Birdman Wins Best Picture, Director at Politically Charged Oscars

23/02/2015 22:20

Birdman Wins Best Picture, Director at Politically Charged Oscars


Politics took center stage at the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday, as winners and presenters used the widely watched telecast to draw attention to everything from civil rights to whistleblowing.

It was also a very good night for Birdman, which beat out its chief competitor Boyhood for best picture, director, original screenplay and cinematography honors.

Filmmaker Alejandro G. Inarritu offered a moment of levity in a ceremony that was often somber in tone.

The Mexican director said he had a lucky charm.

“I am wearing the real Michael Keaton tighty whities,” he told the crowd, a reference to a scene where the Birdman star runs through Times Square in his underwear.

In fact, tight underwear was a theme of sorts during the night. Host Neil Patrick Harris also copped Keaton’s look at one point in the show, walking across stage in his briefs.

Keaton couldn’t prevail in the Best Actor race, however, losing to Theory of Everything’s Eddie Redmayne for his portrayal of theoretical physicist and ALS sufferer Stephen Hawkin.

I’m fully aware that I’m a lucky, lucky man,” said Redmayne, before noting that the award “Belongs to all of the people around the world battling ALS.”

Julianne Moore earned an Oscar for playing a woman struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s in Still Alice — her first statue after four previous nominations. Like Redmayne she also spoke passionately about the disease at the center of her film and the people who are afflicted with the illness.

“So many people with this disease feel isolated and marginalized…people with Alzheimer’s deserve to be seen,” Moore said.

Boyhood’s Patricia Arquette and Whiplash’s J.K. Simmons scored supporting actor honors, winning for their performances as a single mother and a demanding jazz instructor. In other major races, Birdman beat out Boyhood and The Grand Budapest Hotel, for best original screenplay, while The Imitation Game bested American Sniper and Whiplash for best adapted screenplay honors.

The Grand Budapest Hotel scored in key technical categories, earning a leading four Oscars for costume design, production design, score and for achievement in makeup and hairstyling. Whiplash ranked as the second most-honored picture in the early going, nabbing a best sound mixing and film editing Oscars, in addition to the award for Simmons.”

Best song winners John Legend and Common, recognized their work on the civil rights anthem “Glory” from Selma, used their acceptance speech to draw attention to issues of importance to the African-American community.

“There are more black men under correctional control than there were under slavery,” said Legend.

The evening’s political bent extended to the best documentary category with Citizenfour, a look at Edward Snowden’s exposure of the NSA’s widespread domestic surveillance program, taking home the award despite the fact that popular opinion is widely divided over whether or not the film’s subject it a hero or a traitor.

In her acceptance speech, director Laura Poitras thanked Snowden for his courage in coming forward and also paid tribute to whistleblowers everywhere.

Snowden returned her praise. In a statement released via the American Civil Liberties Union, the NSA whistleblower said, “My hope is that this award will encourage more people to see the film and be inspired by its message that ordinary citizens, working together, can change the world.”
There were also a few detours away from incendiary topics, including a tribute to The Sound of Music featuring Lady Gaga.

Polish drama Ida, scored a Best Foreign Language Film statue. Director Paweł Pawlikowski noted that his film about a woman on the verge of becoming a Catholic nun dramatizes the virtues of quiet contemplation — something in contrast to the sturm und drang of an awards show.
“Life is full of surprises,” he enthused.

Hotlines were a subject that received a great deal of attention. The Phone Call, a 20-minute drama about a woman (Sally Hawkins) working in a crisis center helpline, nabbed a Best Live Action Short honor, while Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1, a look at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 24-hour call center for servicemen and women, earned a Best Documentary Short statue.

Big Hero 6 was the evening’s big animated film winner. The Disney hit won Best Animated Feature, while Feast, a 3D romantic comedy that debuted in theaters with Big Hero 6, won Best Animated Short.


In case you have found a mistake in the text, please send a message to the editor by selecting the mistake and pressing Ctrl-Enter.

