Disney+, symbolic of a yr seen as streaming’s awards coming-out social gathering.

Supporting actress and actor represented maybe the evening’s least-suspenseful choices, however had been among the many most emotional, with Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur successful for Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Aspect Story” and “CODA,” respectively. Kotsur turns into solely the second deaf actor to be honored, following his co-star Marlee Matlin, who was acknowledged for “Kids of a Lesser God” in 1987.
Steven Spielberg, from left, Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose arriving at the Oscars.

After thanking Spielberg and co-star Rita Moreno (who initially performed the function), DeBose spoke of being a queer Afro-Latina lady, quoting the film in saying to those that could be questioning how they slot in, “There may be certainly a spot for us.”

Questlove tearfully accepted an Oscar for his documentary “Summer season of Soul,” and Japan’s “Drive My Automotive” earned greatest worldwide movie, with the three-hour drama having garnered a greatest image nomination as effectively.

Kenneth Branagh, an eight-time nominee in varied classes, acquired his first Oscar for writing “Belfast,” the deeply private have a look at his homeland that he additionally directed and produced.

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Though the Grammys and Tonys make use of an analogous format in time-shifting awards, many Academy members have complained in regards to the perceived slight to these nominees. However, there was a heightened sense of urgency to streamline the presentation after the Oscars slumped to record-low scores final yr, as did many main award reveals.

The change solely saved a little bit of time, which was used on lavish musical numbers — together with a colourful rendition of “Encanto’s” track “We Do not Discuss About Bruno” — comedy bits like dropping Schumer from the rafters dressed as Spider-Man, and showcasing “fan favorites” as unscientifically voted on by way of Twitter.

The printed additionally integrated its share of nostalgia, together with a Sixtieth-anniversary James Bond film tribute, solid reunions from “White Males Cannot Bounce,” “Juno” and “Pulp Fiction,” and a Fiftieth-anniversary celebration of “The Godfather,” bringing director Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro out for a standing ovation.

The most recent Bond movie, “No Time to Die,” garnered greatest track for Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, one of many few awards handed out to a box-office blockbuster, because the trade more and more splits between fashionable and status fare.

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Selena Gomez reveals health diagnosis in response to body shamers: 'This makes me sick'

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Selena Gomez reveals health diagnosis in response to body shamers: 'This makes me sick'

Selena Gomez has shut down social media body shamers once again — and she revealed another health condition while doing so.

The “Only Murders in the Building” star and Rare Beauty cosmetics founder slammed speculation about her weight on TikTok, revealing that she lives with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. She shared her revelation days after hitting the red carpet last week for the premiere of her film “Emilia Pérez” at the American French Film Festival in Hollywood.

At the Oct. 29 event, the Emmy-nominated “Wizards of Waverly Place” alum posed in a black, body-hugging gown. In a since-deleted post, TikTok users reportedly observed that Gomez posed with her hands across her stomach, alleging she was hiding her body, according to TMZ. Gomez, who has previously addressed body shamers on social media, replied to the video: “This makes me sick.”

Gomez, 32, responded with the revelation that she has SIBO, according to multiple screenshots shared on social media. “It flares up. I don’t care that I don’t look like a sick [sic] figure. I don’t have that body. End of story.”

She added: “No I am NOT a victim. I’m just human.”

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The Mayo Clinic says SIBO occurs when the small intestine experiences an “abnormal increase in the overall bacterial population,” particularly bacteria types that aren’t commonly found in that part of the body. SIBO, also known as blind loop syndrome, commonly occurs “when a circumstance — such as surgery or disease — slows the passage of food and waste products in the digestive tract.” The former Disney Channel child star revealed in 2017 that she had undergone a kidney transplant due to lupus nephritis, where the autoimmune disease lupus causes a person’s kidneys to fail.

Symptoms of SIBO include bloating, abdominal pain and nausea.

Gomez has long been public about her physical and mental health conditions, including her battle with lupus and her experiences with bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. In September, Gomez revealed she can’t carry a child because of her numerous health conditions and will likely turn to surrogacy or adoption when she decides to start a family.

“That was something I had to grieve for a while,” she told Vanity Fair in an interview published two months ago.

In February 2023, Gomez also publicly addressed her weight and body shamers. She said during a TikTok live that the medication she takes to manage her lupus makes her retain water. “Not a model. Never gonna be,” she said at the time before reminding followers of their own beauty.

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“I just want people to know that you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful and yeah, we have days where maybe we feel like s—, but I would much rather be healthy and take care of myself,” Gomez said at the time, adding “my medications are important and I believe they help me.”

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Film Review | 'Emilia Pérez' Is an Audaciously Over-the-Top Original

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Film Review | 'Emilia Pérez' Is an Audaciously Over-the-Top Original

An incredible roller coaster of a film, I can easily imagine Bill Hader’s Stefon character from Saturday Night Live describing Emilia Pérez: “It’s got drug kingpins, drag queens, courtroom drama, characters returning from the dead, a Bonnie and Clyde–level kidnapping, but it’s also a family drama, a story of female empowerment, an exploration of family dynamics, of violence and redemption. Oh, and did I also mention it’s mostly in Spanish and it’s also a musical adjacent piece of spoken-word poetry with some strong operatic vibes!”

