Academy Awards - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Oscars 2024: panned by Trump, host Kimmel quips, ‘Isn’t it past your jail time?’

HOLLYWOOD'S biggest stars gathered to celebrate the year's best accomplishments in film at the annual Academy Awards. Here are some takeaways from the 96th Oscars ceremony. TRUMP REVIEWS KIMMEL Late in the show, Jimmy Kimmel read aloud from a scathing online review of his performance as Oscars host, revealing at the end that it was written by former U.S. President Donald Trump. "Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars," Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform, also criticizing the show as "Disjointed, boring, and very unfair." Talk show host Kimmel, who's long feuded…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Chris Rock unleashes on Will Smith and wife Jada a year after Oscars slap

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

LISA RICHWINE A year after he was slapped on stage at the Academy Awards, Chris Rock hammered Will Smith and his wife in a comedy special streamed live around the world, joking that he enjoyed seeing the actor beaten in his latest film. Live on Netflix on Saturday from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Rock said he had been watching slavery drama "Emancipation" just to see Smith "get whooped," cheering "hit him again" and "you missed a spot." In March 2022, Smith walked onto the Oscars stage and slapped Rock's face after the comedian made a joke about the appearance of…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Winning director Zhao makes Oscars history, but honor censored in China

WORLD

DANIEL TROTTA CHLOE Zhao made history as the first Asian woman and second woman ever to win best director at the Academy Awards, but her big moment was blacked out from live television in her native China. Zhao, 39, cemented her reputation as one of the most acclaimed directors in film with "Nomadland," the story of financially stretched van dwellers that also won best picture and captured a best actress Oscar for Frances McDormand. It was the first Oscar for Zhao, who cast real-life nomads alongside McDormand to show the lives of older Americans who travel from job to job…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

No Zoom for intimate 2021 Oscars

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE Oscars ceremony in April will be an intimate, in-person gathering, held without Cand limited to nominees, presenters and their guests, the producers said on Thursday. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the show to hand out the highest honors in the movie industry will be held both at the Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles and the traditional home of the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Everyone will be tested, and there will be a COVID-19 safety team on site throughout the evening on April 25. "There will not be an option to Zoom in for the…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Oscar nominations met with surprise, gratitude, disbelief

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NOMINATIONS were announced on Monday for the Academy Awards, the highest film honors. The awards will be presented on April 25. Following are reactions from key nominees, in statements or posted on social media: GARY OLDMAN, NOMINEE FOR BEST ACTOR FOR 'MANK' "After such a stressed pandemic year, there is a kind of comfort and reassurance in knowing that we soldier on in many ways with important traditions. In our industry there is nothing more traditional than the Academy Awards, which hopefully sends a sign of hope that we will get out of this. ... Not to trivialize the current…