It’s the morning after for the night before. Late rises, not even been to bed, monster hangover, yes folks last night was the 93rd Annual Academy Awards aka The Oscars. Instead of the usual list the winners news story, we’ve decided to write a lookback article/editorial sharing some thoughts.
For the first time since 2004 I was able to enjoy the full ceremony live. With my supply munchies next me I settle in for 5 hours of watching and tweeting very few surprises on the awards front. That Daniel Kaluuya winning speech and of course that ending that made things anti climatic especially for many cinefiles.
Before anything kicked off I asked myself “how many of these films have I actually watched?” very few. That’s only through fault of my own or lack of access or poor broadband.
Due to the current Covid restrictions , the traditional Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles was not used for the main event, that went to the city’s historic Union Train Station. Regina King opened things up that the Awards will be scaled back and taking big steps on that long road to a diverse celebration of film. The venue was like a scene from a film straight out of Hollywood’s golden age. laid back in Tinsel town terms, unconventional with nominees also around the world including the BFI in London.
King presented Best Original Screenplay with Promising Young Woman the first winner. My first tick on my quickly assembled Oscars score card, a worthy winner a film that gets dark and better more you watch it. One of the very few films I had a chance to enjoy in a cinema screen, it’s UK premiere at Glasgow Film Festival. King also delivered Best Adapted Screenplay award to The Father a film not released yet in the UK.
Amazing to think it’s a year now since Bong Joon-Ho Parasite took the awards by storm. Taking us above the one barrier of subtitles and much more. Director Bong from a cinema in Korea he presented Best International Feature , which surprise surprise went to Another Round. Thomas Vinteberg‘s film won at the BAFTA‘s and in true tradition winning at The Oscars, as did several other films last night.
With Best Supporting Actor went to Daniel Kaluuya for Judas And The Black Messiah. He deserved his gong, but it was his emotional winning speech opened a few eyes. Whilst delivering his praise and thanks to the people who helped and inspired him and thanking his parents for having sex to make him. His dear old mum looks in shock and horror from London!.
One of the delights of the evening with Yuh-jung Youn, who won best supporting actress for Minari. The Korean actress forgave us all for mispronouncing her name, more distracted that a ponytailed Brad Pitt gave her the award. Wow how much we would like her to play in Glen Rhee’s Mum in The Walking Dead with Steven Yuen returning for one of those spin off shows/episodes. She was also first Korean actress to win this award too.
If there was in any need for levity it goes to Glenn Close twerking to Experience Unlimited’s ‘Da Butt’. Needing let a tear or two that went to two, the annual In Memoriam and Tyler Perry. I have to say after this award my respect for the actor has risen. I’ve only known the actor for those awful Medea films, he won The Humanitarian Award for his charity, his fight against racism and inequality. Most of all learning to resist hatred for love for all humanity.
I know I have missed a few of the awards to skip to the big three Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Film. This year the Best film was announced first going to Nomadland, with a shocked Frances McDormand best actress. It was the Best Actor going to Anthony Hopkins instead of the favourite the late Chadwick Boseman for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. With Best Actor the final award expectations it would go in respect many saw this as a reason to change around the awards order.
Before I wrote this the amount of hatred toward Hopkins was shocking especially as he wasn’t in attendance nor made a speech. This morning he did record a speech showing respect to Boseman. We mustn’t forget we’re still in a pandemic Hopkins lives in Wales, he’s also 83 years old. He may not have been allowed to travel plus his age would make attending dangerous , he probably didn’t expect to win either hence no speech.
It would have been a fitting tribute to Chadwick Boseman to have won something maybe something might still happen . It wasn’t Hopkins who chose the award it was the jury and nominees aren’t always picked on box office figures it’s the response from the jury. Everyone is a winner when they are nominated, the best award is those great memories these people gave in their films and no trophy can replace those. Thank for the memories
One thing we can say is The Academy had to think outside the box not just to balance diversity but also how to present the ceremony. They delivered even if times things felt borderline lacklustre with no tiny Fey or Billy Crystal type puns . Was the ceremony too political? No, however it wouldn’t be a event without some level of political protest we expect it.
If your looking for the list of winners here they are. Remember in comments section below share your thoughts or over at social media…
Best original screenplay
Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Promising Young Woman – WINNER
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best adapted screenplay
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father – WINNER
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
The White Tiger
Best international feature film
Another Round – WINNER
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Best actor in a supporting role
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Leslie Odom, Jr, One Night in Miami
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best makeup and hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Pinocchio
Best costume design
Emma
Mank
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mulan
Pinocchio
Jean Hersholt humanitarian award
MPTF (Motion Picture & Television Fund)
Best director
Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland – WINNER
Best sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Sound of Metal – WINNER
Soul
Best live-action short film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers – WINNER
White Eye
Best animated short film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER
Opera
Yes-People
Best animated feature film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul – WINNER
Wolfwalkers
Best documentary short
Colette – WINNER
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Best documentary
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher – WINNER
Time
Best visual effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet – WINNER
Best actress in a supporting role
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Youn Yuh-Jung, Minari – WINNER
Best production design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Tenet
Best cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best film editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal – WINNER
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Jean Hersholt humanitarian award
Tyler Perry
Best original score
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul – WINNER
Best original song
Husavik, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Fight For You, Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Io Sì (Seen), The Life Ahead
Speak Now, One Night in Miami
Hear My Voice, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland – WINNER
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best actress in a leading role
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland – WINNER
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Best actor in a leading role
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father – WINNER
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari
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