DIVERSITY THE BIG WINNER AT OSCARS
ROAD trip movie triumphed over to win best picture Oscar on Sunday, denying Netflix bragging rights as the first streaming service to beat Hollywood at its own game.
Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron was chosen as best director for his sentimental black-and-white journey back to his childhood, and the film won two other Oscars, including for best foreign language.
In the biggest upset of the night, Britain’s Olivia Colman won her first Oscar for her role as petulant monarch Queen Anne in Fox Searchlight period comedy beating presumed front-runner Glenn Close, who starred in
“It’s genuinely quite stressful. This is hilarious,” said Colman.
Rami Malek won for his role as late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in 21st Century Fox musical The film was the biggest overall winner, with four Oscars, and it also stamped its mark on the show when the group became the first rock band to open an Academy Awards show.
“I may not have been the obvious choice, but I guess it worked out,” said Malek, who had been favoured to win the award.
It was a big night for diversity, with Oscars going to black supporting actors Mahershala Ali and Regina King, while Spike Lee won for adapted screenplay for his Ku Klux Klan movie
Malek was born in the United States to Egyptian parents.
with a predominantly black cast, came away with three Oscars, including costume design.
a Universal Pictures film about an unlikely friendship between a black pianist and his white driver touring the segregated US South in the 1960s, also won for original screenplay and supporting actor for Ali.
The wins came despite a slew of negative publicity around both and Bohemian
in recent months.
The family of the late pianist Dr Don Shirley has said that his portrayal in contained inaccuracies, and in January accusations surfaced of sexual impropriety by director Peter Farrelly in the 1990s. Farrelly apologised for his conduct.
“I think we brought great honour to Dr Shirley,” screenwriter Nick Vallelonga said on Sunday about the criticism.
director Bryan Singer was accused in January of sexual misconduct involving underage men in the 1990s.
Singer issued a statement denying the accusations.
The Oscar ceremony went without a host for the first time since 1989, and instead was filled with powerhouse music performances from Queen, Bette Midler and Jennifer Hudson. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper performed an intimate duet of from which brought Gaga her first Oscar.
“I have worked hard for a long time and it’s not about winning. It’s about not giving up. It’s not about how many times you get rejected. It’s about how many times you are brave and you keep on going,” said Gaga.