Ariana DeBose, Tory Kotsur and Jessica Chastain all picked up top acting gongs
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)The Oscars are always a fairytale for someone, and this year’s Cinderella was Sian Heder, director and writer of CODA, the coming-of-age drama from Apple TV+. Heder’s film defied the odds to snag Best Picture. The 44 year old, from Massachusetts, also took home the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
You’d have to be crazy to begrudge her that success (did you watch her speech? She’s lovely). You’d also have to be crazy to view CODA as a masterpiece. For the last two years, Academy voters have given their highest honour to stories that swerved schmaltz (Parasite; Nomadland). I predicted both of Heder’s wins. But, damn, I didn’t want to be right. I have a friend who’s always looking for something to watch with her family at the end of the week that’s fun, maybe moving, definitely not gruelling. CODA is the quintessential Friday Night Film.
