In all my years in this biz, I’ve never been able to watch EVERY nominated film. But THIS was the year, thanks to a broken ankle.
I’m not an authority on filmmaking, although I’m an actor and producer. As an actor, I am going to weigh in on what I loved about each performance listed below. You don’t need more than a few words, just some honesty. This is a highly subjective medium, but that’s the point.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, NOMINEES (lear more on Oscars.org)
BRENDAN GLEESON, The Banshees of Inisherin
He’s rash and brutally honest, but perhaps not too honest with himself. Brendan Gleeson’s character is too confident and stubborn. But Gleeson’s choice for a steady rock makes for a heartbreaking yet comedic partner to Colin Farrell’s clueless floundering. His presence would fool us into believing he’s a leading role, perhaps there is another measurement used to decide his ‘supporting’ status.
BARRY KEOGHAN, The Banshees of Inisherin
Heartbreakingly small, Barry Keoghan’s slight physicality is in contrast to his blaring desperation. A heartless person would label him a village idiot, but his very existence in the face of his circumstances is too painful, it verges on noble. His kind smile and recognition of himself is the hardest part of the performance. He stays with you, long after the film’s ending.
“Now on Digital and Streaming on HBOMax Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN follows lifelong friends Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson), who find themselves at an impasse when Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship. A stunned Pádraic, aided by his sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and troubled young islander Dominic (Barry Keoghan), endeavours to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Pádraic’s repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend’s resolve and when Colm delivers a desperate ultimatum, events swiftly escalate, with shocking consequences. Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan”
BRIAN TYREE HENRY, Causeway
A fully complicated and recognizable man, Brian Tyree Henry tricks me into believing we already know each other. He is too real to resemble his doppelgängers in “Bullet Train” and “Eternals.” He cannot just ‘be’ even in his stillness, he is curious and soft. He holds the room in comfort, although deep in discomfort with himself. He lets his cracks show more and more without falling apart or actively holding himself together, just slowly revealing, leading in vulnerability.
“From director Lila Neugebauer and starring Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry. CAUSEWAY – In Theaters and Streaming on Apple TV+ … ABOUT A24: The studio behind MOONLIGHT, LADY BIRD, EX MACHINA, THE WITCH, EIGHTH GRADE, MINARI, UNCUT GEMS, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, HEREDITARY & more.”
JUDD HIRSCH, The Fabelmans
Lively, Explosive, and dangerous. Judd Hirsh is a stand-out performance in the palatable Fabelmans tale. Not only is he memorable, but he’s foreign, completely unrecognizable as himself – although familial from a different place and time. He is truly a joy, but he only lasts a few moments on the screen.
“Directed by Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans is written by Spielberg and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Caroline, or Change), who has earned Oscar® nominations for his screenplays for Spielberg’s Lincoln and Munich. The film is produced by three-time Oscar® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger p.g.a. (West Side Story, The Post), Steven Spielberg p.g.a. and Tony Kushner p.g.a. The film is executive produced by Carla Raij (Maestro, co-producer West Side Story) and Josh McLaglen (Free Guy, Logan). The film stars Gabriel LaBelle (The Predator, American Gigolo series) as 16-year-old aspiring filmmaker Sammy Fabelman; four-time Academy Award® nominee Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn) as his artistic mother, Mitzi; Paul Dano (The Batman, There Will Be Blood) as his successful, scientific father, Burt; Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs, An American Pickle) as Bennie Loewy, Burt’s best friend and honorary “uncle” to the Fabelman children, and Academy Award® nominee Judd Hirsch (Uncut Gems, Ordinary People) as Mitzi’s Uncle Boris.“
KE HUY QUAN, Everything Everywhere All at Once
A man living many lives, we see just two polar opposites in this story. Ke Huy Quan is on a mission impossible, showcasing impressive acrobatic lifelong skills and commanding talents, while successfully disappearing into his least confident, confused, and aimless form moments later. Ke Huy Quan takes on a massive role with ease. The desperate form wandering a domestic desert sneaks up on us to become the hero we root for, against all odds, even having seen his alternate seemingly perfect action-packed persona. We fall in love with the nuanced underdog.
“A film from Daniels and starring Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., with James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis.”
I predict any winner here would be satisfying. I hope that everyone will get the chance to see how Ke Huy Quan dazzles in his comeback performance. His performance is about hope – and I hope he goes home with the statue that reminds everyone to dream.
Here is a full rundown for how to watch the Oscars from RollingStone,
“When Are the Oscars 2023? Air Date, Channel, Time
THE 2023 OSCAR s air Sunday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (there will also be a replay at 8 p.m. PT for west coast viewers). As usual, ABC will broadcast the award show this year.
How to Watch the Oscars on TV
If you want to watch the Oscars on live TV, tune in to ABC during the times above. You’ll need a cable package with ABC (like this one from AT&T), or a digital antenna (like this one, which costs about $30 on Amazon). The digital antenna can pick up all your local channels, including ABC so you can watch the Oscars on TV through your local ABC affiliate.
If you’re a cord-cutter, fear not: below are a few ways to watch the Oscars live online without a cable.
How to Stream the 2023 Oscars Online Free
Thanks to live TV streaming services and smart device TV channels, it is possible to stream the 2023 Oscars online without cable, and even a couple ways to watch the Oscars for free. Here are your options.
1. Watch the Oscars on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is just what it sounds like: everything in Hulu’s on-demand streaming library, plus the ability to stream live TV channels. The service, which costs $69.99 per month, gets you more than 60 top channels, including ABC, meaning you can stream the Oscars online on Hulu + Live TV.
Better still, Hulu + Live TV includes free access to Disney+ and ESPN+, making this an incredible value that extends well beyond the Oscars live stream.
2. Stream the Oscars Online Free on DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream is one of the newer streaming services out there but it’s also one of the best, with more than 75 live TV channels, including ABC. Even better? You can watch the Oscars on DIRECTV Stream for free with the site’s 5-day free trial offer.
Get the free trial here and use it to live stream the Oscars online free on ABC. Once your week is up, you can choose to continue on at the $74.99/month rate or cancel your subscription.
3. Stream the Oscars Online Free on fuboTV
If you’re looking for another way to stream the Oscars for free online, check out fuboTV. The live TV subscription service lets you stream the ABC channel (and more than 100 others) from your laptop, phone, tablet or TV.
Fubo is also currently offering a seven-day free trial that you can use to watch the Oscars online free. Sign up for the free trial here, and enjoy a free Oscars live stream on ABC. After the seven-day free trial, fuboTV costs $74.99 per month.
Oscars 2023 Host, Presenters, Performers
As usual, this year’s Oscars will be a star-studded event.
After having three hosts last year — Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes — the Oscars return to a solo host in 2023, with Jimmy Kimmel once again leading the proceedings.
While the list of presenters and performers have yet to be announced, there could be a couple of A-list singers taking the stage: Rihanna is up for her first-ever Oscar trophy, nominated for her song “Lift Me Up,” off the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. Lady Gaga, meantime, is nominated for “Hold My Hand,” from Top Gun: Maverick. They’ll both go up against Kala Bhairava, whose song “Naatu Naatu” (form the hit film RRR) is the first song from an Indian film to receive a nomination in the category.
The “Best Original Song” nominees have all typically been invited to perform on the Oscars stage, so we could see Gaga and Rihanna at this year’s ceremony.
Catch all the action live when the 2023 Academy Awards air on ABC March 12. “