This year, the Oscars are nearly two months late, after axing the requirement for films to be released theatrically in order to be considered. The Academy has opted for an in-person ceremony, seeing how much attention was paid to bookshelves, excessive doors, and having one casual Olivia Munn in the background during the Golden Globes. Truth is, it does make for more compelling television. The event is being held primarily at Los Angeles' historic Union Station, though the red carpet was downsized and the frothing parties edited out.
In a letter sent to all Academy Award nominees in mid-March, the show's producers, Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins, noted about the dress code, "We're aiming for a fusion of Inspirational and Aspirational, which in actual words means formal is totally cool if you want to go there, but casual is really not."
While initially it seemed that the men outshone the woman, with Colman Domingo's monotone hot-pink Versace suit, Daniel Kaluuya's pearl sized Cartier diamonds, LaKeith Stanfield's disco lapels, we had Laura Dern's black turtleneck and feather skirt, Zendaya's midriff baring lemon yellow Maison Valentino ode to Bob Mackie's look for the Cher Show in the mid-70s, and H.E.R.'s cobalt embellished pants. Who can forget Andra Day and Carey Mulligan dressing up as the Oscar Award themselves?
The most cheeky fashion moment has to be when Emerald Fennell, who won Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman, was asked about her gown, she replied, "Pottery teacher with a business proposition that is absolutely not a pyramid scheme."
Irrfan and Bhanu Athaiya being honoured by The Academy during In Memoriam was truly something.
Daniel Kaluuya thanking his parents for having sex is really at the top of this list, "My mom met my dad and they had sex!" Birds and bees for an entire gen. In the press room, he said he's avoiding his phone for a bit to brace for his mom's reaction to his speech tonight, but he ultimately thinks she'll be cool about it.
Bong Joon-ho awarding the best director award to Chloe Zhao — one Asian to another was one of the purest moments of representation-glee.
Riz Ahmed fixing his wife's hair after their now-viral meet-cute at a cafe. Some lovers do get to have it all.
When Yuh-jung Youn forgave every American for butchering a name before saying "Mr. Brad Pitt … finally"
Glenn Close… losing it…to Da Butt (Sorry, we love you!)
Best Picture: Nomadland
Best Director: Chloe Zhao, Nomadland
Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Best Actor: Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Best Supporting Actress: Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas And The Black Messiah
Best Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Father
Best Animated Feature Film: Soul
Best International Feature Film: Another Round
Best Original Score: Soul
Best Original Song: Fight For You, Judas And The Black Messiah
Best Documentary Feature: My Octopus Teacher
Best Documentary Short: Colette
Best Live Action Short: Two Distant Strangers
Best Animated Short: If Anything Happens I Love You
Best Sound: Sound Of Metal
Best Production Design: Mank
Best Cinematography: Mank
Best Makeup And Hair: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Best Costume Design: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Best Film Editing: Sound Of Metal
Best Visual Effects: Tenet
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Tyler Perry