There will be more than a few sore heads in Los Angeles as morning breaks as relieved actors and actresses put aside their Award’s season diets and tuck into a big breakfast.
As Hollywood and the world reflect on the 88th Annual Academy Awards, now also known as the ‘White People’s Choice Awards’ thanks to hostChris Rock, there’s a sense of a job well done.
There will be more than a few sore heads in Los Angeles as morning breaks as relieved actors and actresses put aside their Award’s season diets and tuck into a big breakfast.
As Hollywood and the world reflect on the 88th Annual Academy Awards, now also known as the ‘White People’s Choice Awards’ thanks to host Chris Rock, there’s a sense of a job well done.
Chris Rock, a diverse range of presenters, and a not so diverse range of winners tackled the #Oscarsowhite controversy head on, while talented and deserving people won.
Turns out, The 2016 Oscars weren’t such a surprise after all.
A couple of calls went against the ground swell of expectation. Sylvester Stallone may have missed his last chance to win an Oscar (although he looks like he’s got decades left in him), but you can’t deny the other veteran in the category, Mark Rylance, his victory. Rylance’s portrayal of the ironic and illusive Soviet spy Rudolf Abel added much needed texture to the somber all male cast in Steven Spielberg’s old school spy movie Bridge of Spies. There’s no doubt he stole every scene.
Spotlight’s scoop of the best picture award was not entirely unexpected, although I’m sure the producers of The Revenant were preparing to take the stage. I predicted that if Spotlight or The Big Short won their screenwriting categories, which they both did, their chances of taking out the big one would increase. It was a question as to whether the Academy was interested in the Boston Globe investigation into priest abuse or the GFC. Spotlight and investigative journalism was the winner on the day.
The Revenant received 12 nominations and went home with three awards; for best director, cinematography and actor. Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu won best director again this year after winning with Birdman last year; the first director to win twice in a row since Joseph L Mankiewicz in 1950 and 1951.
His collaborator and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki deservedly took home the Oscar for his stunning camera work; the first person to win this award three times in a row - having won previously with Birdman and Gravity.
And then there’s Leonardo DiCaprio. Eating raw meat, freezing and taking refuge in a horse carcass probably doesn’t seem like such a bad day’s work now.
One of the most successful films of the night was Mad Max: Fury Road. Nominated for ten awards, this visually stunning film took home six golden statues, making it Australia’s most successful film ever at the Academy Awards.
Brie Larson was composed as she whipped through her best actress acceptance speech for Room - and she should have been, we all saw this victory coming. Alicia Vikander was delightfully breathy and ecstatic when accepted her award for Best Supporting actress in The Danish Girl - in which she actually had a leading role.
There were no teary acceptance speeches, unfortunately as they might have livened up the show a little. Maybe the new on screen graphic that allowed winners to list people they would like to thank took the pressure off the acceptance speeches this year.
Regardless of who wore what and who won, the 2016 Oscars will always be known as the ‘diversity issue Oscars’. Chris Rock was a solid host, delivering a mix of funny and not so funny gags. More importantly, he guided the industry audience through the diversity issue with honesty, and a sense of perspective. He hit the issue hard with an 11 minute opening monologue dedicated to racism and sexism in Hollywood, and never let up. Throughout the night there were genuine calls for change and opportunities for African American filmmakers and performers - in 12 months we will know if Hollywood listened.
Two Oscar nominated films screen on Rialto Channel in April;
Cartel Land – Thursday 21st April, 8.30pm
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared – Monday 25th April, 8.30pm