And the best picture at the 86th Oscars goes to 12 Years A Slave. What an incredible night at the 86th Oscars. What an incredible night for director Steve McQueen, Shame (2011) and Hunger (2008). This wonderful man has been toiling away, non too quietly I might add, and tonight came with so much validation. Yes, he was nervous. Yes, he was shocked. And yes, he deserved it! And he has every right to be absolutely thrilled. 12YAS also nabbed Best Adapted Screenplay going to John Ridley.
But, the Oscar darling has got to go to the wonderful, beautiful, and class act known as Lupita Amondi Nyong’o for her win for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Coming in tonight Ms. Nyong’o was a definite and legitimate contender, and if you watched 12 Years A Slave then you understand why. Lupita gave us such a raw and emotionally charged performance, that to not be moved to tears would brand you an outcast from the human race. Take a bow Lupita. And her acceptance speech was so genuine and heartfelt. I love it when newbies win, and like always I typically root for the underdog.
And what about Ellen DeGerneres? Is this woman not the best Oscar host ever? Lady G (not Gaga) made the ofttimes hoity-toity Oscars feel like an house party or a family and friends get-together with her antics, i.e. taking selfies, ordering pizza, (then collecting money in Pharrell’s hat no doubt to pay for it). At last count her Tweet shared round the world has garnered an Oscar-worthy performance all it’s own for most retweeted selfie ever, so that was worth the price of admission alone.
And you got to give it up for one of my favorite films of the year Dallas Buyer’s Club. Jared Leto nailed his performance playing HIV-positive transgender woman Rayon, talk about transformation. And then there was Matthew McConaughey who without a doubt gave one of the most amazing performances of the 2013 film season. Mr. McConaughey also gave a great acceptance speech and his words, “”It’s a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates,” was priceless. Plus, he was one off the only married men up to win an Oscar to bring a black woman to the Oscars (Sucking my teeth). Anywho. What a great night of entertainment. Peace.
Other notable 86th Academy Awards wins:
Best Actor in a Leading Role Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Actress in a Leading Role Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Best Animated Feature Frozen (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho)
Best Cinematography Gravity (Emmanuel Lubezki)
Best Costume Design The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin)
Best Directing Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón)
Best Documentary Feature 20 Feet from Stardom (Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen, Caitrin Rogers)
Best Documentary Short The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life (Malcolm Clarke, Nicholas Reed)
Best Film Editing Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger)
Best Foreign Language Film The Great Beauty (Italy)
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Dallas Buyers Club (Adruitha Lee, Robin Mathews)
Best Original Score Gravity (Steven Price)
Best Original Song Let It Go – Frozen
Best Production Design The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn)
Best Animated Short Film Mr. Hublot (Laurent Witz, Alexandre Espigares)
Best Live Action Short Film Helium (Anders Walter, Kim Magnusson)
Best Sound Editing Gravity (Glenn Freemantle)
Best Sound Mixing Gravity (Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, Chris Munro)
Best Visual Effects Gravity (Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk, Neil Corbould)
Best Adapted Screenplay 12 Years a Slave (John Ridley)
Best Original Screenplay Her (Spike Jonze)