LOS ANGELES— Heartwarming movie “CODA,” about a deaf family with a hearing daughter, won the prestigious best picture prize at the Oscars on Sunday, the first time a streaming service took home the film industry’s biggest prize.
“CODA” was released by Apple TV+, which beat Netflix Inc’s NFLX.O contender “The Power of the Dog” and other entries from traditional Hollywood studios.
“I really want to thank the academy for recognizing a movie of love and family at this difficult time that we need today,” producer Patrick Wachsberger said in front of the film’s cast stood on stage.
Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony returned to all-out glitz at the Dolby Theatre after pandemic restrictions limited the event last year.
The upbeat atmosphere was disrupted when best actor winner Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock onstage over a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock referenced the 1997 movie “G.I. Jane,” in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head.
Smith slapped Rock in what at first appeared to be a scripted joke. But the theater turned somber moments later when Smith, back in his seat, shouted back, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.” The comment was silenced during the live U.S. broadcast on Walt Disney Co’s DIS.N ABC.
Smith later apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and to his fellow nominees as he tearfully accepted the Oscar for best actor for playing the father of Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard.”
READ: Will Smith smacks Chris Rock on stage, then apologizes upon winning Oscar
Jessica Chastain landed the best actress award for playing TV evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”
READ: Jessica Chastain wins best actress Oscar for ‘ The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
In other awards, Jane Campion became just the third woman in the 94-year history of the Oscars to win best director, for her dark Western “Power of the Dog.”
READ: Jane Campion wins best director Oscar for ‘Power of the Dog’
Troy Kotsur made history as the first deaf man to win an Oscar, earning best supporting actor for his role in “CODA.” Kotsur played Frank Rossi, the father of a teenager who struggles to help her family’s fishing business while pursuing her own aspirations in music.
READ: Deaf actor Kotsur makes Oscars history, DeBose wins supporting actress
“This is amazing to be here on this journey. I cannot believe I am here,” Kotsur said in a heartfelt speech delivered in sign language as he accepted the supporting actor honor.
Supporting actress went to Ariana DeBose for playing the spirited Anita, who sings “America” in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story.”
—Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Howard Goller and Jonathan Oatis
