BԪַParasiteBԪַ won the best picture Oscar Sunday night, becoming the first foreign-language film to take home the biggest honour in film.
Bong Joon HoBԪַs class satire has been one of the seasonBԪַs darlings, despite failing to garner any Academy Award nominations for its cast.
Meanwhile, Brad Pitt won his first acting Oscar and Laura Dern collected best supporting actress at the 92nd Academy Awards.
BongBԪַs South Korean class satire took three big awards: best director, best original screenplay and best international film. All were the first Oscars for a Korean film. Bong and co-writer Han Jin Won became the first Asian writers to take the screenplay prize.
As it has for much of awards season, BԪַParasiteBԪַ appeared the favourite in the room. A standing ovation greeted BongBԪַs win for international film. BԪַI am ready to drink tonight,BԪַ said Bong to roars from the crowd. Unexpectedly called up again for best director, Bong saluted his fellow nominees, particularly Martin Scorsese, and concluded: BԪַNow IBԪַm ready to drink until tomorrow.BԪַ
Few categories were more certain coming into SundayBԪַs Oscars than best supporting actor, which Pitt has had locked down all awards season. While Pitt (who in 2014 shared in the best picture win for BԪַ12 Years a Slave,BԪַ as was a producer) has regaled audiences with one-liners in the run-up to the Oscars, he began his comments on a political note.
BԪַThey told me I have 45 seconds to speak, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week,BԪַ said Pitt, alluding to the impeachment hearings. BԪַIBԪַm thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it.BԪַ
Pitt said the honour had given him reason to reflect on his fairy-tale journey in the film industry, going back to when he moved to Los Angeles from Missouri. BԪַOnce upon a time in Hollywood,BԪַ said Pitt. BԪַAinBԪַt that the truth.BԪַ
Most of the early awards went according to forecasts, including Dern winning for her performance as a divorce attorney in Noah BaumbachBԪַs BԪַMarriage Story.BԪַ Accepting her first Oscar, Dern thanked her in-attendance parents, BԪַmy legends, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern.BԪַ
For the 87th time, no women were nominated for best director this year, a subject that was woven into the entire ceremony BԪַ and even into some attendeesBԪַ clothing. Natalie Portman wore a cape lined with the names of female filmmakers who werenBԪַt nominated for best director, including Lulu Wang (BԪַThe FarewellBԪַ), Greta Gerwig (BԪַLittle WomenBԪַ) and Mati Diop (BԪַAtlanticsBԪַ).
Coming on a rare rainy day in Los Angeles, the ceremony was soggy and song-heavy. Some performances, like EminemBԪַs performance of BԪַLose Yourself,BԪַ were unexpected (and drew a wane response from Martin Scorsese). All of the song nominees performed, including Elton John who won with his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin for their BԪַRocketmanBԪַ tune.
The hostless ceremony opened on a note of inclusion, with Janelle Monae performing BԪַA Beautiful Day in the NeighborhoodBԪַ and her own song, BԪַCome Alive,BԪַ with an assist from Billy Porter. BԪַIBԪַm so proud to be standing here as a black queer artist telling stories,BԪַ Monae said. BԪַHappy Black History Month.BԪַ
Two former Oscar hosts, Chris Rock and Steve Martin, provided the opening monologue. BԪַAn incredible demotion,BԪַ Martin called it. Martin also reminded that something was missing from this yearBԪַs directing nominees. BԪַVaginas!BԪַ Rock replied.
There were milestones, nevertheless. In winning best adapted screenplay for his Nazi satire BԪַJojo Rabbit,BԪַ the New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi became the first indigenous director ever to win an Oscar. He dedicated the award to BԪַall the indigenous kids in the world who want to do art, dance and write stories.BԪַ
BԪַWe are the original storytellers,BԪַ Waititi said.
BԪַJokerBԪַ composer Hildur Gudnadottir became only the third woman to ever win best original score. BԪַTo the girls, to the women, to the mothers, to the daughters who hear the music opening within, please speak up,BԪַ said Gudnadottir. BԪַWe need to hear your voices.BԪַ
Awards were spread around to all of the best-picture nominees, with the lone exception being Martin ScorseseBԪַs 10-time nominee BԪַThe Irishman.BԪַ
BԪַ1917,BԪַ acclaimed for its technical virtuosity, took awards for Roger DeakinsBԪַ cinematography, visual effects and sound mixing. The car racing throwback BԪַFord v FerrariBԪַ was also honoured for its craft, winning both editing and sound editing. GerwigBԪַs Louisa May Alcott adaptation BԪַLittle WomenBԪַ won for Jacqueline DurranBԪַs costume design. BԪַOnce Upon a Time BԪַ in HollywoodBԪַ for Barbara LingBԪַs production design.
Netflix came in with a leading 24 nominations. Along with the win for BԪַMarriage Story,BԪַ the streamerBԪַs BԪַAmerican FactoryBԪַ won best documentary. The film is the first release from Barack and Michelle ObamaBԪַs Higher Ground Productions. No studio has spent more heavily this awards season than Netflix, which is seeking its first best picture win after coming up just shy last year with BԪַRoma.BԪַ
Moment: Bong Joon Ho accepts the Oscar for Best Directing for .
BԪַ The Academy (@TheAcademy)
The Associated Press