Hollywood celebrates the best in motion pictures
LOS ANGELES — The Jimmy Kimmel-hosted 89th Academy Awards seesawed between jabs at Donald Trump and passionate arguments for inclusivity, with awards going to “La La Land,” ”Moonlight” and “Manchester by the Sea.” But it was “Moonlight.” that captured the biggest prize: best picture.
Damien Chazelle’s celebrated musical “La La Land,” up for a record-tying 14 nominations, took a while to start cleaning up. But as the night went on, its haul began piling up, winning for cinematography, production, score, song “City of Stars” and best actress for Emma Stone. Chazelle, the 32-year-old filmmaker, also became the youngest to win best director.
“This was a movie about love and I was luckily enough to fall in love while making it,” said Chazelle, speaking about his girlfriend and Oscars date, Olivia Hamilton.
Though many expected the awards to be one long
parade for “La La Land,” it didn’t play out that way. Awards were spread around to “Moonlight,” ”Manchester by the Sea” and “Hacksaw Ridge,” among others.
Barry Jenkins, the writer-director of “Moonlight” and Tarell Alvin McCraney, whose play it was based on, won for adapted screenplay. “All you people out there who feel like there isn’t a mirror out there for you, the academy has your back, the ACLU has your back and for the next four years we will not leave you alone, we will not forget you,” said Jenkins.
Kenneth Lonergan, the New York playwright whose last film (“Margaret”) was beset by lawsuits and conflict, won best original screenplay. “I love the movies. I love being part of the movies,” said Lonergan, who then thanked his star. “Thank you Casey Affleck, Casey Affleck, Casey Affleck.”
Shortly later, Affleck — in one of the night’s most closely watched categories, Casey Affleck won best actor — his first Oscar — for his soulful, grief-filled performance in “Manchester by the Sea.” Affleck and Denzel Washington (“Fences”) were seen as neck-and-neck in the category. An admittedly “dumbfounded” Affleck looked shocked when his name was read.
“Man I wish I had something bigger and more meaningful to say,” said Affleck, who hugged his more famous brother, Ben, before taking the stage.
The show kicked off with Justin Timberlake dancing down the Dolby Theatre aisles, singing his ebullient song, “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” from the animated film “Trolls.”
Mahershala Ali won best supporting actor for “Moonlight.” He glowed on the stage as he informed the crowd that he and his wife, Amatus SamiKarim, welcomed a daughter four days earlier. The actor thanked his wife for “being such a soldier through the process.”
“Moonlight” also won for best adapted screenplay.
The associate producer of “Moonlight” is John Montague, who grew up on Lookout Mountain and attended Baylor.
Neither actor struck a p“Hacksaw Ridge,” won the Oscar for sound editing and film editing.
“Hacksaw Ridge” is based on the life of Medal of Honor winner Desmond Doss, who spent most of his adult life in Rising Fawn, Ga., and died in 2006.