Rock breaks the ice
Play
Racism, "The Revenant" and "Spotlight" dominate the Oscars
The journalism drama "Spotlight” won the Oscar for best picture Sunday in an unusually serious Academy Awards ceremony that was upended by a public debate over racism in Hollywood.
The film chronicles the true story of a team of Boston Globe investigative reporters who exposed a Catholic church cover-up of sexual abuse by priests.
“This film gave a voice to survivors,” producer Michael Sugar said, accepting the award, and added that he hoped “that voice will become a choir that will resonate all the way to the Vatican. Pope Francis, it’s time to protect the children and restore the faith,” he said.
The film’s win was a sombre finale to an Academy Awards ceremony coloured by serious social issues, first among them the debate over race that has overshadowed the film world’s annual awards gala for weeks.
Oscars host Chris Rock kicked off the Oscars telecast Sunday by asking a taboo question – and answering it.
“Is Hollywood racist? You’re damn right Hollywood is racist,” the African-American comedian said, addressing Hollywood’s top stars assembled in the Dolby Theatre.
Rock’s race-focused opening monologue set a cynical tone for the broadcast, covering ground from the United States’ chequered history on race to unprintable jokes about Rihanna’s underwear.
The presentation was a stark contrast to the ceremony’s traditional focus: a celebration of the year’s best cinematic achievements.
The dystopian action movie “Mad Max: Fury Road” was the evening’s top winner by numbers, taking Oscars in six categories in what was nearly a clean sweep of the technical awards.
“The Revenant”, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s snowbound survival epic, won three, for directing, cinematography and best actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
DiCaprio had been nominated six times for the Oscar since 1994, but this was his first win, and the audience celebrated it with raucous cheering and a standing ovation.
Accepting the award, DiCaprio delivered a thoughtful speech on climate change, calling it “the most urgent threat facing our entire species.”
“Room” star Brie Larson won best actress for her performance as a kidnapped mother introducing her son to the world outside. She had been a heavy favourite for the award after winning best actress at every major awards this season.
Swedish actress Alicia Vikander won best supporting actress for her work in “The Danish Girl”, while in an upset, British stage actor Mark Rylance won best supporting actor, a prize that had been widely expected to go to sentimental favourite Sylvester Stallone.
Rylance won for his portrayal of real-life Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in Steven Spielberg’s Cold War thriller “Bridge of Spies”.
In addition to best picture, “Spotlight” won the prize for best original screenplay, while “The Big Short” won for best adapted screenplay.
Best documentary went to “Amy”, about British singer Amy Winehouse. Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won best documentary short for her film about honour killings, “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness”.
Hungarian Holocaust drama “Son of Saul” won best foreign film, while the Pixar coming-of-age story “Inside Out” was named best animated feature.
But the focus of the evening was as much on those who weren’t part of the celebration as those who were.
A public debate about racial bias in Hollywood erupted in January after few non-Caucasian artists were nominated for the awards, and none at all for acting prizes, for the second year running.
Rock, an African-American comedian known for his frank talk about race, made the race debate the theme of the show, from his 10-minute opening monologue to pointed taped segments challenging the marginalisation of non-white artists.
In one segment played during the show, Rock gave Oscars to black movie-goers and asked for their acceptance speeches.
“There’s talent out there of all races,” said one man, to applause from the live audience.
A woman said African-Americans deserved more Oscars because “they work harder than anyone else.”
“How about that, America?” she added.
The broadcast touched on other serious themes.
US Vice President Joe Biden teamed up with Lady Gaga to call for action on sexual violence. Lady Gaga performed her song “Til It Happens To You” joined onstage by dozens of sexual assault survivors.
Accepting the Oscar for best original song for “Writing’s On The Wall”, British singer Sam Smith dedicated his award to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“I stand here tonight as a proud gay man and hope we can stand together as equals one day,” he said.
The Oscars are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy’s approximately 6,200 voting members choose winners in 24 categories.