Newsfeed

21/11/2024 18:01 "Green mindset", the fight against landslides and creation of jobs in the communities։ Viva and “My Forest Armenia” NGO are creating a forest again 19/11/2024 13:06 SKY express inaugurated new connection between Yerevan and Athens 15/11/2024 18:50 Founder of “Infosys” Narayana Murthy visits Viva’s office 13/11/2024 16:35 Acba bank and American Express Expand Collaboration in Armenia 11/11/2024 17:21 Armenian Card introduces the ArCa Pay system 09/11/2024 15:57 The history of Armenia cannot have a positive way out unless those responsible for the defeat in the 44-day war are held accountable. Ex-Ambassador Mikayel Minasyan 07/11/2024 15:16 “VOYAGE 30” from Viva: 1000 MB Internet in roaming now permanently for AMD 1500/30 days 07/11/2024 10:48 15 cutting-edge Apple devices for Byblos Bank Armenia Mastercard Digital cardholders 06/11/2024 10:32 Benefector Karen Vardanyan donated 119 million drams to two military sports colleges 05/11/2024 11:10 Byblos Bank Armenia stands by 90-year-old YSU Faculty of Economics and Management 31/10/2024 15:16 From enclosed worlds to new realities: 18 years of cooperation full of success stories 29/10/2024 18:01 Minimal investment, cost savings, and increased sales։ Organizations using Viva’s Virtual PBX achieve maximum results 28/10/2024 10:30 Viva service center - at Gogavan state border check point 10/10/2024 17:45 Viva sees growing demand for cloud services 10/10/2024 10:30 Businessman and benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan was awarded the title of Honorary citizen of Masis community 03/10/2024 15:05 Trip to Dubai: Exciting new campaign for Byblos Bank Armenia premium cardholders 03/10/2024 13:40 The stamp dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Hrant Vardanyan, the founder of "Grand Holding", was issued 03/10/2024 10:35 Chat-Assistant in “My Viva”: new digital tool for online communication lovers 02/10/2024 19:27 Ameriabank’s Special Offer for New Mastercard Holders. 1% Cashback and Lots of Gifts 30/09/2024 16:17 Byblos Bank Armenia named General Sponsor of YSU Faculty of Economics and Management's 90th anniversary events 26/09/2024 10:45 Armenian confectionery production counts a century-long history. "Grand Candy" celebrates the 100th anniversary of creation of Armenian sweets 25/09/2024 12:32 Large-scale upgrade in Team Telecom Armenia's network 24/09/2024 18:24 Amundi-Acba Launches Academy to Enhance Financial Literacy and Professional Development 20/09/2024 16:53 Best startup ideas of “Get Started” revealed 19/09/2024 18:42 “Yandex Plus” and “Kinodaran” within Viva’s “START+” prepaid tariff plan 19/09/2024 13:57 Catalyst for growth and innovation: Viva presents new “Narrow Band-IoT” tariff plan 13/09/2024 12:24 5 more YSU students awarded AMD 1 million scholarship each: Byblos Bank Armenia continues to motivate young minds 11/09/2024 16:21 “Virtual PBX”: effective business management tool from Viva 11/09/2024 10:49 Barerar.am is a new platform that provides an opportunity to provide assistance to needy families directly and without any mediation 09/09/2024 14:11 Nokia and Team Telecom Armenia bring 25G PON commercial services to customers across Armenia 31/08/2024 12:03 “Remote hands” for any business from anywhere Viva offers a reliable and flexible server support service 30/08/2024 15:09 Achieving self-development with “Viva University” 30/08/2024 14:55 It pains me that those who fought for their nation and homeland have been consigned to oblivion. Mikayel Minasyan 29/08/2024 17:04 Kyiv Announces Plans to Transport Azerbaijani Gas to Europe Instead of Russian 29/08/2024 16:58 "Spayka" Threatens Our Livelihood: Export Truck Drivers Protest 29/08/2024 16:50 Russia Reaffirms Commitment to Armenia Partnership 29/08/2024 16:00 Armenia Plans to Amend the Constitution in 2027 25/08/2024 11:01 Theories of Conspiracy Among Armenians: Ambassador Mikael Minasyan's Analysis 23/08/2024 14:45 Around 100,000 households are making use of Team's Internet; 2nd quarter indicators 16/08/2024 14:34 Unlimited YouTube for AMD 3000 monthly 14/08/2024 15:27 Armenian Tax Authority Proposes Draconian Measures Against Businesses 14/08/2024 15:19 Massive Fire Engulfs Moscow’s RIO Shopping Center 14/08/2024 15:09 Azerbaijan Levels Mokhrenes Village in Artsakh 14/08/2024 15:01 Mikayel Minasyan, former ambassador and son-in-law of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan, is back in the spotlight 12/08/2024 15:15 First steps in establishing a startup with “Get Started” 12/08/2024 11:22 12-year-old Gabriela Harutyunyan aims for the European chess champion’s title 10/08/2024 13:56 VOYAGE 30 - 1000 MB of Internet, for only AMD 1500/Activation through “My Viva” application 02/08/2024 17:55 Unlimited Internet from Viva becomes even more affordable 29/07/2024 14:34 Wi-Fi Calling. calls and SMS abroad at the same rates as in Armenia 25/07/2024 17:51 Ameriabank Receives 3 