Best moments at the OSCARS

Oppenheimer cleans up – winning several Academy Awards including Best Picture

Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” swept the 96th Oscars, clinching victories in the coveted categories of Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director and several others. This triumph may not have come as a complete surprise to viewers, considering the film’s earlier triumphs at prestigious events like the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Golden Globes (where it won Best Drama), and the British Academy Film Awards.

900 Million

But what sets “Oppenheimer” apart from many other Best Picture winners at the Oscars is its staggering success at the box office. Unlike its counterparts, this cinematic masterpiece has enjoyed immense commercial prosperity, raking in over 900 million dollars worldwide.

Oppenheimer

For those who have yet to experience the film’s gripping narrative, “Oppenheimer” delves into the tumultuous era of World War II. Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. entrusts physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer with a monumental task: spearheading the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer, alongside a dedicated team of scientists, labours tirelessly over years, immersed in the design and development of the atomic bomb. Their unwavering efforts culminate in a pivotal moment on July 16, 1945, when they bear witness to the world’s first nuclear explosion—a moment that irrevocably alters the course of history.

The Best Moments of Oscar

The three-hour-plus telecast of the Oscars was filled with memorable moments. Some winners took the stage to address pressing issues like the war in Gaza and the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine, while other moments were scripted but still impactful. Here are some of the most entertaining and significant highlights from the 2024 Oscars.

Jimmy Kimmel Jokes About Strikes

Jimmy Kimmel, returning to host the proceedings on ABC for the fourth time, delivered a riveting opening monologue that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. In his opening address, Kimmel took aim at the A-list talent gracing the stage, particularly setting his sights on supporting actor winner Downey Jr. With razor-sharp wit, he spared no one, ensuring that laughter echoed through the auditorium.

But amidst the glitz and glamour, Kimmel also took a moment to reflect on the challenges faced by the industry, acknowledging the writers and actors strikes of the past year, as well as the ongoing negotiations with IATSE. With a heartfelt plea, he emphasized the importance of solidarity, inviting the Oscars’ below-the-line crew members to stand alongside him onstage.

“The reason we were able to make a deal is because of the people who rallied around and beside us,“Kimmel declared, his voice resonating with sincerity. “And before we celebrate ourselves, let’s have a very well-deserved round of applause for the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes: the teamsters, the truck drivers, sound engineers, gaffers, grips, and every member of the crew.”

In that moment, the spotlight shifted, illuminating the true heroes of the industry—the dedicated individuals whose tireless efforts often go unnoticed but are essential to the magic of filmmaking. And as the applause thundered throughout the theatre, it was a poignant reminder of the power of unity and appreciation in the face of adversity.

Zone of Interest

One of the true highlights of the night was Director Jonathan Glazer winning best international film for “Zone of Interest”. Glazer delivered a stirring acceptance speech, emphasizing his rejection of the appropriation of his “Jewishness and the Holocaust” by an occupying force. 

“The Zone of Interest,” takes inspiration from the gripping pages of Martin Amis’ 2014 novel, weaving a tale of intrigue and tragedy. Led by the remarkable performances of German actors Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller, the film delves into the chilling lives of Nazi commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig. As they endeavor to carve out a semblance of normalcy in the shadow of the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp, their journey unfolds with haunting intensity.

Pro-Palestinian Protestors

Those who attended the ceremony had to pass a gauntlet of pro-Palestinian protesters who eyeballed each passing car according to one guest presumably looking for people wearing yellow-ribbon pins. These pins are meant to remind people of the plight of the 134 hostages kidnapped in Israel by Hamas on October 7 and still held in Gaza, but this attendee said that no one felt safe wearing them on the way to the ceremony. “It was scary as hell,” said one attendee.

Ceasefire

Some members of the Academy Awards donned red pins advocating for a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, including Ramy Youssef, known for his role in the movie “Poor Things,” which garnered 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Youssef, also recognized for the series “Ramy,” emphasized the importance of the cease-fire initiative by Artists4Ceasefire, aiming to protect innocent lives amidst the conflict. Notably, he didn’t address specific hostages, such as Kfir Bibas and Ariel Bibas, held during the war. Although Youssef remained silent on the issue during his presentation of the Oscar for Best Live-Action Short, other notable figures, like Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, Mark Ruffalo, and Cord Jefferson, also sported the red pins in solidarity. While Steven Spielberg awarded Christopher Nolan the Best Director accolade for “Oppenheimer,” he refrained from making any statements regarding the ongoing conflict. Though a few yellow ribbon pins may have been present in the audience, they were not prominently displayed on stage or during red carpet interviews, likely removed before confronting protesters outside the venue.

“I’m Just Ken”

Ryan Gosling electrified the stage channeling the essence of Ken from the “Barbie” original soundtrack with a performance that was both spirited and absurd. His rendition of “I’m Just Ken” was one of the two nominated songs from the movie, the other being Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”

Before Gosling’s show-stopping performance, his “Barbie” co-star Simu Liu rallied the Oscars audience to illuminate their phone lights and join in on the sing-along. Drenched in vibrant purple lighting and donning a dazzling pink suit with matching gloves, Gosling began his performance from the audience’s midst, eliciting laughter from Margot Robbie as he passed by. Eventually, he took center stage, accompanied by Mark Ronson on guitar and a troupe of backup dancers. The legendary Slash also made a cameo appearance, adding his iconic guitar riffs to the mix.

