The 2023 Oscars unfolded as expected, but there were some surprises and snubs that left audiences buzzing.
The tight acting races were particularly noteworthy, with unexpected outcomes that left some pundits scratching their heads. Meanwhile, several categories outside of the glamorous acting awards saw some shocking upsets.
One of the biggest surprises was the shutout of “Elvis,” Baz Luhrmann’s popular biopic, which lost in all eight categories it was nominated in, including Best Hair and Makeup Styling, where it was expected to win.
Similarly, Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” went home empty-handed, but this result was less surprising given that the film had been sliding in the front-runner position for weeks.
Another surprise was Jamie Lee Curtis winning over Angela Bassett for Best Supporting Actress, despite Bassett’s acclaimed performance in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and previous wins at the Golden Globe Awards.
After her loss, Bassett didn’t stand up or visibly clap for Curtis, which rankled some Twitter users.
In the Best Original Song category, the Indian song “Naatu Naatu” from the movie “RRR” was favored to win, but Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick” and Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” losing to a tune they were hearing for the first time was surprising to viewers at home.
Sadly, the annual In Memoriam segment excluded several great artists, including Anne Heche, Paul Sorvino, and Charlbi Dean, who unexpectedly died at age 32 and was a star in this year’s Best Picture nominee “Triangle of Sadness.”
Finally, Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon” was expected to win Best Score and Production Design for its lavish old Hollywood scenery, but it lost both to the German “All Quiet On The Western Front,” highlighting the fact that voters hated “Babylon” more than anyone realized.
»2023 Oscars: Baz Luhrmann’s popular biopic loses in all categories«
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