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Winners, speeches and highlights from the 2023 Academy Awards

Author: Editors Desk Source: News Corp Australia Network:
March 12, 2023 at 20:55
Oscars Host Jimmy Kimmel. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Oscars Host Jimmy Kimmel. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel tackled the elephant in the room with his opening monologue, calling out the stars for their response to Will Smith’s slap last year.
The 95th Academy Awards are underway at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Many questions are still yet to be answered: Will Cate Blanchett or Michelle Yeoh win Best Actress? Can Top Gun: Maverick triumph with a Best Picture win?

And, one year on from *that* Will Smith / Chris Rock incident, will anyone get slapped this year?
 

Tom Cruise is already back on set overseas. Picture: AFP
Tom Cruise is already back on set overseas. Picture: AFP


If Top Gun does win, it appears the film’s star won’t be in attendance: ET is reporting that Tom Cruise will not attend the ceremony. Instead, he’s back on set overseas for Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part II.

It’s a surprising absence, given Cruise attended the Oscar Nominees Luncheon yesterday in Los Angeles and his film is up for the night’s top award.

Earlier, celebs walked the red carpet outside – see all the best looks in our comprehensive red carpet coverage.

You can also keep track of every winner as they’re announced with our updated winner’s list.

Kimmel’s best jokes

Of course Kimmel tackled last year’s big story, the Will Smith slap, saying: “We want you to have fun. We want you the feel safe. And we want me to feel safe. So... We have strict policies in place. If anyone in this theatre commits an act of violence at any point during the show, you will be awarded the Oscar for Best Actor and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech.

“Seriously. If anything unpredictable or violent happens, do what you did last year - nothing. Sit there, do nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug.”

He took aim at Smith again later in the ceremony when it was time to award the Best Documentary feature, which Kimmel noted was when the “skirmish” happened last year.

Hopefully, tonight it goes off without hitch. Or at least, without Hitch,” he said.

“Please put your hands together - and keep them to yourselves - for our next presenters.”
 

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty
Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty


Some more of Kimmel’s best zingers:

“Everyone looks so great. When I look around the room, I can’t help but ask myself: Is Ozempic right for me,” he said, referring to the controversial weight loss drug that half of Hollywood’s rumoured to be on.

Kimmel pointed out that Oscar nominees Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan have history, both having appeared in the 1992 comedy hit Encino Man together.

“What an incredible night this must be for the two of you. And what a very difficult night for Pauly Shore,” he said.

Kimmel called out Steven Spielberg, who “is nominated for The Fablemans, by far his most personal film. They say write what you know. And write what you know your mum did with her dad’s best friend. And Steven did that.”

“The long, long, long awaited Avatar: The Way of Water is out, which gave the director, the James Cameron, another opportunity to do what he loves to do more than anything else - drowning Kate Winslet.”

Cameron’s not in attendance at today’s ceremony: “You know a show is too long when even James Cameron can’t sit through it.”

 

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