Joining Gosling on stage were his fellow Ken actors Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa, and Kingsley Ben-Adir, adding to the spectacle. As Gosling ventured back into the audience, he encouraged his “Barbie” collaborators Greta Gerwig, Robbie, and America Ferrera to join in the fun, even coaxing his “La La Land” co-star Emma Stone into the musical revelry.

The Osage Nation – Killers of the Flower Moon

Throughout the night, poignant connections between the past and present were forged, exemplified by the stirring drum ritual performed by the Osage Nation in tribute to best film nominee Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” 

20 Days in Mariupol

When “20 Days in Mariupol” clinched the Academy Award for outstanding documentary feature, director Mstyslav Chernov delivered a poignant speech advocating for Ukraine. Expressing his honor at the historic win for Ukraine, Chernov revealed his regret, wishing he never had to create the film. He lamented Russia’s aggression, which has led to the deaths of many Ukrainians and the capture of countless hostages and soldiers. Chernov urged Hollywood luminaries to amplify the voices of the Ukrainian people, emphasizing cinema’s role in shaping memories and history.

In the press room, Chernov expanded on his plea for Hollywood to contribute to ending the violence in Ukraine. He stressed the importance of how history is remembered, highlighting the impact of cinema on future generations’ perceptions. Chernov, an Associated Press journalist, documented Mariupol’s plight under bombardment, initially intending to capture the reality he witnessed. “20 Days in Mariupol” presents a raw portrayal of the Ukrainian crisis, featuring scenes of bombed hospitals, mass graves, and people desperate for survival.

Cena Gets Naked for Oscar

John Cena surprised the audience by appearing onstage naked while presenting the award for Best Costume Design to “Poor Things.” This playful moment paid tribute to one of the most memorable incidents in Oscar history: when a nude man dashed across the stage during the 46th Oscars in 1974 while David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor. This occurred during the streaking craze of the ’70s when nude individuals often disrupted public events.

Financial Diversity

Cord Jefferson advocated for financial diversity in Hollywood while accepting the Best Adapted Screenplay for “American Fiction.” Jefferson challenged Hollywood’s investment practices, advocating for a more diverse and inclusive approach. He urged industry financiers to consider funding a variety of projects, emphasizing the value of smaller-budget films. Jefferson’s speech sparked important conversations about risk-taking and investment in the film industry, highlighting the potential for innovation and creativity in storytelling.

Barbenheimer

The Barbenheimer rivalry took centre stage at the Oscars! With 13 nominations for Oppenheimer and eight for Barbie, tensions were high. Just before honoring stunt performers, Emily “Kitty” Blunt (who played Oppenheimer’s wife) highlighted the difference, boasting about her film’s success. Ryan “Ken” Gosling didn’t hold back, teasing Blunt for riding Barbie’s success. Blunt fired back, accusing Gosling of “Ken-splaining” and mocking his need to fake abs for recognition. Gosling called for an end to the feud, but maybe the banter was the highlight of the evening after all.

Emma Stone Wins Again

In a surprising upset, Emma Stone won Best Actress for “Poor Things,” overshadowing Lily Gladstone’s expected victory for “Killers of the Flower Moon.” While Stone delivered a gracious acceptance speech, acknowledging her cast and crew, many lamented the missed opportunity to honor Gladstone as the first Indigenous woman to potentially win in this category. Her victory would have been historic.In her acceptance speech, Stone acknowledged her fellow nominees in the category.

“The women in this category — Sandra, Annette, Carey, Lily — I share this with you,” she said. “I’m in awe of you. It’s been such an honor to do all of this together. I hope we get to keep doing more together.”

“The other night, I was panicking — as you can see, happens a lot — that maybe something like this could happen,” she continued. “And Yorgos said to me, please take yourself out of it. And he was right. Because it’s not about me. It’s about a team that came together to make something greater than the sum of its parts. And that is the best part about making movies, is all of us together. And I am so deeply honored to share this with every cast member, with every crew member, with every single person who poured their love and their care and their brilliance into the making of this film.“

Stone then thanked director Yorgos Lanthimos for giving her “the gift of a lifetime in Bella Baxter.” She ended her speech by thanking her mom, her dad, her brother Spencer Stone, her husband Dave McCary and her daughter.

“I love you bigger than the whole sky, my girl,” she said. This is Stone’s second Oscar win. She previously won best actress for 2016’s “La La Land.”

Before the Oscar was announced, each best actress nominee was honoured by previous best actress winners including Michelle Yeoh, Sally Field, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Lange.

Nolan Wins Best Director

Christopher Nolan clinched the coveted Oscar for Best Director for his work on “Oppenheimer.”

In his acceptance speech, Nolan expressed gratitude to Universal Studios and the authors of the biographical book that inspired the film, “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. He extended his thanks to the entire cast, including stars like Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and Cillian Murphy. He also gave a special shoutout to his wife, Emma Thomas, praising her as an incredible producer and the love of his life.

