‘GREEN BOOK’ AND ‘BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY’ DOMINATE ‘2019 OSCARS’ – (02/25/2019)

Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody swept the 91st Academy Awards, which were held Sunday, February 24^th, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Bohemian Rhapsody brought home four, besting Green Book’s three.

Green Book, based on the real life story of a black musician who hired a white driver to tour the Deep South in the 1960s won Best Picture, against Roma, Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, A Star Is Born, and Vice.

Green Book was widely considered an underdog, having been the subject of numerous controversies, including old revelations of director Peter Farrelly flashing his penis on-sets and star Viggo Mortenson using the N-word, in addition to an outcry over its accuracy.

The other big wins were Olivia Colman, for Best Actress in The Favourite and Rami Malek, for Best Actor in Bohemian Rhapsody. Alfonso Cuoron won Best Director for Roma. Colman’s victory was considered an upset, with many expecting seven-time nominee Glenn Close to clinch the win.

The Oscars are considered to be the culmination of the awards season, and this year there were all of the usual draws—glimpses of the world’s biggest stars in couture gowns and diamonds, the year’s best films earning (or being overlooked) the industry’s highest honors, amazing speeches, riveting gaffes. But this year, the drama kicked off ahead of time, starting when Kevin Hart was named as host then stepped down after homophobic tweets he sent out years ago were resurfaced.

The Academy did its level best to deliver an exciting show sans host, bringing in A-listers to present and lining up a rollicking roster of performers.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

The show kicked off with a bang, featuring Adam Lambert and Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor in an explosive medley of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler kicked the show off by breaking the ice and poking fun at the show’s host-less status, all while celebrating Hollywood’s fresh embrace of female power and presenting the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

That first award went to Regina King for If Beale Street Could Talk. “To be standing here, representing one of the greatest artists of our time, (author) James Baldwin, it’s a little surreal,” she said. “I’m an example of when love is important to someone,” she added when thanking her mom. “God is good, all the time.”

Free Solo’s director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi almost hyperventilating while accepting the award for Best Documentary Feature. “This film is for everyone who believes the impossible,” she said.

Melissa McCarthy and Bryan Tyree Henry certainly embraced their role as presenters of the Best in Costume Design Award, wearing a mash-up of outfits inspired by Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Mary Poppins, with McCarthy completing the idiosyncratic look with stuffed animal puppet hands.

Black Panther’s Hannah Beachler becoming the first African-American woman to win best production design. “I stand here stronger than I was yesterday because of (director) Ryan Coogler,” she said.

Tyler Perry acknowledges the controversy over the Academy’s move (and then reversal on the move) to present behind-the-scenes Oscars during commercial breaks.

Jennifer Hudson belting out the Diane Warren-written “I’ll Fight,” a Best Original Song contender from the documentary RBG.

Roma winning Best Foreign Language Film. “I grew up watching foreign-language films, learning so much from them. Films like Citizen Kane, Jaws, Rashomon, The Godfather, ” said Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron. “The nominees tonight show that we are part of the same ocean.”

Bette Midler surrounded by flying umbrellas and looking (and sounding) every inch the diva as she sings “The Place Where Lost Things Go,” from Mary Poppins Returns.

Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor for the second time, this time for Green Book. “Trying to capture Dr. Shirley’s essence pushed me to my ends, which is a reflection of the person he was and the life that he lived,” Ali said, dedicating the award to his grandmother, “who has been in my ear my whole life. … I know I would not be here without her.”

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse nabs Best Animated Feature. “When we hear that somebody’s kid is watching the movie and says, ‘That looks like me’ … we feel we already won,” said producer Phil Lord.

Mike Myers and Dana Carvey introducing Bohemian Rhapsody in character from Wayne’s World. “We’re not worthy!”

When Pixar’s Bao wins Best Animated Short, director Rayka Zehtabchi enthused, “I can’t believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar!”

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga performing an absolutely riveting “Shallow” from A Star Is Born. They end the song side by side at the piano, heads nestled together, to a standing ovation.

Spike Lee finally getting an Oscar for Adapted Screenplay. The crowd erupted in applause when the BlacKkKlansman director won. He pointed out that this year is the 400th anniversary of slaves coming to Virginia: “We all connect with the ancestors who have love (and) wisdom to regain our humanity.” He then asked the crowd to mobilize for the next presidential election. “Let’s do the right thing! You know I had to get that in there.”

Lady Gaga snagging Best Original Song for “Shallow.” She thanked director and co-star Bradley Cooper, and told would-be performers: “It’s not about winning; what it’s about is not giving up.”

Rami Malek winning Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody. “My mom is in here somewhere. I love you, lady,” he said. “My dad didn’t get to see me do any of this but he’s looking down on me right now.” Malek also thanked “everyone who took a chance on me” to play Freddie Mercury: “I may not have been the obvious choice, but I guess it worked out.” He adds that the popularity of the movie “is proof that we’re longing for stories like this.”

Up for the third time to collect Best Director, Alfonso Cuaron admitted it “doesn’t get old.” He added:  “I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a movie about an indigenous woman.”

Green Book pulling out a surprise win for Best Picture. “We made this film with love and with tenderness and with respect,” producer Jim Burke said, tacitly acknowledging the backlash. “The whole story is about love, and about loving our differences,” added director Peter Farrelly.

WINNERS LIST

Best Picture: Green Book

Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Roma) 

Actor in a Leading Role: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) 

Actress in a Leading Role: Olivia Colman (The Favourite) 

Supporting Actress: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)

Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali (Green Book) 

Original Screenplay: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly (Green Book)

Original Song: Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt, “Shallow” (A Star Is Born) 

Adapted Screenplay:Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman)

Live Action Short Film: Guy Nattiv and Jaime Ray Newman(Skin)

Animated Short Film: Domee Shi and Becky Neiman-Cobb (Bao)

Documentary Feature: Free Solo

Documentary Short: Rayka Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton (Period. End of Sentence)

Makeup and Hairstyling: Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe, Patricia DeHaney (Vice) 

Costume Design: Ruth Carter (Black Panther) 

Production Design: Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart (Black Panther) 

Cinematography: Alfonso Cuaron (Roma) 

Original Score: Ludwig Goransson (Black Panther)

Sound Editing: John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone (Bohemian Rhapsody)

Sound Mixing: Bohemian Rhapsody

Foreign Language Film: Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin and John Casali (Roma)

Film Editing: John Ottman (Bohemian Rhapsody) 

Animated Feature Film: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Visual Effects: Paul Lambert, Ian Hunter, Tristan Myles and J.D. Schwalm (First Man)