I kid you not.

In other words, Emilia Pérez is fabulously unlike any film you’ve ever seen. It’s a LOT. And it’s definitely not for everybody. But for me, it’s one of the most compelling, refreshing, and original pieces of cinema I’ve seen.

At a Santa Barbara International Film Festival Cinema Society screening on October 26, French Writer/Director Jacques Audiard — yes, he’s French and the film is in Spanish because, as he explained, the story demanded it — the original idea for the film came from a book called Écoute [Listen], with a character who is a drug kingpin who wants to transition to become a woman. But the development of the character into one of three key women in the film — played by Karla Sofía Gascón (Manitas Del Monte and Emilia Pérez), Zoe Saldaña (Rita Mora Castro, Manitas’s lawyer), and Selena Gomez (Jessi Del Monte, Manitas’s wife) — ultimately evolved into the creation of a telenovela-style fantasy version of Mexico with an over-the-top dose of operatic drama to contrast with the intimate emotions the three main characters experience. The stars collectively (with co-star Adriana Paz, who has a pivotal but much smaller role) and deservedly won Best Actress at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

The deceptively campy style of the plot doesn’t diminish the seriousness of what these women go through, but the film definitely walks a tightrope in terms of tone, which is what makes their performances so impressive.

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Without giving too much of this delicious and outrageous fever dream away, let me say that through song, dance and bold visuals, Emilia Pérez tells the story of some remarkable women trying to pursue happiness in their own ways, in some pretty wild circumstances. And Emilia Pérez is absolutely one of the most original pieces of film you’ll see this year. Don’t miss it.

Zoe Saldaña, who will be honored at SBIFF with the American Riviera Award on February 7, gives a particularly fabulous performance as the most grounded character in the film. I’m looking forward to hearing what she has to say about working on this groundbreaking film, currently playing at the Riviera Theatre and coming to Netflix on November 13. View the trailer here and see the SBIFF interview with writer/director Jacques Audiard and composers Camille and Clément Ducol here.

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Ariana Grande celebrates romance with co-star Ethan Slater as 'Wicked' premieres Down Under

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Ariana Grande celebrates romance with co-star Ethan Slater as 'Wicked' premieres Down Under

Although it hasn’t always been pop-u-lar with the public, Ariana Grande’s relationship with her “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater is now Instagram-official.

The “Eternal Sunshine” singer on Monday celebrated the Jon M. Chu-directed movie musical’s upcoming release with a carousel of photos from its Australian premiere. Among them is a candid shot of Slater — who plays Boq, of Munchkinland — carrying the train of Grande’s Glinda-inspired Vivienne Westwood gown as she makes her way down the stairs at Sydney’s State Theatre. (Slater shared the same photo on his account.)

Slater’s appearance on the Sunday premiere’s red (yellow) carpet also swept across social media after a fan filmed the Tony Award nominee accepting a friendship bracelet on Grande’s behalf.

“Is it possible for you to give this to Ari for me?” the fan asks in the video, to which Slater replies, “I’m pretty sure she’s coming if you want [to give it to her], but I can do that.” He also reassured the fan, saying, “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

Footage of the interaction went viral shortly after it was re-shared by a “Wicked” fan account, whose owner wrote, “Ethan Slater seems like the kindest and most genuine person. The world owes him an apology.”

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Slater and Grande, who met on the “Wicked” set, came under scrutiny when they first sparked dating rumors in 2023 — after their respective (and highly publicized) splits from previous partners. At the time of the coinciding divorce filings, Slater’s ex-wife, singer Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a 2-year-old son, told Page Six, “My family is collateral damage.”

The pair has since kept mum about their romance. But that changed in September, when Grande addressed the media stir surrounding her relationship with Slater in a Vanity Fair cover story.

While declining to delve into “certain details,” the Grammy-winning songstress said, “It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids.”

She continued to say that, like many other “Wicked” cast members, she “went through a lot of life changes during the filming of this movie.”

“The most disappointing part,” Grande said, “was to see so many people believe the worst version of it. … There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about [Slater]. No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about.”

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Slater echoed Grande’s comments in his October GQ cover story, saying the blowback was difficult to manage.

“There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening,” he said, “so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love.”

“But, of course,” he conceded, “it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing, and I’m just really excited.”

Slater added that he’s “really, really proud of Ari and the work she’s done” on “Wicked.”

“She’s poured herself into it,” he said, “and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did.”

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The Journey Through Oz press tour will continue across four more cities around the world, with stops scheduled in Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York and London before “Wicked” opens in U.S. theaters Nov. 22.

And when the credits roll, Grande will be listed with her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera — which incorporates the last names of her mother, Joan Grande, and her father, Edward Butera.

“Technically, it’s little Ari’s name,” she said, explaining the decision in a recent interview with Australian radio station Hit 104.7 Canberra. “I feel like I came home to myself in a lot of ways through what I learned from Glinda, from Elphaba, and you know, that was my name when I went to see the show when I was 10 years old — and it felt like a really lovely way of honoring that.”

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