Joni Mitchell praises the wonderful cover of her song "Both Sides Now" from the Oscar-nominated movie CODA. As one of the most prolific songwriters of all time, Mitchell is no stranger to having her music play a part in pop culture. The most recent high-profile use of a Mitchell song arrived just last year in the Sundance breakout CODA, which later premiered on Apple TV+. The film, directed by Sian Heder, tells the story of Ruby (Emilia Jones), a child of deaf adults (or, CODA) who dreams of a musical career. However, her aspirations clash with her fear of abandoning her parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) right when they need her most.
Since it made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last year, CODA has received near-universal praise from audiences and critics. Many have celebrated its heartwarming and inclusive story, as well as the performances from Jones, Matlin, and Kotsur. Earlier this week, CODA earned three 2022 Oscar nominations, including one for best picture. Kotsur, meanwhile, made history as the first deaf man to be nominated for an acting Oscar; he's up for supporting actor and is considered by many to be a frontrunner.
One of CODA's most poignant moments comes near the end of the film, when Ruby is auditioning for the Berklee College of Music. She sings "Both Sides Now," and, after seeing her family sitting in the audience, begins signing along to the lyrics. Following the news that CODA had earned a best picture nom, Mitchell posted a snippet of the scene on social media and shared her congratulations. "Incredible performance of “Both Sides Now” by @EmiliaJonesy in the 2021 film CODA directed by @SianHeder," she also wrote. You can see her tweet down below.
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"Both Sides Now" has been used in numerous films over the years, and oftentimes in vastly different contexts. From the cult favorite horror film Hereditary to 2003 holiday romcom Love, Actually, Mitchell's lyrics have found their way into some truly memorable scenes. For CODA, Ruby's audition scene is both the culmination of her arc and a beautiful way for her to bridge the gap between herself and her family. The small portion of the scene shared by Mitchell offers a glimpse of the incredible performances found in CODA, too.
That CODA's use of "Both Sides Now" has received Mitchell's stamp of approval probably feels just as good as the Oscar nominations. Mitchell has seen her music used time and time again in film and television, so her recognizing CODA highlights how special the movie truly is. Its placement on Apple TV+ might make it hard for non-subscribers to check it out, but for those who can, it is certainly worth the watch.
Source: Joni Mitchell/Twitter