So … did you watch?
The Academy Awards® — or the Oscars — were last night, and before the telecast even began, everyone knew the evening was going to be an interesting one. It was the first time since 1989 that the show, which is seen by millions around the world, went without a host. I was expecting a train wreck, or at least one major snafu because of the different format, but everything went off without a hitch. I don’t know about you, but now I think I prefer a host-less awards show, and hope all of the other major awards broadcasts follow suit!
Then again, I guess not every year is going to have the opportunity to start with a rockin’ performance by Queen, led by Adam Lambert. As a nod to multiple nominee Bohemian Rhapsody — which is of course about Queen and its late frontman Freddie Mercury — the band kicked off the night and had the entire crowd up on its feet. One of my favorite camera shots of the crowd showed Javier Bardem really getting into it.
After that rousing opening, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph took the stage and killed it, as always, with their deadpan banter. If the trio had hosted, as many had wanted, those types of quips would’ve grown old and lame over the course of three hours. Instead, the production moved more quickly and saved us all from lame gags and awkward presenter introductions.
As for the rest of the show, there were more than a few standout moments — and surprises. Here were some of the highlights:
- Melissa McCarthy spoofed The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots with red cropped hair and an over-the-top gown with a ridiculously long train covered with … stuffed animal bunnies. (That part’s a shout-out to Queen Anne’s affection for rabbits.) Her co-presenter, Brian Tyree Henry, also was in on the joke, sporting a mish-mash of frilly capes, gloves, lace and a hat in what I think was supposed to be a sendup of Mary Poppins Returns. As they spoke their lines, Melissa was controlling a hand-puppet bunny that had its own thing going on, and it brought the house down.
- Wayne’s World stars and SNL buddies Mike Myers and Dana Carvey reunited on stage (and briefly resurrected their old characters) to introduce Best Picture nominee Bohemian Rhapsody after a classic clip played of Wayne, Garth and friends head-banging to … “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
- The much-anticipated “Shallow” duet by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper did not disappoint, lighting up social media due it its intimate nature. (Remember these two act for a living, people!)
- Extraordinarily heartfelt and emotional speeches by the winners of both the Documentary Short Subject and Live-Action Short Film categories (Period. End of Sentence. and Skin, respectively.) Moments like these remind audiences that there’s much more to tune in for than just A-list stars.
- Spike Lee winning his first-ever non-honorary Oscar for Adapted Screenplay, for BlackKklansman, one of my favorite movies of the year.
Surprises included both Olivia Colman winning for Actress in a Leading Role for The Favourite (everyone though Glenn Close was a lock for The Wife), and Green Book winning Best Picture (most thought it would go to Roma, which took home the Best Director, Cinematography and Foreign Film trophies … or pretty much any other film that was nominated) Literally no one saw a Green Book win coming.
Here are the winners in each of the major categories, and you can find the full list on Oscars.com.
BEST PICTURE
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice
DIRECTOR
Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Adam McKay, Vice
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams, Vice
Marina de Tavira, Roma
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is
Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Adam Driver, BlackKKlansman
Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Free Solo
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
RBG
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
First Reformed
Green Book
Roma
The Favourite
Vice
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
BlacKkKlansman
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star Is Born
ORIGINAL SCORE
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Mary Poppins Returns
ORIGINAL SONG
“All The Stars” – Black Panther
“I’ll Fight” – RBG
“Shallow” – A Star Is Born
“The Place Where Lost Things Go” – Mary Poppins Returns
“When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” – The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
What was your favorite moment of Oscar night?