Rock also had a quick laugh at the expense of Jada Pinkett-Smith, who was one of the most outspoken protestors ahead of this year’s Academy Awards. But first, let’s talk about the results – which, by themselves, turned out to be a lot more diverse than most people expected.
Advertisement
“Making “The Revenant” was about man’s relationship to the natural world…climate change is real”, he said.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” led all films with six awards, including for costume design, production design, editing, sound editing, sound mixing and makeup and hairstyling.
Leonard DiCaprio can’t say getting mauled by a bear was in vain – not only did his Revenant role earn him his very first Oscar at last night’s (February 28) Academy Awards, it amounted to the most-tweeted moment in the broadcast’s history. He was previously nominated for “The Aviator“, “Blood Diamond” and “The Wolf of Wall Street“.
Alejandro Inarritu took best director for a second straight year, a feat matched by only two other filmmakers: John Ford and Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
He called the grueling tale of a frontiersman fighting to survive in an unforgiving wilderness “a product of the tireless efforts of an unbelievable cast and crew”, and a “transcendent cinematic experience”. “We want opportunity. We want black actors to get the same opportunities as white actors”. “What I’m saying is that if you are concerned about the lack of representation of marginalized communities in film then do not reward the academy with your viewership”. ‘I do not take tonight for granted’.
The Spotlight team, which won the first and last prizes of the night Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture and nothing else, celebrated the Pulitzer Prize-winning work of The Boston Globe journalists who exposed sex abuses in the Roman Catholic Church and the conversation the film has renewed around the world.
The Best Supporting Actress went to Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl despite a general support for Kate Winslet but everyone agreed that she deserved the award.
The Oscar for this year’s Best Picture may have been bestowed upon Spotlight during Sunday’s ceremony, but Father Robert Sirico isn’t rejoicing. He’d won previous year for “Birdman”.
Advertisement
The prize for adapted screenplay, went to Charles Randolph and Adam McKay for “The Big Short”. “Everyone went mad!” Rock said about all the celebs wanting to protest the Oscars. She gave the best performance of the night while being joined onstage by survivors of sexual assault.
