‘All at Once’: Yeoh-led dramedy, others celebrated at 95th Oscars

The phrase “and the Academy Award goes to …” has become one of the most eagerly anticipated phrases of the year, especially for members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Regardless of the ceremony’s host, nominees, location or crowd size, these six words have held special meaning for nearly a century. On Sunday, March 12, inperson attendees and viewers alike will be waiting to hear those infamous words, as host Jimmy Kimmel (“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”) presents the 95th Annual Academy Awards, airing live on ABC.

Since its inception in 1929 when “Wings” (1927) won the coveted Best Picture Award, the Academy Awards celebrates the best and brightest in the film industry from the previous year. While the early days of the awards show may have honored just a handful of films, today’s packed film-release schedule has led to a plethora of nominees across more categories, longer ceremonies and, of course, the creation — and bestowal — of more Oscar statues.

The film with the most nods this year is the 2022 action-packed dramedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Starring Michelle Yeoh (“Crazy Rich Asians,” 2018), Ke Huy Quan (“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” 1984), Stephanie Hsu (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Jamie Lee Curtis (“Halloween,” 1978), the 11-time Oscar-nominated film tells the story of Chinese-American immigrant Evelyn Quan Wang (Yeoh), who runs a financially beleaguered laundromat with her husband while trying to hold the many pieces of her life together. As her father arrives in town for a visit, she notices her husband, Waymond (Quan), acting strangely, and she eventually discovers they can jump between parallel universes, thus altering the outcome of each of their lives, for better or for worse.

Also vying for Best Picture this year are“Avatar:TheWay of

Water,"“All Quiet on the Western Front,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Elvis,” “The Fabelmans,”“Tár,"“Top Gun: Maverick,” the sequel to the 1986 classic “Top Gun,"“Triangle of Sadness" and “Women Talking."

Don’t miss a night of movie magic when the 95th Annual Academy Awards, or “The Oscars,” airs live, Sunday, March 12, on ABC.