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[The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the Oscars](
In a year when the Oscars pitched themselves as a grand return to normalcy, Hollywood felt more unnatural than ever.
Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images This year, [the Oscars]( learned the dangers of trying to enter the speed force. The show, trimmed down for broadcast, started out eager to please and seem populist, stuffed with montage tributes to movies the Academy expected everyone to recognize and even selections from the Twitter-chosen âcheer momentsâ of the last year. It was already a ceremony that felt obligated to too many goals, but it came apart at the seams once, three quarters of the way through the event, [Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage]( after Rock delivered a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. The telecast stalled and muted, and the audience in the theater seemed not to know how to react as the ceremony continued on to [Smithâs widely predicted win for Best Actor](. He delivered a rambling, tearful speech about protecting oneâs family that contained a sort-of apology to the Academy, but it felt as if the ceremony had toppled off its axis, insignificant and chintzy in comparison to the unscripted altercation that just transpired. In a year when the Oscars pitched themselves as a grand return to normalcy, Hollywood felt more unnatural than ever. In order to try to make sense of the evening, we summarized the 2022 Oscar ceremonyâs highs, lows, and numerous whoas. [Read The Story »]( Spring Sale: [Subscribe for 60% off]( and unlock unlimited access to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps ⢠[Killing Eve:]( Carolynâs Story
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We consume it all so you donât have to. Watch [CODA, winner of best picture]( at this yearâs Oscars. The filmâs cast â including a superb Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin as Rubyâs complicated parents â bring real feeling to what could be a schmaltzy story. [Read more from Vulture]( This week at Union Hall Vultureâs weekly comedy show, Pretty Major, will feature Jordan Carlos, Janelle James, James Austin Johnson, Moss Perricone, Catherine Shannon, and Maddie Wiener. [Buy tickets here.]( Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY If you enjoyed reading Vultureâs daily newsletter, forward it to a friend. Or dive deeper into the Vulture universe with our other newsletters: ⢠[1.5x Speed](: Podcast recommendations and listening notes from Nick Quah, sent every Wednesday.
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