‘Parasite’ was the big winner at the 2020 Academy Awards, taking home four prizes.
The comedy-thriller made history as the first non-English language movie to scoop the coveted Best Picture honor at Sunday’s (09.02.20) ceremony, as well as taking the International Feature Film prize, while Bong Joon-ho scooped both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Speaking as he collected the International Feature Film award, which was previously known as Best Foreign Language Film, he said: “The category has a new name now, I’m so happy to be its first recipient under the new name.
“I applaud and support the new direction this change symbolizes.”
Producer Kwak Sin-ae took the microphone when the cast and crew took to the stage at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre to accept Best Picture.
She said through a translator: “I’m speechless. We never imagined this would ever happen, we are so happy. I feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening right now. I express my deepest gratitude and respect to the Academy for making this decision.”
Elsewhere at the ceremony, although it was snubbed in the major categories, ‘1917’ still had a successful evening, taking home three prizes for visual effects, cinematography and sound mixing.
‘Joker’ star Joaquin Phoenix and ‘Judy’s Renee Zellweger won the Leading Actor and Actress prizes, while the Supporting Actor and Actress honors went to Brad Pitt for ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and ‘Marriage Story’ actress Laura Dern.
Taika Waititi took home the Adapted Screenplay honor for ‘Jojo Rabbit’ and ‘Ford v Ferrari’ won two prizes, for sound editing and film editing.
‘Toy Story 4’ was the winner of Animated Feature Film, and ‘Animated Short Film’ went to ‘Hair Love’.
Eminem gave a surprise performance at the 2020 Academy Awards on Sunday (09.02.20).
Rapper Eminem stunned the audience at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre when he stepped out for a rendition of his 2003 Best Song Oscar winner ‘Lose Yourself’ from his movie ‘8 Mile’. Eminem’s appearance came following a montage of some of cinema’s most iconic songs and how they can help elevate the films they are featured in.
Earlier in the evening, Janelle Monae kicked off the event with a performance of ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ from the film of the same name, paying tribute to the late Fred Rogers.
At one point, she sang directly to Tom Hanks, who portrayed the beloved children’s entertainer in the movie, and after giving him her hat to wear, she took off her cardigan to belt out an original song dedicated to the year’s nominees.
She was briefly joined by ‘Pose’ star Billy Porter during the segment and finished off with a swipe at the lack of female directing nominees and recognition for black actors.
Here is 92nd Academy Awards select list of winners:
Best Picture: ‘Parasite’
Best Director: Bong Joon-ho, ‘Parasite’
Actor in a Leading Role: Joaquin Phoenix, ‘Joker’
Actress in a Leading Role: Renée Zellweger, ‘Judy’
Actor in a Supporting Role: Brad Pitt, ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’
Actress in a Supporting Role: Laura Dern, ‘Marriage Story’
Original Screenplay: ‘Parasite’, Screenplay by Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won
Adapted Screenplay: ‘Jojo Rabbit’, Screenplay by Taika Waititi
Animated Feature Film: ‘Toy Story 4’
Original Song: ‘(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again from ‘Rocketman’, Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
