by: Jake Love, staff writer
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held the 92nd annual Oscars award show on Sunday, Feb. 9, recognizing some of the year’s most popular and critically-acclaimed films and filmworkers.
Taking many by surprise, Director Bong Joon Ho’s social satire Parasite was the night’s most successful film. Bong won the Oscars for Best Direction and, with co-writer Han Jin-won, Best Original Screenplay. The film itself also won Best Picture and Best International Feature.
Appearing overwhelmed by his recognition, Bong ended his acceptance speech after winning Best Direction with, “I am ready to drink tonight until next morning.”
Along with winning the most Oscars out of any film (4), the Korean production is the first non-English film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
Joaquin Phoenix won the Oscar for Best Actor for his acclaimed performance as the Joker, which he followed with a now-viral emotional acceptance speech.
Renee Zellweger won Best Actress for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Judy, Brad Pitt won his first Oscar with Best Supporting Actor in Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood and Laura Dern won Best Supporting Actress for her acclaimed role in Marriage Story.
Director Taika Waititi won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his film Jojo Rabbit, the coming-of-age, comedy-drama about a boy in the Hitler youth.
As the first indiginous director to win an Oscar, Waititi dedicated his Oscar to the indiginous youth in his speech, saying, “I dedicate this to the indiginous kids all over the world who want to do art and dance and write stories. We are the original storytellers and we can make it here.”
The ceremony included memorable performances by the nominees for Best Original Song, like “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2, “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4, “I’m Standing With You” from Breakthrough and “Stand Up” from Harriet.
Elton John’s song “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman won the Oscar for Best Original Song.
John gave an emotional thanks to his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin in his acceptance speech, saying, “Thank you Bernie, who has been the constant thing in my life—when I was screwed up, when I was normal, he’s always been there for me.”
Cinematographer Roger Deakins of the war film 1917 won the Oscar for Best Cinematography. Some other notable winners are Toy Story 4, which won Best Animated Feature, and American Factory, which won Best Documentary Feature.
Beyond the awards, the Academy used the show to announce the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, an Academy-funded museum documenting the history of film. Based in Los Angeles, the museum is currently under construction, and is set to open Dec. 14, 2020.
To see all of the night’s winners, click here.
Jake Love is a staff writer for the Triangle. He is an English major with an emphasis on creative writing and is from Soddy-Daisy, Tenn. He enjoys reading and consuming large amounts of caffeine.
