South Korean film Parasite makes Oscars history
11 February, 2020
South Korean film Parasite has been named best picture at this year's Oscars, becoming the first non-English language film to take the most notable prize.
Renee Zellweger won best actress for playing Judy Garland in Judy. Joaquin Phoenix won best actor for Joker.
Brad Pitt and Laura Dern won the supporting acting awards for his or her roles in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and Marriage Story respectively.
Parasite won four awards altogether, while Sir Sam Mendes's 1917 took three.
The World War One epic have been the favourite to win best picture, but its awards all came in the technical categories.
Parasite's historic night
Parasite's Bong Joon-ho beat Sir Sam to the prize for best director, and also took the very best original screenplay award.
The film is a vicious social satire about two families from very different classes - person who are in poverty in a semi-basement, and another rich family surviving in a large home.
It has managed what no other subtitled film did in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards and won best picture.
Producer Kwak Sin-ae, who collected the trophy, said: "I'm speechless. We never imagined this to occur. I feel just like a very opportune moment ever sold is happening right now."
The biggest winners
Parasite - 4
1917 - 3
Ford vs Ferrari - 2
Joker - 2
A LONG TIME AGO in Hollywood - 2
Brad Pitt gets political
The star won the first acting Oscar of his career - picking right up the very best supporting actor trophy for his role in Quentin Tarantino's film.
He was the first winner of the night time, and immediately used his speech to attack the way the impeachment proceedings against US President Donald Trump were handled.
He referred to the actual fact that Republican senators voted against allowing witnesses including former National Security Adviser John Bolton to give evidence.
"They explained I only have 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds a lot more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week," he said. "I'm thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about any of it and in the long run the adults do the right thing."
The 56-year-old moved from the political to the personal, paying tribute to co-star Leonardo DiCaprio and remarking that the nomination had made him think about his journey to Hollywood superstardom.
"I'm a lttle bit gobsmacked," he said, getting emotional. "I'm not one to look back, but this has made me do so."
Joaquin Phoenix speaks up against 'injustice'
Phoenix, who won best actor for his remarkable performance in the foundation story about Batman's nemesis, also used the podium to send a heartfelt message about the state of the world, saying actors have the energy to give a "voice for the voiceless".
He were able to cover topics from animal rights and the surroundings to racism and gender inequality.
"I've been thinking a whole lot about a number of the distressing conditions that we are facing collectively, and sometimes we are made to believe that we are championing different causes," he said.
"But I see commonality. For me personally, whether we're discussing gender inequality, or racism, or queer rights, or indigenous rights, or animal rights, we're talking about the fight injustice."
He also quoted a lyric compiled by his late brother River: "Run to the rescue and love and peace will observe."
Laura Dern's 'best birthday present ever'
A day before her 53rd birthday, Laura Dern won best supporting actress for playing a divorce lawyer in Marriage Story.
She comes from an illustrious acting family, but in winning managed something her parents have not. Mother Diane Ladd has been nominated for three Academy Awards, and dad Bruce Dern has two unsuccessful nominations.
"Some say never meet your heroes," their daughter told the audience. "But I say if you are really blessed, you get them as your parents."
Meanwhile, Zellweger used her speech to pay tribute to Garland, who was simply nominated for two Oscars in the 1950s and 60s.
"Judy Garland didn't receive this honour in her time," the actress said. "I know that this moment can be an extension of the celebration of her legacy."
The British winners
Sir Elton John and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin won best original song for (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again from Rocketman. It's Sir Elton's second Oscar, 25 years after winning for The Lion King.
After acquiring 13 unsuccessful nominations, Roger Deakins has now won his second Oscar in 3 years, picking right up the trophy for best cinematography for 1917.
Dominic Tuohy was against himself in the visual effects category - nominated for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and 1917. He won for 1917 (alongside Guillaume Rocheron and Greg Butler).
British pair Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson picked up the sound mixing award for the same film.
Costume designer Jacqueline Durran won the next Oscar of her career on her behalf work on Little Women.
British-made UNDERSTANDING HOW TO Skateboard In A Warzone (IF YOU ARE A WOMAN) scooped best short documentary.
Other notable winners
Joker composer Hildur Gudnadottir became the first female winner of best original score since 1997.
American Factory, the first film from Barack and Michelle Obama's production company, was named best documentary feature. (The former first couple weren't there, however.)
Toy Story 4 won best animated feature, nine years after Toy Story 3 won the same award.
No host (but two hosts)
For the next year, the ceremony had no host, and was again better for this.
It all started with an incendiary performance by singer and Moonlight actress Janelle Monae. "We are celebrating all the women who directed phenomenal films," she said. "I'm proud to be here as a black queer woman."
Then Steve Martin and Chris Rock appeared to deliver the original opening monologue as a double act. "Both of us have hosted the Oscars before. And this is this incredible demotion," Martin quipped.
He remarked: "Think just how much the Oscars have changed in the past 92 years. Back in 1929 there have been no black acting nominees." Rock added: "And today in 2020 we've got one."
Then they gave way to a string of other celebrities to introduce each award.
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