History was created at Dolby Theatres in Los Angeles as for the first time ever the Best Picture Oscar accolade was handed to a non-English movie. At the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony organised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on February 9, South Korean satire ‘Parasite’ won big with four awards including the Best Picture award. The popular front-runner for Best Picture — ‘1917’ — followed closely as it won three awards.
The acting accolades followed the expected suit as Best Actor and Best Actress went to Joaquin Phoenix and Renée Zellweger for ‘Joker’ and ‘Judy’ respectively. The Best Supporting Actor and Actress accolades were bagged by Brad Pitt and Laura Dern for ‘One Upon A Time…In Hollywood’ and ‘Marriage Story’ respectively.
“They told me I only had 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week,” Pitt got political as he gave his speech. “I’m thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it and in the end, the adults do the right thing.”
‘Parasite’ director Bong Joon-ho also collected the Best Director award before hitting the stage for the Best Picture award. “I feel like I’ll wake up to find it’s all a dream. It all feels very surreal,” he said. Producer Kwak Sin-ae received the trophy and said, “I’m speechless. We never imagined this to happen. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now.”
The awards’ night continued without a host this year as well. Janelle Monae opened the night with a sparkling musical performance accentuated by an array of background dancers referencing lack of diversity and snubbed nominations at the Oscars this year. “I’m so proud to stand here as a black, queer artist telling stories,” Monáe said. “Happy Black History Month.”
Eminem gave a surprise performance the Academy Awards and left the audience thrilled as it took him 18 years to hit the stage at Oscars. Billie Eilish and brother Finneas O’Connell also performed during the in memoriam segment of the show, playing a moving cover of The Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’.
