Parasite creates history

With Parasite emerging as the big winner at the 92nd Academy Awards, Sam Mendes’ war epic 1917 ended up at the losing side by conceding big trophies to the South Korean film. The World War I drama went into the 92nd Academy Awards on Sunday with a total of 10 nominations, which also included best picture as well as best director and best original screenplay for Mendes.

The film, which was hailed as a technical marvel owing to the director’s attempt to create the impression of one continuous take, only managed to register wins in the best cinematography for veteran Roger Deakins, best visual effects and best sound mixing categories. In the precursor to the Oscars, 1917 won top prizes — best director and best picture — at the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes. Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite won in best direction, best original screenplay and best picture categories.

The Irishman loses out

Martin Scorsese’s crime epic The Irishman was another major movie that was completely shut out by the Academy voters. The film, which boasted the of veteran actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, failed to win any of its 10 nominations. It turned out to be a bitter-sweet year for Scorsese, a cinema great, as his movie, made at a whopping USD 160 million budget, was critically lauded, stirred up controversies but did not register a single win at the Oscars. The Irishman was also snubbed altogether at the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards and the BAFTAs.

Shining through

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood helped Brad Pitt bag the best supporting actor award and a trophy for production design.

Quentin Tarantino, who was seen cheering for Bong Joon Ho for his best director win, could not win in best director and original screenplay categories. Greta Gerwig once again failed to capitalise on her film’s strong buzz. Just like her previous directorial Lady Bird, the filmmaker’s latest movie Little Women also managed to amass multiple nominations. But just like Lady Bird, Little Women also failed to win any award.

Laura stands out

Among the studios, streamer Netflix could not replicate its last year’s success when Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma took home three awards. It was betting big on Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story and Scorsese’s The Irishman as well as on Two Popes and animated feature Klaus, but only Laura Dern won a trophy for best supporting actress for Marriage Story. — PTI

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Portman honours snubbed female directors

Hollywood star Natalie Portman made a subtle, yet powerful statement when she walked the Oscars red carpet wearing a black Dior cape with the last names of women directors snubbed by the Academy Awards embroidered on it.

Little Women director Greta Gerwig, The Farewell’s Lulu Wang and Melina Matsoukas, who directed Queen and Slim, were among the names etched in gold on her cape.

“I wanted to recognise the women who were not recognised for their incredible work this year in my subtle way,” she said.

Other women filmmakers whose names were embroidered on Portman’s cape were Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers), Mati Diop (Atlantics), Marianne Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), Alma Har’el (Honey Boy) and Celine Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady

on Fire).

This is not the first time Portman has criticised the lack of female representation in Oscars. During the Academy Awards two years ago, she introduced the best director saying, “... and here are the all-male nominees”. Portman presented the best adapted screenplay award to Taika Waititi during the ceremony. PTI

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Rahman’s Jai ho in original song montage

It was back in 2009 that Indian composer A.R. Rahman was honoured with two Oscars for his song Jai ho. Cut to 2020, the foot-tapping number made it to an original song montage at this year’s Oscars ceremony. Rahman had struck gold for original score and original song in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. On Sunday night, American composer-lyricist-actor Lin-Manuel Miranda presented the montage that included hits from Slumdog Millionaire, Titanic and Wayne’s World. The clip ended with Eminem from the 2002 film 8 Mile. Then the rapper himself hit the stage to perform Lose yourself. He even got a standing ovation after his performance. Lose yourself was the first rap song to win an Oscar for best original song. IANS

Brad Pitt gets political

During his speech, Brad Pitt called out the Trump impeachment trial for blocking the testimony of former national security adviser John Bolton. “They told me I only have 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week,” he said on stage after receiving his first Oscar for acting. “I’m thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it...in the end, the adults do the right thing.” He went on to further pay tribute to Quentin Tarantino: “Tarantino, you are original, you are one of a kind. The film industry would be a much drier place without you.” Pitt also bagged the supporting actor prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTAs and Golden Globes. Pitt previously won Oscar as a producer when 12 Years a Slave took best picture in 2014. IANS

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Greta appears in Oscar clip

Climate activist Greta Thunberg appeared in an Oscar clip showcasing the power of documentary films. This was followed by actor Mark Ruffalo announcing the winners in the documentary categories at this year’s Oscars ceremony on Sunday night. The Michelle and Barack Obama-produced American Factory was awarded the best documentary feature. IANS

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Rain rain go away!

Heavy rain marred the start of the Oscars, sending workers scurrying to hold off leaks on the red carpet as Hollywood’s biggest night got underway. Chilly weather and dark clouds over Hollywood brought rain pouring down just before A-list stars began arriving at the Dolby Theatre. Reuters

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Surprise !

Pose star Billy Porter had promised a surprise for Sunday’s Oscars red carpet —and he delivered with a gold-filled grand entrance. Porter, who has dominated red carpets in the past year with headline-grabbing, gender-fluid outfits, kicked off the 92nd Academy Awards celebrations in a Giles Deacon custom couture outfit, rocking a gold-feathered top and a voluminous printed gown paired with custom Jimmy Choo shoes — also golden. Reuters

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Renee Zellweger was crowned best actress at the Oscars for her portrait of Hollywood legend Judy Garland in Judy, a biographical drama exploring the singer's personal and professional turmoil at the end of her life. It marked the second Oscar victory in four nominationsfor Zellweger