Gongs, tears and gowns: our Oscars 2023 verdict

What this year's Oscars lacked in on-stage confrontations, it made up for in historic winners, surprising award snubs and Old Hollywood glamour. Charlotte O'Sullivan, Vicky Jessop and Joe Bromley deliver their expert analysis

- Charlotte O'Sullivan, Vicky Jessop and Joe Bromley

AFTER ‘The Slap That Was Heard Around The World’, and with a new ‘crisis team’ on hand to prevent anything unsavoury, this year’s Oscars was always going to be a disappointment to viral moment fans.

But for true film lovers, it was a welcome return to business as usual — meaning controversial award choices, annoying snubs, awkward moments, hilarious asides and plenty of tears.

Here the Evening Standard’s experts give their verdict on the big talking points of the night.

THE AWARDS

Everything deserved Everything — and got it. There’s probably a parallel universe in which Edward Berger’s wildly predictable anti-war drama All Quiet on the Western Front won big (call it the Baftas). What luck that, in our world, the Daniels’ mind-andheart pummelling multiverse romp triumphed with seven wins, including Best Film. Everything Everywhere All at Once is a riot of fanny packs, hot dog fingers and kung fu, that revolves around two Chinese immigrants, in the hostile environment of America, trying to cope with their chronically-depressed daughter. Yet it is, above all, an audience-pleasing comedy which is why it’s so perfect that cast member Jamie Lee Curtis is the daughter of Tony Curtis, who starred in one of the best comedies ever made, Some Like It Hot, which won a single Oscar (for best costume design). Academy voters have overlooked excellence on many occasions. In 2023, they let the right ones win.