There have been a number of smiling faces on the Oscars however one needed to stand out — Sean Baker noticed his movie “Anora” go residence with the highest movie prize and he took 4 for himself. Its star Mikey Madison was topped greatest actress.
Twenty-two years after profitable greatest actor for “The Pianist,” Adrien Brody received the identical Oscar once more for his efficiency as one other Holocaust survivor in Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist.” He in some way stored the playoff music at bay.
On Sunday, firefighters who battled current wildfires obtained applauded, Mick Jagger handed out the most effective unique track Oscar and John Lithgow was tasked with wanting “slightly disappointed” when speeches ran lengthy. One spotlight was Timothée Chalamet — actually. His yellow swimsuit obtained a couple of remark.
Right here have been another telecast highlights:
‘Proud little one of immigrant dad and mom’
Zoe Saldaña was the favourite however that did not diminish her emotional win.
After accepting the Oscar for greatest supporting actress for her work in “Emilia Pérez,” Saldaña spoke emotionally about her household and her grandmother, tearing up throughout her speech.
“My grandmother came to this country in 1961 — I am a proud child of immigrant parents,” she mentioned. “With dreams and dignity and hard-working hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last. I hope. The fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish — my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted, this is for my grandmother.”
The accolade comes after Saldaña swept awards season, taking residence the Golden Globe, Critics’ Alternative, BAFTA and SAG awards for enjoying lawyer Rita Mora Castro.
A ‘Wicked’ opening
Host Conan O’Brien took a again seat on the Oscars’ opening quantity, ceding the ground to a “Wizard of Oz”-themed, 8-minute musical medley led by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Grande, in a pink sparkly gown, carried out a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.” Then Erivo, in a white robe with floral gildings, took the stage to sing a staggering rendition of “Home” from “The Wiz.” They joined up for “Wicked’s” “Defying Gravity,” with Grande kissing Erivo’s ring.
Wildfire-battered Los Angeles, on this evening, stood in for Oz, with the graphic “We Love LA” displaying after the pair have been completed. The present started with a medley of movie moments that used Los Angeles as a backdrop, together with “La La Land,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Iron Man 2” and “Mulholland Drive.”
Then it was O’Brien’s flip, comically pulling himself — and a lacking shoe — from throughout the physique of Demi Moore, in a tackle her movie “The Substance.”
A really — possibly too — public household dialogue
Whereas accepting an Emmy Award in January 2024, Kieran Culkin used his time onstage to plead along with his spouse for extra youngsters. They’ve two, Kinsey Sioux and Wilder Wolf. “You said maybe if I win,” he mentioned, cheekily.
On Sunday, he upped the demand.
Culkin from the Oscar stage repeated the story after which mentioned that he and Jazz Charton made a deal within the parking zone on the Emmys: If he received an Oscar, she’d not solely give him a 3rd, they might plan for a fourth. They even shook on it.
“I just have to say this to you, Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith,” he said as the crowd roared. “No pressure, I love you. I’m really sorry I did this again. Now let’s get cracking on those kids, what do you say?”
The second obtained an echo later within the evening when “I’m Not A Robot” director Victoria Warmerdam mentioned she wasn’t following Culkin’s lead.
“To my producer and partner in life, Trent: I’m not having your babies because of this statue,” she mentioned after profitable greatest reside motion quick.
007, celebrated by girls
There was no James Bond film nominated in 2024 however there was an enormous James Bond part on the Oscars that ate up a number of telecast time.
To honor switch of the franchise to Amazon, three singers — Lisa, Doja Cat and Raye — every sang a distinct 007 title track. Lisa sang “Live and Let Die,” Doja Cat tackled “Diamonds Are Forever” and Raye did “Skyfall.”
Amazon MGM introduced Thursday that the studio has taken the inventive reins of the 007 franchise after a long time of household management. Longtime Bond custodians Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli mentioned they’d be stepping again. On Sunday, Halle Berry thanked them for being the “heart and soul” of Bond.
The tribute started with “The Substance” nominee Margaret Qualley in a pink robe taking to the stage to bounce acrobatically with a group of male dancers to the James Bond theme.
Gene Hackman honored
Morgan Freeman made an understated tribute to a good friend: Gene Hackman
Freeman, who starred with Hackman in two motion pictures, kicked off the in memoriam part with a somber notice about Hackman, who was discovered lifeless final week alongside his spouse.
“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” Freeman started in his speech. “I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion.’ Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.”
“Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,’” Freeman continued. “I think I speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.’ Rest in peace, my friend.”
The in memoriam part would honor such luminaries as Terri Garr, Donald Sutherland, Louis Gossett Jr, Shelley Duvall, David Lynch, Bob Newhart, Gena Rowlands, Maggie Smith and James Earl Jones. A separate part within the telecast honored Quincy Jones.
The right way to cease the wrap-up music
It has been an countless torment to winners in every single place each time they hear the music swelling. It means one factor: Cease speaking.
Brody had a novel response to the playoff music Sunday. He seemed sternly into the digicam and mentioned: “I’m wrapping up, please turn the music off. I’ve done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, but I will will be brief.”
It is true. He received the Oscar in 2003 for “The Pianist,” memorably kissing Halle Berry on the podium. However that point he was pleading, not demanding, extra time from producers.
When the music began rolling throughout his emotional speech again then, Brody mentioned: “One second, please. One second. Cut it out. I got one shot at this.” He added, “I didn’t say more than five names, I don’t think.” He went on for greater than a minute extra.
___
For extra protection of this 12 months’s Oscars, go to: https://apnews.com/hub/academy-awards