The Oscars 2019 saw a few upsets, inspirational speeches and mesmerising performances
The 91st Academy Awards kicked off on a high with Queen and Adam Lambert teaming up to deliver hits from the legendary band including, We Will Rock You. Later, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph won the audience over with their hilarious act, with Tina joking, “We’re not your hosts, but we’ll stand here a little too long so the people who look at USA Today tomorrow will think that we hosted.” Many were talking about Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s sizzling chemistry as the duo crooned to Shallow from A Star Is Born (Best Original Song).
STRIKING GOLD
Predictably, the Best Actor gong went to Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody. While accepting his prize, he said, “I’m the son of immigrants from Egypt. I’m a first-generation American. Part of my story is being written right now and I could not be more grateful...” However, while getting off stage, the actor fell and had to be treated by medics. Although all bets were on Glenn Close bagging Best Actress, it was Olivia Colman who won for The Favourite. Her acceptance speech resonated with many, “Any little girl who’s practising your speech on the telly, you never know! I used to work as a cleaner and I spent quite a lot of my time imagining this.” Best Supporting Actor went to Mahershala Ali for Green Book, while Regina King won Best Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk. Green Book also took home the night’s top award for Best Picture, which shocked everyone, who had pegged Roma, Bohemian Rhapsody or A Star Is Born to win. It was also controversial for being an ‘untrue’ telling of the story of a black musician and his white driver set in the South in 1962.
DESI CONNECT
Period. End of Sentence won Best Documentary Short. Set in India, the film aims to fight the stigma of menstruation. Rayka Zehtabchi directed the film, which was co-produced by Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment. “I’m not crying because I’m on my period, or anything,” said Rayka. “I can’t believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar.” Monga added in a statement, “Every girl in India or anywhere around the world needs to know this... Period is an end of a sentence but not a girl’s education.”
MAKING HISTORY
Black Panther won Best Costume Design for Ruth Carter and Production Design for Hannah Beachler making history as the first black winners in the category. Alfonso Cuarón (Roma) is the first director to win Best Cinematography for his own film. While the 2019 Oscars breaks the record for maximum number (15) of female winners, too.
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 "Rami Malek (left) and Olivia Colman")
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