93rd Oscars: Nomadland wins Best Picture, producers lose the plot
It was a bizarre Oscars, all in all. Chloe Zhao became the first woman of colour to win Best Directing. Frances McDormand became only the second person in history to win a third Oscar for Leading Actress. Historic and joyous events no doubt, but what really got folks chattering was the show itself. COVID-mandated edits to the usual format were met with mixed responses online; personally, I liked the intimate, old-school vibe and the warm, celebratory atmosphere, especially the presenters' tributes to the nominees. But then there were edits met with universal disdain, like the near-total omission of nominees' clips and the choice to present the leading acting awards after Best Picture. After Best Picture! Not to mention the fact that, after many had hoped/predicted that all four acting prizes would go to performers of colour, including the late Chadwick Boseman, only the supporting prizes did. The show closed with Joaquin Phoenix announcing the absent Anthony Hopkins the Leading Actor winner, accepting the award on his behalf, then Questlove cueing the aftershow broadcast. Worst Oscars ever? On balance, it's a strong contender. Anyway, check out the 2020/2021 Oscar nominees here, and all the winners below.
Best Picture Nomadland (Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao) Best Directing Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) Best Actress in a Leading Role
Frances McDormand (Nomadland) Best Actor in a Leading Role
Anthony Hopkins (The Father) Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Youn Yuh Jung (Minari) Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah) Best Writing (Original Screenplay) Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller (The Father)
Best Animated Feature Film Soul (Pete Docter and Dana Murray) Best Documentary (Feature) My Octopus Teacher (Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster) Best International Feature Film Another Round (Denmark) - directed by Thomas Vinterberg
Best Cinematography Erik Messerschmidt (Mank)
Best Film Editing Mikkel E. G. Nielsen (Sound of Metal) Best Production Design
Donald Graham Burt (Production Design); Jan Pascale (Set Decoration) (Mank) Best Costume Design Ann Roth (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) Best Sound Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés Navarrete and Phillip Bladh (Sound of Metal) Best Visual Effects Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher (Tenet)
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) Best Music (Original Score) Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste (Soul) Best Music (Original Song) "Fight for You" - Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas (Judas and the Black Messiah) Best Short Film (Live Action) Two Distant Strangers (Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe) Best Short Film (Animated) If Anything Happens I Love You (Will McCormack and Michael Govier) Best Documentary (Short Subject) Colette (Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard)