FRANCES TAKES A STAND
McDormand’s Oscar win & speech
A sense of change was palpable at the 90th Academy Awards as Hollywood sought to confront the post-Harvey Weinstein era and pivot to a vision of a more inclusive movie business.
The ceremony Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles was punctuated by political speeches and impassioned arguments for diversity.
Guillermo del Toro’s monster fable The Shape of Water, which came in with a leading 13 nods, won the coveted Oscar for best picture, as well as best production design — that prize going to Canadians Paul Austerberry, Jeffrey A. Melvin and Shane Vieau — best score and best director for del Toro. He became the third Mexican-born filmmaker to win the award, joining his friends and countrymen Alejandro Inarritu and Alfonso Cuaron — who together were years ago dubbed “the Three Amigos.”
“The greatest thing that art does, and that our industry does, is erase the lines in the sand,” said del Toro.
Jordan Peele won for his script to his horror sensation Get Out, becoming the first African-American to win for best original screenplay. Peele, said he stopped writing it “20 times,” dubious that it would ever get made.
“But I kept coming back to it because I knew if someone would let me make this movie that people would hear it and people would see it,” said Peele. “I want to dedicate this to all the people who raised my voice and let me make this movie.”
Gary Oldman landed the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, while Frances McDormand captured the best actress prize for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. She asked all the other female nominees in every category to stand up in the audience.
“Look around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects that need financing,” declared McDormand. “I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen, Inclusion Rider.”
Christopher Nolan’s Second World War epic Dunkirk led all nominees with three awards for its technical craft: editing, sound editing and sound design. But the awards were spread around widely.
And many of the show’s most powerful moments came in between the awards.
Ashley Judd, Anabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek — who all made allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein — together assembled for a mid-show segment dedicated to the #MeToo movement that has followed the downfall of Weinstein, long an Oscar heavyweight. They were met by a standing ovation.
“We work together to make sure the next 90 years empower these limitless possibilities of equality, diversity, inclusion and intersectionality,” said Judd. “That’s what this year has promised us.”
Host Jimmy Kimmel opened with a monologue that mixed Weinstein punchlines with earnest comments about reforming gender equality in Hollywood. And of course, Kimmel — returning to the scene of the flub — dove straight into material about last year’s infamous best-picture mix-up.
“I do want to mention, this year, when you hear your name called, don’t get up right away,” said Kimmel. “Give us a minute.”
While Kimmel spent a few moments on Envelopegate, he expended far more minutes discussing the parade of sexual harassment allegations in the wake of the revelations regarding Weinstein. Kimimel cited the industry’s poor record for female directors and equal pay.
“We can’t let bad behaviour slide anymore,” said Kimmel. “The world is watching us.”
Kimmel introduced the broadcast as “a night for positivity,” and cited, among other things, the boxoffice sensation of Black Panther.
“I remember a time when the major studios didn’t believe a woman or a minority could open a super hero movie — and the reason I remember that time is because it was March of last year,” said Kimmel.
Meanwhile, Toronto and Montreal got shout-outs as productions with Canadian talent won trophies.
Aforementioned Canadians Austerberry, Melvin and Vieau thanked their colleagues back home in Toronto, where The Shape of Water was partly shot.
“Thanks to all the Canadian crew who are partying right now at the Palais Royale in Toronto — this is for you,” said Austerberry, who is credited for production design while Melvin and Vieau crafted the film’s set decoration.
Meanwhile, a trio who won for best visual effects on Quebec director Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 thanked their “friends in Montreal,” saying: “Merci beaucoup, this is for you.”
“Thank you to Denis Villeneuve, whose guts are seen in every frame of this film, especially the visual effects,” said John Nelson, who won alongside Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert and Richard R. Hoover.
Kimmel mentioned another Canadian nominee — “the magnificent Christopher Plummer” — who got a nod for his supporting role in All the Money in the World.
Two widely admired veterans won their first Oscars: Allison Janney (I, Tonya) took best supporting actress and Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) won best supporting actor.
“I did it all by myself,” deadpanned Janney, who added after a pause: “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Rockwell dedicated his award to his late friend and fellow actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died in 2014. “For my buddy, Phil Hoffman,” said Rockwell.
Several cinema legends won their first Oscar. James Ivory, 89, won best adapted screenplay for his script to the coming-of-age drama Call Me By Your Name, becoming the oldest winner ever.
Pixar’s ode to Mexican culture Coco won best animated film. Best foreign language film went to Chile’s A Fantastic Woman.