THE OSCARS: List of Winners
It’s been a few days since the 93rd Academy Awards, we still do not have a host, and those of us who watched it know how much we needed one this year. Viewership dropped by almost 57%, and the academy proved that they might not be as biased as we thought. People were expecting this drop in viewership, many concerning that an industry that suffered exponentially last year shouldn’t really be giving themselves a pat on the back. Nevertheless, the Oscars happened and we have some interesting winners you should definitely check out!
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
The winner was Promising Young Woman despite the prayers I offered to Minari(still haven’t watched it). I suppose it makes sense, a movie about an Asian family chasing the American dream can’t necessarily be very original. This was one of the more polarising movies of last year, but almost everyone agrees that Emerald Fennell(writer and director)creates an atmosphere that will make your heart pound; on occasions make you get up and walk around too.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
One of the more intimate stories, The Father took the win! Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller worked together on an incredible script which was elevated by Sir Anthony Hopkins's best performance(haven’t gone through many of his films, a sacrilege, I know) in this psychological drama.
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM:
An ending that will leave you with the biggest smile on your face, Another Round, starring Mads Mikkelsen wins it! I don’t think any other movie nominated in this category had a chance. The fact that Leonardo DiCaprio recently acquired rights to get this film remade for North America says enough. Since Another Round celebrates the Danish drinking culture, I do wonder how well it will translate to the new audience.
ACTOR IN SUPPORTING ROLE:
Also known as the Daniel Kaluuya category. I had been a fan of his ever since his debut(?) in that one Black Mirror episode and after that his work in Get Out. I haven’t watched Judas and the Black Messiah yet so I was personally rooting for Sacha Baron Cohen in The Trial of Chicago 7 or Paul Raci in Sound of Metal. Nevertheless, I am sure this one is well deserved! He’s a phenomenal actor.
ACTRESS IN SUPPORTING ROLE:
- Yuh-jung Youn, “Minari” — Winner. Yes! Minari Love.
- Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”
- Glenn Close, “Hillbilly Elegy”
- Olivia Colman, “The Father”
- Amanda Seyfried, “Mank”
FILM EDITING & SOUND:
Leave it to the men and women in charge to make Rizwan Ahmed, present the award for SOUND to Sound of Metal, an expertly crafted piece of cinema. That’s how it should have been.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Brimming with personality — a heartfelt story, undeniably some of the most unique art style and animation, I was rooting for Wolfwalkers and the little Irish studio, Cartoon Saloon. But the award went to Pixar’s Soul, A good movie centred around music.
THE ORIGINAL SCORE:
- “Soul” — Winner
- “Da 5 Bloods”
- “Mank”
- “Minari”
- “News of the World”
THE ORIGINAL SONG:
- “Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah” — Winner
- “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
- “Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
- “lo Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”
- “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami…”
THE BEST MAKEUP & COSTUME DESIGN:
Both of these trophies were bagged by Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. It’s not a surprise, honestly. At 91, Ann Roth is the oldest costume designer to win an Oscar.
THE BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:
- “Mank” — Winner
- “The Father”
- “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
- “News of the World”
- “Tenet”
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
The first upset of the night! Against popular belief, Mank took the oscar! Want me to go through his resume? He worked with Fincher on Gone Girl, shot episodes of Fargo, sci-fi Raised by Wolves, and Mindhunter!
ACTRESS IN LEADING ROLE:
Unlike some previous categories where a single nomination dominated it, the actress in the leading role had some competition and made me scratch my head. Venessa Kurby carried Pieces of a Woman on her shoulders(her supporting cast and the latter half of the movie lost momentum which the gripping first half had created), Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman was enthralling!
Even with this stacked category, Frances McDormand(Nomadland), after 40 years, created history! She becomes the second woman to win three Oscars for actress in the lead role! I was obsessed with her after watching Fargo a few years earlier. Now she finds herself in the company of Daniel Day-Lewis(Lincoln), Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson(One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest — Thank you for recommending this one, Ubaid)and the eternal, Katharine Hepburn. She isn’t talked about much and It’s about time that changed. Please watch her other works.
ACTOR IN LEADING ROLE:
Remember when I told you all that the Academy proved they were not necessarily sellouts, that the Oscars are not rigged? It’s because of this. Traditionally, the best picture is the last award however this time, it was Actor in the lead role. Producers of the ceremony must have thought Chadwick would win, that they could go out on a strong, emotional note. BUT that wasn’t the case, in the biggest upset of this year(one I am all happy for) Sir Anthony Hopkins won! His performance was out of this world! He’s the oldest winner of an Oscar at this point. Sir Hopkins was just as surprised when he delivered his speech and honoured Chadwick Boseman.
THE BEST DIRECTOR:
Bong Joon-ho presented the award to the first foreign female director, Chloe Zhao! If you have watched Nomadland, you know why everyone was rooting for her! The fact that she managed to steal the belt from under the likes of David Fincher and Thomas Vinterberg makes me so excited for her next project, which is going to be the Eternals(A MCU movie).
THE BEST PICTURE:
The undisputed champion, someone who battled with the best and got three big trophies to show off, Nomadland won the best picture! Going into the Oscars, it had incredible momentum. It took multiple awards at BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and several film festivals around the globe. I think it’s poetic that a movie about Nomadic life found a home at so many places!
This Oscar ceremony itself was dreadful but the winners? Anything but that! Let me know what you are watching next.
and…Uhm. TENET won too for visuals. wooo.
