It’s award season. And better yet, it’s the Oscars.
This award season there have been high hopes for many and many dreams come true this past Sunday. Bong Joon Ho and his beloved film Parasite made history, and platforms were stood on to promote social issues hot on the scene, and the stars were shining like… literal stars from the red carpet. These are some of the highlights in case you missed something!
BEST DRESSED!
Janelle Monae – Janelle rocked a Ralph Lauren ball gown featuring 168,000 Swarovski crystals AND a draped hood. What can I say other than: S-L-A-Y.
Brie Larson – She was twinkling in a pink Celine by Hedi Slimane dress adorned with–you guessed it– Swarovski crystals. Don’t worry, it was only 13,000 this time!
Scarlet Johanson – When doesn’t this woman look good? She wore a silk pewter gown with a silver chain draped bodice. And Colin Jost was the perfect arm candy!
Natalie Portman – She wore a stunning black and gold Dior cape with the names of the unrecognized female directors from this year’s films embroidered on the front
Timothee Chalamet – Always a god. He wore a navy Prada jumpsuit with a popped collar and diamond brooch clipped to the pocket. What. A. Stud.
BEST AWARD SPEECHES!
Bong Joon Ho – Sweet and endearing is how I would describe his speech-ES. Yes, there was a handful to watch a smile on. He gave great thanks to his fellow directors nominated alongside in and for their inspiration. His colleagues also praised him for his humor and direction, as well as the academy for the esteemed opportunity to display their collective work to beyond the South Korean film community.
Hildur Guðnadottir – Who is this magical woman sweeping all of the original music score awards this season?! It’s the talented and endearing Hildur. She won for creating and composing the musical score in the movie Joker. Throughout the award season, she has been the biggest voice and advocate for females in the film industry. “To the girls, to the women, to the mothers, to the daughters who hear the music bubbling within, please speak up we need to hear your voices,” she spoke to the crowd in her acceptance speech. With very little female representation at this year’s Oscars, Hildur is our soldier on this lonely front, but I would follow her into battle anywhere! You rock Hildur Guðnadottir.
Joaquin Phoenix – This speech was emotional and full of love. Joaquin used his platform, as he has done previously this award season to take stances against injustice. While it has previously focused on climate change or institutional oppression, he used his time on Sunday night to turn towards diversity, inclusion and equality. He urges the conversation and stands to fight against “the belief that just one nation, one people, one race, one gender, or one species has the right… to exploit another.” This is what he calls a fight against injustice. Lastly, his acceptance speech paid tribute to his late brother River Phoenix in reciting a lyric he wrote, “Run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow.”
ALL AROUND WINNER!
The movie Parasite swept the big awards this year, winning Best Director, Best International Feature Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture. Parasite was the historic in that it is the first International Feature Film to win Best Picture in Oscar history! The acceptance speeches by Bong Joon Ho and colleagues were also very charming.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Little Women – This movie was adorable and funny. It warms the heart and allows the audience to look through a window into a lifetime that we won’t necessarily have lived through, but can at least understand, relate to, and laugh with!
1917 – Absolutely breathtaking shots for a spectacular story to tell. The cinematography and the story he tells with it make the audiences feel apart of the year, 1917. It also did well at the Oscars, taking home a total of 3, just one behind Parasite, making it the second biggest winner of the night!
Joker – This one has a lot of tough scenes but is completely worth the watch. It reflects on both the reality for people with mental illness and upon means of help available in our country through institutions in place in our society.
Hair Love (winner of Best Animated short film) – This short features a young black girl trying to tame her hair and her father stepping in and teaching her ways to love her hair instead. The movement for women of color to love their hair and ditch the oppression of beautiful curls has been amazing and this is the cutest possible film to teach young girls that as well!
Lastly, A LIST OF ALL NOMINATIONS AND WINNERS… winners are bolded!
Best Picture
1917
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Parasite
Ford v Ferrari
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo, Harriet
Renée Zellweger, Judy
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Best Actor
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes
Best Director
Bong Joon-ho, Parasite
Sam Mendes, 1917
Todd Phillips, Joker
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Best Supporting Actress
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell
Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
Best Supporting Actor
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Music (original song)
“I’m Standing With You” from Breakthrough
“Into The Unknown” from Frozen II
“Stand Up” from Harriet
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4
“Glasgow” from Wild Rose
Music (original score)
Joker – Hildur Guðnadottir
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
International feature film
France, Les Misérables
North Macedonia, Honeyland
Poland, Corpus Christi
South Korea, Parasite
Spain, Pain and Glory
Makeup and hairstyling
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
Visual effects
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Best film editing
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Ford v Ferrari
Parasite
Best cinematography
Roger Deakins, 1917
Rodrigo Prieto, The Irishman
Lawrence Sher, Joker
Jarin Blaschke, The Lighthouse
Robert Richardson, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Best sound mixing
Ad Astra
Joker
1917
Ford v Ferrari
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Best sound editing
1917
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Documentary short feature
In the Absence
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
Life Overtakes Me
St. Louis Superman
Walk Run Cha-Cha
Documentary feature
American Factory
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
Best costume design
Sandy Powell & Christopher Peterson, The Irishman
Mark Bridges, Joker
Arianne Phillips, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Jacqueline Durran, Little Women
Mayes C. Rubeo, Jojo Rabbit
Best production design
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
The Irishman
1917
Jojo Rabbit
Parasite
Live-action short film
Brotherhood
Nefta Football Club
The Neighbors’ Window
Saria
A Sister
Best adapted screenplay
Steven Zaillian, The Irishman
Greta Gerwig, Little Women
Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit
Anthony McCarten, The Two Popes
Todd Phillips & Scott Silver, Joker
Best original screenplay
Rian Johnson, Knives Out
Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story
Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns, 1917
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Bong Joon-ho, Parasite
Animated short film
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister
Animated feature film
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
I hope you enjoyed reading about the awards as much as I did, and be sure to watch all the films that won (trust me, you won’t regret it)!