Reflecting on the evolution of cinema, Nolan remarked, “Movies are just a little bit over 100 years old.” He expressed humility and appreciation for being recognized as a meaningful contributor to the industry, acknowledging the uncertainty of where the journey of filmmaking will lead.”

Cillian Murphy Wins Best Actor

Cillian Murphy took home the prestigious Oscar for Best Actor for his remarkable portrayal of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer.”

Expressing his gratitude, the Irish actor admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the win. “As a proud Irishman, it’s a tremendous honor to stand here tonight,” Murphy shared. Reflecting on the film’s exploration of Oppenheimer’s legacy in shaping the atomic bomb’s creation and its impact on the world, he dedicated his award to “peacemakers everywhere.“

Murphy accepted the Oscar from a distinguished group of previous best actor winners, including Nicolas Cage, Matthew McConaughey, Brendan Fraser, Ben Kingsley, and Forest Whitaker.

War Is Over

As he accepted the Best Animated Short Film award for “War Is Over!”, Sean Ono Lennon took a heartfelt moment to pay tribute to his mother, Yoko Ono, by asking the audience to join him in wishing her a happy Mother’s Day.

“Thank you. I just want to take a moment to acknowledge that my mother turned 91 this February,” Lennon began. “And today happens to be Mother’s Day in the U.K. So, could everyone please join me in saying, ‘Happy Mother’s Day, Yoko?’” The audience warmly responded, echoing, “Happy Mother’s Day, Yoko!”

What Was I Made For?

After delivering a soulful rendition of “What Was I Made For?”, singer Billie Eilish left the audience deeply moved. As the haunting lyrics “I don’t know how to feel” filled the air, emotions ran high.

The performance, accompanied by her brother Finneas and a live orchestra, earned a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd. This heartfelt moment stirred tears in the eyes of many, including Barbie cast members America Ferrera and Kate McKinnon, director Greta Gerwig, as well as Ariana Grande and other celebrities present.

Expressing their gratitude, Billie and Finneas shared a joint statement after their song secured a nomination in January. “We are incredibly honored to receive a nomination for ‘What Was I Made For?’ As lifelong fans of film and music in film, this means everything to us,” they said. They extended their thanks to the Academy, Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, the Barbie cast and crew, Lucky Chap Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Pictures for their invaluable contributions.

In-N-Out 

Jamie Lee Curtis participated in a classic Oscars tradition on Sunday evening: grabbing a post-show meal at In-N-Out.

Earlier in the night, Curtis graced the stage  to present the award for Best Supporting Actress to the deserving winner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Alongside her were esteemed past winners Mary Steenburgen, Lupita Nyong’o, Rita Moreno, and Regina King.

Once Curtis completed her duties at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the 65-year-old wasted no time and headed straight to In-N-Out for a delicious post-show dinner.

Taking to Instagram, Curtis shared insights into her whirlwind trip to Los Angeles for the presenting gig. She outlined her concise agenda: “FLY IN. GET FLUFFED AND FOLDED. PRESENT AT OSCARS. GO TO @inandout_burger. FLY AWAY.”

Curtis, who clinched her first Oscar last year for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, delighted fans with snapshots of her journey, including herself in the car, her In-N-Out drive-up server, and her delectable order comprising fries, a burger, and a soda, snugly settled in her seat’s cupholder.

Isn’t It Past Your Jail Time

With a few extra moments at his disposal Jimmy Kimmel seized the opportunity to playfully address Donald Trump. “I’m really proud of something and I was wondering if I could share it with you,” quipped the host before diving into a social media post Trump shared on Truth Social. Reading aloud, Kimmel amused the audience with Trump’s critique of his hosting skills, suggesting a replacement with ABC “talent” George Slopanopoulos. Amidst laughter, Kimmel couldn’t resist poking fun, guessing aloud, “See if you can guess which former president just posted that?” The room erupted with applause as Kimmel cheekily remarked, “Thank you for watching. I’m surprised you’re still… isn’t it past your jail time?” The lighthearted banter added a humorous touch to the evening’s proceedings.

The 96th Academy Awards proved to be a paradoxical yet poignant affair. As “Oppenheimer” clinched the coveted Best Film award, the irony wasn’t lost amidst the backdrop of protesters advocating for peace between Israel and Hamas, obstructing entry into the theater. Meanwhile, “20 Nights in Mariupol,” shed light on the harrowing reality of the war in Ukraine, rightfully earning the title of Best Feature Documentary. Jonathan Glazer, the director of “The Zone of Interest,” used his platform to reflect on the Holocaust and the ongoing strife in Gaza, adding depth to the evening’s discourse. Despite the juxtaposition of celebration and somber reflection, the night remained resplendent as Hollywood’s brightest stars graced the stage, reminding us of the enduring power of cinema to illuminate both the human condition and the world’s complexities.

Below is a list of all of the evening’s OSCAR winners:

https://aframe.oscars.org/news/post/96th-oscars-full-winners-list-2024

by Myles Shane