Everything Everywhere All at Once, the action comedy starring Michelle Yeoh as an unsuspecting launderette owner who battles evil by connecting with different versions of herself in parallel universes, heads into this year’s Oscar race with the title of bagging 11 nominations.
It was followed closely behind by All Quiet on the Western Front, a World War I epic, and The Banshees of Inisherin, a dark comical look at a friendship that unfolds against the backdrop of the Irish civil war, both of which scored nine nominations.
The film is up for Best Picture, Director (for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Costume design, Editing, Original song, Original score, and Original screenplay. Yeoh also bagged a nomination, making the Malaysian star the first Asian Academy Award best actress nominee.
The year 2023 also marks a record for the number of Asian actors nominated with The Whale’s Hong Chau joining Hsu on the supporting actress shortlist.
Yeoh told the Hollywood Reporter after the announcement:
I think this is beyond just me. It represents so many who have hoped to be seen in this way, to have a seat at the table, to say, ‘I am of value too, I need to be seen too.'
The Best Picture race contains the two highest-grossing films of the year, Avatar: The Way of Water and Top Gun: Maverick along with Elvis, a musical movie that scored a high audience. Other contenders include Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical The Fabelmans, Tár,” a drama about an abusive conductor; Women Talking, a look at the residents of an oppressive religious community; and Triangle of Sadness.
Both Rihanna and Lady Gaga were nominated in the original song category (for tunes from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Top Gun: Maverick), as icons in the industry.
Allison Williams, who most recently starred in the horror hit M3GAN and Riz Ahmed, who received an Oscar last year for his role in the short film The Long Goodbye announced the nominations. The 95th Academy Awards - hosted by Jimmy Kimmel - will take place on Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
