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My favourite moments from Oscars 2018

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Suhani Singh
Suhani SinghMar 05, 2018 | 22:00

My favourite moments from Oscars 2018

By the end of her rousing speech, Frances McDormand had viewers googling for ‘inclusion rider’.

Roger A Deakins finally wins an Oscar

Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Redford. Skyfall. No Country for Old MenMan Who Wasn't There. Kundun. These are just 5 of the 13 films that lensman Deakins had been nominated for before finally getting “the statue of limitations” on film number 14 – Blade Runner 2049. There was standing ovation, but more so relief, that the Academy finally recognised one of the most consistently brilliant cinematographers working today.

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Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

Greta Gerwig was the night’s big loser who still ended up winning

Lady Bird may not have won any award but going by the response to the clips of Laurie Metcalf (best supporting actress) and Saoirse Ronan (best actress), one could sense it was a beloved movie among the film fraternity.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

It was only fitting then that Gerwig got her moment not once but twice. First when she presented the best documentary award along with Laura Dern, and later when Emma Stone put her in the spotlight while introducing the best director nominees. “These four men and Greta Gerwig created their own masterpieces this year.” As Lady Bird would herself say, “Bingo!”

Everybody who sang 

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

There was not one bad note in the best song performances. From Gael Garcia Bernal awkwardly and adorably crooning “Remember Me” (it ultimately won) to Sufjan Stevens’ soothing balm of a voice that instantly makes you want to snuggle your loved one in “Mysteries of Love” (it should have won), the musical interludes were a much-needed break from the far too many montages.

Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph are soul sisters

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Stellar actress Maya Rudolph is married to acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, who in turn is so in awe of Haddish’s performance in Girls Trip that he has publicly declared that he wants to work with her.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

We have a better idea: the film he makes also needs to have his equally hilarious wife. The actresses stole the show presenting the best documentary short and best live action short awards and delighted audiences, speaking about dealing with white people with clipboards and doing ridiculous things on camera. Jimmy Kimmel, your time as the host of the Oscars may be up.

Frances McDormand’s kickass speech

The actress joined an elite club of two-time “best actress” winner, but she can also easily claim the best speech prize. “So I’m hyperventilating a little bit so if I fall over pick me up cause I have got some things to say,” said McDormand, alerting the audience that she meant business.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

The Fargo actress was effusive in her admiration for her family (husband-filmmaker Joel Coen and son Pedro) and key collaborator (Martin McDonagh, write and director of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), but she saved her best for the last minute.

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With her Oscar statue set down, she asked her female peers, across fields, to stand up and get acknowledged for their work. “Look around ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed,” she said. “Don’t talk to us about it at the parties, invite us into your office in a couple days or you can come to ours, whichever suits you best, and we’ll tell you all about them.”

By the end of the rousing speech she had viewers Googling for “inclusion rider”, a clause in which an actor “can ask for and/or demand at least 50 per cent diversity not only in casting but also the crew”.

A horror film won best screenplay

The most popular prize of the evening was Jordan Peele’s victory for his tremendous screenplay in the racial horror thriller Get Out, which he also directed. It almost made us wonder could Get Out actually walk away with the big prize. That may not have been the case, but there are many positives to take from Get Out’s solitary win.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

Peele is the first African-American writer to win best original screenplay prize. (Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney won best adapted screenplay for Moonlight). 

Horror, always an unappreciated genre at the Oscars, got recognised. That he beat stiff competition from McDonagh, a favourite, and Gerwig, makes this recognition even greater. 

Everyone will remember Robert Lopez’s speech for all the wrong reasons

There is always a winner who perhaps wishes that he can take back a moment from his speech. At #Oscars90 it was Robert Lopez, the co-songwriter of Remember Me, who became Daddy So-not-cool after he said that the award is not for his two daughters but his deceased mother.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

This immediately after his wife-collaborator Kristen Anderson called the girls their inspiration and thanked them. Something tells us the girls won’t “Let it go”(The Frozen anthem is also written by the husband-wife duo.)

Old is gold

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

James Ivory, at 89, won his first Oscar for his screenplay of Call Me By Your Name, adapted from André Aciman’s book. Ivory read out his speech from a paper, thanking the “inspired help” of his “life’s partners” Ruth Jhabvala and Ismail Merchant. “My profound thanks to the members of the Academy. In voting for me, you are remembering them,” said Ivory.

Mark Bridges was the biggest winner of the night

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

The costume designer was rightfully recognised for creating an incredible line of elegant gowns in The Phantom Thread. But he was the only double winner of the night, clocking in a speech of 36 seconds and thereby winning the jet ski, which host Jimmy Kimmel had promised to the winner who makes the shortest speech. (We’re not so sure of the stay in the Lake Havasu.) The sight of him in a life vest perched on the jet ski with Helen Mirren for company clearly stole a bit of thunder from the cast and crew of best picture-winning The Shape of Water.

Last updated: March 05, 2018 | 22:00
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