The Most Shocking
Ending in Oscar History?
By Chris Sabga
Oscar
Sunday began with the shocking news of Bill Paxton's death at the
young age of 61 after complications from surgery. He was one of my
favorite actors and the highlight of too many classics to name,
including "Weird Science," "Aliens," and my
personal favorite of his, the incredible "Frailty."
There's
only one way to begin writing about this year's Academy Awards, and
that's at the end. "La La Land" was announced as Best
Picture – and then it wasn't. In a stunning faux pas by presenters
and "Bonnie and Clyde" stars Warren Beatty and Faye
Dunaway, it turns out the wrong movie was named. (They were somehow
mistakenly handed the envelope for Best Actress, which went to Emma
Stone for "La La Land.") Their error was acknowledged –
as the world collectively held their breath and gasped – and then
the actual winner was announced: "Moonlight" scored Best
Picture in one of the most surprising upsets in Oscar history.
Before the Show
I
wrote (rather naively, in retrospect): "La La Land" is
expected to sweep this year's votes. With fourteen nominations and
thirteen potential wins (it's nominated twice for Best Original
Song), it certainly has all the momentum going into tonight's
ceremony. Will there be any surprises? (Oh yeah!)
Full
results are listed at the end.
The Oscar
Ceremony
The Host: Jimmy
Kimmel was consistently funny and entertaining. The stunt with the
tour bus passengers getting a surprise meet and greet at the Oscars
was cute. His "feud"
with Matt Damon also led to many hysterical moments, including a
hilariously over-the-top tribute to "We Bought a Zoo."
Kimmel may have been the best Oscar host in years. He was so good
that I could see him comfortably assuming this role for the next 15
or 20 years.
Best Oscar Speech:
Viola Davis with stirring words, so beautifully expressed, about lost
dreams and living a life. "Viola's
speeches," Silver Screen Sister gushed, "are as good as her
acting."
Best Presenters:
According to Silver Screen
Sister, Mark Rylance's comment about women "opposing without
hatred" was the best line of the night. I concur.
John
Cho and Leslie Mann were also warm and witty in paying respect to
film scientists and technologists – material that would have been
dull in lesser hands.
Best Moments: The
surprise appearance of the real-life Katherine Johnson, the NASA
mathematician who was depicted by Taraji P. Henson in "Hidden
Figures." Her ovation was heartwarming and well-deserved.
Another
unexpected appearance came from Michael
J. Fox as a presenter after Seth Rogen paid tribute to him and "Back
to the Future." It was really nice to see him – and the famous
DeLorean.
The
winners of "White Helmets" led a rousing standing ovation in support of Syria.
Best Dressed: You're
on the wrong site.
Biggest Surprise:
Besides the unbelievable "twist
ending"? "Hidden Figures" being shut out of every
single category was a bit of an eyebrow-raiser.
Overall: To
Jimmy Kimmel's credit, the lengthy ceremony raced by. This may be the
most fun I've had watching the Oscars in years.
Full Results
Best
Picture: La
La Land
Moonlight
Best
Actor in a Leading Role: Casey
Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Best
Actress in a Leading Role: Emma
Stone, La La Land
Best
Actor in a Supporting Role: Mahershala
Ali, Moonlight
Best
Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola
Davis, Fences
Best
Directing: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Best
Animated Feature: Zootopia
Best
Adapted Screenplay: Moonlight
Best
Original Screenplay: Manchester
by the Sea
Best
Foreign Language Film: The Salesman (Iran)
Best
Documentary Feature: O.J.: Made in America
Best
Original Song:
“City
of Stars,” La La Land
Best
Original Score: La La
Land
Best
Cinematography: La La
Land
Film
Editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Costume
Design: Fantastic Beasts
and Where to Find Them
Makeup
and Hairstyling: Suicide
Squad
Production
Design: La La Land
Sound
Editing: Arrival
Sound
Mixing: Hacksaw Ridge
Visual
Effects: The Jungle Book
Best
Documentary Short: The
White Helmets
Best
Animated Short: Piper
Best
Live Action Short: Sing
