What began with 276 feature-length films eligible for Best Picture, 92 countries submitting films for consideration as Best International Feature, plus countless live-action, animated, and documentary shorts, it all comes down to tonight and the 94th Academy Awards where Hollywood’s precious Golden Boy named Oscar is handed out to actors and artisans alike in 23 categories.
This year, however, the awards are shrouded in controversy, and I’m not talking about world events. It’s the decision to “streamline” the show by awarding eight honors off-air in the hour before the show officially kicks off on ABC at 8pm ET/5pm PT and then edit them into the live telecast that has sparked the loudest ire. Those awards – documentary short, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live-action short, and sound – are crucial to filmmaking and the pantheon of cinema. Sound, score, production design, makeup and hairstyling, and most notably film editing, are the backbone of a film. Some of the biggest luminaries in Hollywood have vehemently voiced displeasure at the decision to “pre-award” and then edit and insert into the live telecast, the irony of editing required to do that not being lost on anyone. Many artisans are publicly boycotting the awards while others have resigned their membership in The Academy.
Then there’s the controversy over lead actress Rachel Zegler, one of the stars of the multi Oscar-nominated WEST SIDE STORY, not being given a “ticket” to the ball. Setting off a social media maelstrom with fingers pointed at The Academy, Disney ABC as the broadcasters, and Disney as the film’s distributor, thankfully, this was resolved with the announcement that Zegler will now be a presenter. But it still begs the question of how you deny admission to the lead actress in a Best Picture nominated film.
Now adding to the fray is Oscar winner Sean Penn “threatening” to “publicly smelt” his Oscar statuettes if The Academy declined or refused to offer the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy the opportunity to speak virtually during the awards telecast. Penn won Oscars for Mystic River in 2003 and Milk in 2008.
But eyebrows are raised when looking at the overall plans for tonight’s big show and producer Will Packer. Considered an “outsider” to Hollywood, fear abounds among many longtime die-hard movie and Oscar fans that Packer has no sense of legacy and respect for the Academy Awards which the show, for the most part, has tried to command since the first awards banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Blossom Room on May 16, 1929. Having recently stated on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, “I’m going to do the best I can to treat this show with the reverence and respect I think it deserves, but I’m also going to try to make an entertaining show”, one look at the list of presenters and musical numbers not only gives pause and harkens to television variety shows of days gone by, but calls into question the idea of “streamlining” the show as the reason for awarding eight awards pre-show and then doing a “cut and paste” prerecord insert into the live telecast. One of the arguments for “streamlining” is the all-important ratings which hit their lowest point last year, only grabbing 10.3 million viewers in the United States. Theoretically, it is thought that streamlining and making this more of a variety entertainment vehicle will bring viewers back or catch the attention of new viewers. But at what cost? Will numbers rise or will legacy viewers tune out and turn off? Shayla Cowan is producer alongside Packer.
With presenters announced in dribs and drabs over the past weeks, in addition to Oscar hosts, Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes, you can look forward to seeing Kevin Costner, Zoë Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock, Yuh-Jung Youn, Ruth E. Carter, Anthony Hopkins, Lily James, John Leguizamo, Simu Liu, Rami Malek, Uma Thurman, Daniel Kaluuya, Mila Kunis, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Scott, Wesley Snipes, John Travolta, Halle Bailey, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Samuel L. Jackson, Shawn Mendes, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, Stephanie Beatriz, DJ Khaled, Jennifer Garner, H.E.R., Tiffany Haddish, Tony Hawk, Bill Murray, Elliot Page, Kelly Slater, Shaun White, Josh Brolin, Jacob Elordi, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Momoa, Jill Scott, J.K. Simmons, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rachel Zegler.
Musical performances will include an All-Star Band featuring the show’s music director Adam Blackstone, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, percussionist and singer Sheila E., Robert Glasper, and vocal group The Samples led by Jason White, DJ D-Nice, will perform during the show. A welcome musical highlight is the return of the orchestra.
Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, Reba McEntire and Sebastián Yatra will perform this year’s nominated songs:
“Be Alive” from “King Richard” – Performed by Beyoncé
Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” – Performed by Sebastián Yatra
Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Down To Joy” from “Belfast”
Music and Lyric by Van Morrison
“No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die” – Performed by Billie Eilish and FINNEAS
Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days” – Performed by Reba McEntire
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
Van Morrison was invited to perform his nominated song “Down to Joy” from “Belfast” but will not attend the Oscars due to his tour schedule. As a result, the song will not be performed on the broadcast.
The biggest highlight of the 94th Academy Awards may be the first-ever live performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the Oscar-nominated “Encanto”. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is nominated for Best Original Song for “Dos Oruguitas,” also from “Encanto”, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” will be performed by “Encanto” cast members Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Carolina Gaitan, and Diane Guerrero, along with Becky G and Luis Fonsi.
As millions around the globe already know, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is a catchy infectious song that stays in your head long after you hear it, be it the first time or the 200th. Will it hypnotically drown out the controversies and drama of these awards? Will it help “Movie Lovers Unite”? Let’s just hope that after tonight’s telecast, we won’t be signing “We Don’t Talk About Oscars.”
The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT and in more than 200 territories worldwide. American Sign Language (ASL) provided by Certified Deaf Interpreters, live closed captioning and audio description will be available during the live broadcast.
