[Originally posted on 2/22/15]
Hosted by multi-talented performer Neil Patrick Harris, the 87th Academy Awards opened with the stage awash in glittery splendor of reds and golds. Harris started off with a biting opening line, “Tonight, we honor Hollywood's best and whitest – sorry, brightest.” He broke into songs with satirical lyrics and appeared to perform magic tricks against the backdrop of moving pictures, interrupted with cameos from Anna Kendrick looking for a lost Cinderella's slipper and Jack Black mocking superhero movies.
Hosted by multi-talented performer Neil Patrick Harris, the 87th Academy Awards opened with the stage awash in glittery splendor of reds and golds. Harris started off with a biting opening line, “Tonight, we honor Hollywood's best and whitest – sorry, brightest.” He broke into songs with satirical lyrics and appeared to perform magic tricks against the backdrop of moving pictures, interrupted with cameos from Anna Kendrick looking for a lost Cinderella's slipper and Jack Black mocking superhero movies.
Harris made fun of rich stars receiving
swag bags worth of $165K each, claiming that an armored car was part
of the gifts, which would be needed should there be a revolution.
There was a hilarious enactment of Michael Keaton's
hallway-walking-in-underwear scene from “Birdman,” in which
Harris stripped down and braved the stage dressed in his skivvies.
The first award of the night went to
J.K. Simmons as Best Actor for “Whiplash.” The movie grabbed two
more awards later in the show, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film
Editing. “American Sniper,” where sound played a huge
role in enhancing the tension-filled story, earned a win with Best
Sound Editing.
Visuals, dominated by sci-fi and
superheroes, awarded “Interstellar” with Best Visual
Effects award, a film that sweeps the eyes with expansive and
imaginative imageries.
The outlandishly delightful “The
Grand Budapest Hotel” scored one win after another, with Best
Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hair Styling, Best Production Design,
and Best Original Score.
The Academy Award voters went with “Big Hero 6” for Best
Animated Feature, in contrast with Golden Globes' "How to Train Your Dragon 2."
Patricia Arquette, who dominated the
awards circuit, won Best Supporting Actress. She used part of her
speech to advocate for equal wages and rights for women, to the
cheers of the star-studded audience. Julianne Moore, bestowed with
Best Actress award, graciously mentioned that there was really no
'best actress,' as she was there with them every step of the way.
She's glad that the movie brought more awareness to Alzheimer, which
could be a very isolating disease. On a lighter note, she joked that
she heard winning an Oscar would add one's life expectancy by five
years, and if that was the case, she'd thank the Academy because her
husband was younger than her.
Eddie Redmayne giddily brought home the
gold as Best Actor. There was a spontaneous awe and joy in his
acceptance. He dedicated the statue to those around the world with
ALS and the Hawking family. He recognized his fortune and zealously
said that he would take care and polish the statue. While it had
been said that Best Actor race was a strong one, there was never a doubt
in my mind as soon as I finished seeing “The Theory of Everything” that Redmayne would go all the way to the Oscars and take it.
It's such a life-changing performance.
Best Adapted Screenplay prize went to
“The Imitation Game," enthusiastically and humbly
accepted by Graham Moore, who made a personal confession about a
suicide attempt at age 16 and dedicated the honor to the kid(s) who
might feel alone or didn't belong. Moore assured that they did and
asked them to stay weird, stay different, and to pass along the
message to the next person they reached this stage someday.
“Birdman” nabbed Best Original
Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Director trophies. Director Alejandro Inarritu
gave a grateful, all-encompassing speech, and apologized in case he
forgot anyone. The film also took top honor as Best Picture.
Inarittu later took the stage again and dedicated the triumph for
fellow Mexicans, for those in Mexico with the hope of building a
government they deserved, and those in this country, who helped build
this immigrant nation, and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Last year, another Mexican-born filmmaker, Alfonso Cuaron, won Best
Director for “Gravity.”
In a night with no clear frontrunner,
it's good to see many first-timers won and those with deeply personal
messages were able to speak from the heart and used the platform to
reach out to the masses.
Meryl Streep presented the in memoriam
piece, remembering those in the business who have passed in the last
year, concluded by Jennifer Hudson's stirring tribute, “I Can't
Let Go.”
For entertainment, Adam Levine
performed a solo with a nominated song “Lost Stars,” Rita Ora
with”Grateful,” and John Legend and Common with “Glory.”
“Glory,” which earned a standing ovation and teary eyes from the
audience, also took home Best Original Song award. Lady Gaga
performed classics of “The Sound of Music” with a live orchestra, simply and classily (no outrageous costumes or
antics). Julie Andrews made a surprise appearance, embracing Gaga
after her lovely performance. “The Lego Movie” took part with a
multitude of characters singing and dancing to its catchy tune,
“Everything is Awesome.”
http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/academy-awards-2015/
http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/academy-awards-2015/
And the Oscar goes to...
Best Supporting Actor
JK Simmons - Whiplash
Best Costume Design
Milena Canonero - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Sound Mixing
Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, Thomas Curley - Whiplash
Best Sound Editing
Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman - American Sniper
Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
Best Visual Effects
Paul J Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, Scott R Fisher - Interstellar
Best Animated Feature
Don Hall, Chris Williams - Big Hero 6
Best Production Design
Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki - Birdman
Best Film Editing
Tom Cross - Whiplash
Best Original Song
Lonnie Lynn (Common), John Stephens (John Legend) - "Glory," Selma
Best Original Score
Alexandre Desplat – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Original Screenplay
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo – Birdman
Best Adapted Screenplay
Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
Best Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu - Birdman
Best Actor
Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything
Best Actress
Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Best Picture
Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole - Birdman
For a full list of
winners, visit the official website.