Diversity and Leo win big at the 2016 Oscars.
“Is Hollywood racist?” asked host Chris Rock during his opening monologue. “Damn right Hollywood’s racist.”
Scathingly critical commentary on the lack of black Oscar nominees; a parade of wins for Mad Max: Fury Road and an emphasis on overcoming adversity defined this year’s best-in-film celebration. And yes, Leonardo DiCaprio finally received his long overdue Academy Award.
In response to widespread backlash that the Academy selected only white acting nominees, the race issue rung far and wide. After Chris Rock’s #OscarsSoWhite monologue for the ages, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, actor Kevin Hart and even Best Director winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu addressed the elephant in the room.
As is often the case in a major awards ceremony, some jokes (like Stacey Dash’s satirical bit as “new director” of the Oscars’ “minority outreach program”) didn’t stick. Some upset wins (like Bridge of Spies’ Mark Rylance over Creed’s Sylvester Stallone) were head-scratchers. Some unscripted moments (like Sarah Silverman ranting about James Bond’s bad lovemaking) were bizarre. Regardless, the three-and-a-half-hour-long ceremony had some highlights. Below are the 8 most memorable moments of the 88th annual Oscars.
Chris Rock’s Blistering Opening Monologue
“I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards,” began Rock. After quickly addressing why he didn’t boycott the awards himself (“They’re not gonna cancel the Oscars because I quit”), he took a jab at Will Smith, made a cringe-worthy joke about the In Memoriam section of the show (“It’s just going to be black people that were shot by the cops on their way to the movies”) and called Hollywood “sorority racist.” But then he cut to the point: “We want black actors to get the same opportunities as white actors.”
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Wins Six Technical Awards
George Miller’s cinematic masterpiece won early and often. Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing all went to the blockbuster about a woman (played by Charlize Theron) rebelling against a tyrannical ruler in a post-apocalyptic Australia. Fury Road was on such a winning streak during the Oscars that Louis C.K. joked that it won a documentary award.
Skit Casting Black Actors in White Oscar Roles
Demonstrating the institutional racism Chris Rock pointedly noted in his opening monologue, the comedian then introduced a SNL-like #OscarsSoWhite parody sketch. First, Whoopi Goldberg is shown telling Joy’s Jennifer Lawrence that mopping isn’t rocket science. A vicious Leslie Jones replaces the bear in The Revenant, telling DiCaprio’s character that he should’ve called her back. Tracy Morgan appears in an alternate take of The Danish Girl as a girl, well, eating danishes. Last but not least a spoof of The Martian depicts Jeff Bridges and Kristen Wiig deciding not to pay “white dollars” to retrieve a black astronaut (played by Chris Rock) from space.
Star Wars’ BB-8, R2-D2, and C3-PO honor John Williams’ 50th Oscar Nomination
The droids invaded the Oscar stage to honor the space franchise’s longtime composer. “Oh my, it is John Williams,” exclaimed C3-PO. “I always enjoy hearing his music, He is so very talented—for a human, that is.” While Star Wars: The Force Awakens received five Oscar noms, the J.J. Abrams-helmed film went home empty handed last night.
Lady Gaga Performs “’Til It Happens To You”
The 29-year-old singer-songwriter sang a moving rendition of her Oscar-nominated song from The Hunting Ground. Backed by an orchestra, the artist poured out her spirit after an introduction highlighting the college sexual assault problem from none other than Vice President Joe Biden. The tear-jerking performance ended with sexual assault survivors joining her onstage.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu Wins Best Director For Second Consecutive Year
The Mexican filmmaker becomes the first director to win the award in consecutive years since Joseph L. Mankiewicz won in 1949 and 1950. “I can’t believe this is happening,” said Innaratu before thanking DiCaprio (“Leo, you are The Revenant”), Tom Hardy and the Native American cast. The 52-year-old director won last year for his Michael Keaton-starring drama Birdman.
Leonardo DiCaprio Finally Wins an Oscar
The celebrated 41-year-old actor took the Best Actor win in stride. In his acceptance speech, he thanked all of the nominees for the award, The Revenant co-star Tom Hardy and director Iñárritu. And then he got his chance to recognize the people that made him a star: directors Michael Caton-Jones, Martin Scorsese, manager Rick Yorn and his parents and friends. After five fruitless nominations, it looks like a film where DiCaprio gets mauled by a bear finally convinced Oscar voters.
'Spotlight' Wins Best Picture
The tale of The Boston Globe investigative journalism team breaking open the Catholic Church child molestation scandal beat out seven other contenders—including The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road—to win the Oscars’ biggest award of the night.