Awards for Excellence by Euromoney: the Best Bank, the Best Digital Bank, and the Best Bank for SMEs in Armenia for 2024 23/07/2024 15:41 Byblos Digital Cards: Tailored for a generation opting for everything digital 22/07/2024 18:16 EBRD and Ameriabank to support Armenian businesses through stable trade finance funding 19/07/2024 13:38 Business Leadership in the Era of Internet of Things (IoT) and Digital Transformation 11/07/2024 19:41 “VOYAGE 30” Internet roaming: 1000 MB for just AMD 1500 03/07/2024 16:31 Ameriabank and COAF Pool Efforts to Develop Beekeeping in Lori Region 01/07/2024 18:11 Viva: Armenia's leading technology company introduces a new trademark 01/07/2024 13:05 Cumulative deposit on flexible terms. Byblos Bank Armenia's new offer 26/06/2024 12:15 Viva-MTS: Green technologies in Gomq 24/06/2024 18:20 “Viva University”: self-development and specialization platform for students․ About 300 graduates in 9 years 20/06/2024 12:15 “Dream big, start small”: Anna from Artsakh participates in “Get Started” 18/06/2024 11:00 Viva-MTS: Four families displaced from Artsakh have become beneficiaries of the "Individual Assistant" program 14/06/2024 19:08 EventHub.am is the official ticketing agent for the concert of the world renowned Black Eyed Peas in Tbilisi 04/06/2024 11:22 Byblos Bank Armenia puts children first: June 1 event celebrates childhood, imagination 31/05/2024 10:15 Karen Vardanyan donated 118 million drams to the National Center for Burns for the medical equipment 29/05/2024 16:56 EPIC Applauds EWC Armenia 2024 National Prizewinners Three Victorious Startups Advance to Global Competition 23/05/2024 18:05 Welcome to CaseKey 2024. Byblos Bank Armenia firmly stands by future innovators 23/05/2024 12:01 New technologies as guarantees for wildlife conservation and rural development 22/05/2024 16:06 Tariff plan “TOURIST UNLIM”: Unlimited Internet while travelling in Armenia 21/05/2024 15:45 Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora 20/05/2024 18:01 Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC 16/05/2024 17:03 “Get Started”: An educational platform for young startuppers 16/05/2024 15:40 Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients 08/05/2024 15:42 Viva-MTS: modern technological solutions to modernize the infrastructure of the border village 25/04/2024 18:46 Solar photovoltaic station at the kindergarten of the border village Yeraskh 22/04/2024 13:06 Caring for nature, we have started with ourselves - Team Telecom Armenia 18/04/2024 11:27 New streets in Koti equipped with illumination operated via automatic and remote control 11/04/2024 10:30 Byblos Bank Armenia donates AMD 5 million to Health Fund for Children of Armenia 06/04/2024 14:34 Viva-MTS sums up the financial results for 2023 and confirms its leadership in the sector 02/04/2024 12:20 Success story resulting from continued support. From music therapy to the conservatory 29/03/2024 14:41 Ameriabank named the Best Bank in Armenia for 2024 by Global Finance magazine 28/03/2024 14:02 IoT Lab opens at National Polytechnic University of Armenia 26/03/2024 16:58 “START+”: “Kinodaran” without subscription fee, 10 GB internet, 1000 minutes and favorite apps without any limits 25/03/2024 16:14 Change in Viva-MTS company name and General Terms of Provisioning Services 22/03/2024 17:24 Marzes remain in the focus of attention of Viva-MTS: New service center opened in Tchambarak 21/03/2024 14:12 In 2023, the SME Loan Portfolio of Ameriabank Reported More Than 30% Growth 19/03/2024 10:20 Mikael Vardanyan donated 117 mln drams for garbage trucks and 230 waste bins for Masis community 14/03/2024 18:12 New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development 13/03/2024 16:32 The number of Team mobile subscribers is over 1 million 13/03/2024 13:01 “RED”: fixed and mobile services in one package for customers valuing convenience and quality 11/03/2024 14:51 Global Finance Recognizes Ameriabank's Leadership in Sustainable Finance in Armenia 06/03/2024 14:07 Byblos Bank Armenia named CaseKey title sponsor again 05/03/2024 13:36 Doing Digital Forum Returns Featuring Brett King as Keynote Speaker 01/03/2024 18:42 "The Innovator's Dilemma": Byblos Bank Armenia supports publication of Armenian edition 29/02/2024 16:45 “Personal Assistant” program changes popular mindset in regions 27/02/2024 18:12 Viva-MTS: 30-day internet-package for the many destinations within “VOYAGE” service 22/02/2024 17:53 The kindergarten of Armavir village is already being supplied with solar photovoltaic panels 19/02/2024 16:53 Viva-MTS, a company cultivating reading traditions 19/02/2024 12:48 Ameriabank set to join BOGG, a London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed financial group as a standalone entity 14/02/2024 14:53 Years of hard work and a sustainable approach to infrastructure development in regions 07/02/2024 14:49 Virtual PBX: Smart tool for corporate clients