Austin Butler, Will Smith, Ariana DeBose – The Hollywood Reporter

Most executive enemies created in a monologue

Jerrod Carmichael

California’s new pay transparency law went into effect on January 1 and the Golden Globe Awards host celebrated by roasting his bosses for the night and telling the world he had been paid $500,000 for his services . Not only did the statement raise eyebrows – it’s 30 times the typical salary to host the Oscars – but it no doubt angered anyone involved in keeping these expensive shows going amid steep ratings declines. Comedy reps will cite Carmichael’s alleged salary in arranging negotiations for years to come.

Reward save your tears

Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan

What was in the water on the set of Encino Man? In an awards cycle where acceptance speeches have gone from sincere to silly to rude, these former co-stars have stayed the course with wet, wet gratitude. And it’s not like anyone blames them! Fraser’s return to The whale and Quan’s return for Everything everywhere all at once were the feel-good stories of the season. But, as category favorites, there’s a sincere fear that they’ll all be dried up by Oscar night.

Daniel Day-Lewis award taking the method too far

Austin Butler

The supermarket checkout tabloids were right all along. Elvis Presley is still alive, conveniently hiding in the 31-year-old actor who brought him to the big screen in Baz Luhrmann’s film about the legendary singer’s life. Butler’s inability to shake off the deep voice he took on to play the king started off as a charming awards season and has since become a tedious cause for concern, but perhaps the real reason he’s remains hoarse two years after filming wrapped is because he continues to be forced to talk about it.

Outstanding Achievement in Social Media

Marie McCormack

Not since Jesse Eisenberg got into Mark Zuckerberg’s “fuck-you flip-flops” has the internet not done more for an Oscar campaign. Andrea Riseborough’s A-lister Approved Best Actress Nomination for Little Seen To Leslie makes her the most talked about person in all races. And while Jennifer Aniston and Charlize Theron tied themselves up in those knotted roots, it was McCormack (To Leslie wife of director Michael Morris) who really rallied voters. She may have a future as a strategist.

Self-Sabotage Misogyny Award

Andre Dominique

Say what you want Blond, his much-maligned Marilyn Monroe film, but he’s always been in the awards conversation. The film could have done better than its sole Oscar nomination for star Ana de Armas. But Dominik, who showed little sympathy for his tragic heroine in the film or her press tour – going so far as to call Monroe a “well-dressed whore” in an interview – shot himself in the foot each time. that he had the chance. Good luck to the next studio funding this brother.

James Corden Award for Theater Kid Fatigue

Ariana DeBose

Other than New York’s August Wilson Theater, where Lea Michele may be singing “Don’t Rain on My Parade” right now, you won’t find a better example of unchecked enthusiasm for children. less theatrical than DeBose’s bizarre BAFTA opening rap. The reception has been politely mixed – except in Britain, where the number has prompted a rare deviation in manners – but it’s a reminder to everyone that you should never get into the original song unless your words have not been rigorously grouped.

Animal Overexposure Award

The donkeys

Big Donkey lobbyists made a living in 2022. Filmmakers cast little equines as if they were going extinct – appearing in top nominees The Banshees of Inisherin And triangle of sadnessas well as in Poland’s International Feature Film Nominee HEY. Now, instead of the glue factory, these screen veterans will be competing for suits at Netflix.

Ultimate Rewards Season Winner

Will Smith

Let’s be clear: in the wake of The Slap and the resulting decade-long Oscar ban, Will Smith has only appeared in public three times a year, barely campaigning for his starring role in Emancipation And still won two awards — the NAACP Image Award and the AAFCA Beacon Award. Most people pound the pavement and rejoice for months for much less, so consider this the most unlikely masterclass of the season.

This story first appeared in the March 8 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.