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(The film also tiedA Streetcar Named DesireandNetworkas the only films to win three acting trophies.)
The rest of the night was a coronation.
The dildos, sure.
The directors, a pair ofmusic-video veterans whose chief thematic concerns were anal fixations and magic erections.
The release, in March, the same weekend of the previous years Oscars ceremony.
With all that working against it, why didEverything Everywherewin?
Thanks toTo Leslie, weve spent the past few months debating over the true meaning of grassroots campaigns.
Many of them might even say decade or century.
Theyre a passionate bunch.
Key to this was Michelle Yeoh.
How do you get through that early phase with all the new shiny objects?
a studio executive toldThe New Yorker.
You start with Michelle, because sheisthe movie.
Countless similar events took place all over, all season long.
Everyone had their role.
None of them were taking this experience for granted.
As many of the falls ostensible Oscar players disappointed critically or commercially,EEAAOtook pole position almost by default.
But everything that was seemingly working against the film also insulated it from the traditional front-runners curse.
Like Sister Aloysius, I had doubts.
AndEverything Everywherewas hardly universally beloved.
Critics likeJustin Changpronounced it admirably ambitious, wildly idiosyncratic and maddeningly overwrought.
WouldEEAAObe too polarizing to triumph on the preferential ballot?
Turns out, no.
Like its heroine, the film was adept at transforming; it could be anything to any voter.
Someone in therapy could get a lesson on intergenerational trauma.
TheEEAAOcampaign proved equally effective at meeting the demands of the day.
One of the films biggest weaknesses was the fact that its fans were, well, a little annoying.
(This was when I knew the film could win.)
Once the precursors began in earnest, they pitched a perfect game.
Producers said that Asians are not box office.
But look at us now!
(This is when I knew the filmwouldwin.)
In the old days, Best Picture was an award for Best Artistic Achievement.
Whats more Oscar-y than that?
