The writers, actors, directors, and creatives who made the silver screen come alive in 2022 have been nominated for the 2023 Academy Awards. Whether you saw 1 or 100 films last year, here are the need-to-knows of the 2023 Academy Award Nominees.
Movies with the Most
Three movies from 2022 led the pack in nominations, and each of them cut to the centers of audiences’ hearts. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), the mind-bending heart wrencher that tells the story of Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) and her relationships with her family took viewers and critics by storm, dominating conversations during awards season. The movie picked up a whopping 11 nominations, underlining the outstanding cast and production. Some of the categories were Best Picture and Best Director, on top of Oscar nominations for the entire main cast including Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan.
Though she’s been in the entertainment industry for over 50 years, Michelle Yeoh received her first Academy Award nomination for her role as Evelyn Wang in Everything Everywhere All At Once. She will be making history as the first Asian actress to be nominated in the 95 years of the Academy Awards.
Best Supporting Actor nominee Ke Huy Quan has made a rousing comeback with his performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once since his breakout roles as a child actor in The Goonies (1985) and the Indiana Jones movie series. Stephanie Hsu, who plays Joy Wang, received her first Oscar nomination for her performance. Since her audition clip was released on YouTube, the actress has continued to receive praise for her ability to transform.
Following close behind in nominations, both The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) and All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) received nine nominations. The Banshees of Insherin is a comedy set in Ireland and shot by British cinematographer Ben Davis. Previously, Davis worked on multiple Marvel films such as Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Doctor Strange (2016), and Captain Marvel (2019). Conversely, All Quiet on the Western Front reveals the reality of war. The film dives deep into a multitude of levels, touching upon topics of nationalism and pride. This trifecta of films has ingrained itself in the hearts of viewers in 2022, leaving them pondering the depths of both familial and friendly relationships and the stressors that can affect them.
The Oscars Go Global
In 2022, the music on the silver screen not only contributed to the stories that were told, but also told different stories across cultures and identities. “Naatu Naatu,” the hit song from the three-hour Bollywood epic RRR (2022) is nominated for Best Original Song. Notably, it has already taken home the 2023 Golden Globe for Best Song in a Motion Picture this awards season. Also in the running is “This is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All At Once, contributing to the movie’s impressive number of nominations.
Nominated alongside “Naatu Naatu” at the Golden Globes and now again for the Academy Award for Best Original Song is “Lift Me Up,” the comeback song from Rihanna that spearheaded the soundtrack for Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). Though Wakanda is a fictional country, real aspects from various African cultures were integrated into the visual art of both Black Panther movies. The variety of culture displayed earned Black Panther: Wakanda Forever two nominations: one for makeup and hairstyling and one for costuming. It is also nominated for Best Visual Effects.
Connecting through stories from across cultures all the way from India to Ireland brought audiences together in 2022. For some, seeing themselves and a version of the complex stories of immigrant families through Everything Everywhere All At Once brought them to theaters. For others, the intricate hybrid stylings and blockbuster action of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is what captivated them. Honoring the art of the best films that connected audiences in 2022 with nominations leaves only one question: who will take home the gold?
Watch the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023.
Want to read more about Everything Everywhere All At Once? Check out our article about the movie here!