Oppenheimer recently claimed the spotlight at the 96th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 10. The event marked the dramatic conclusion of the 2024 award season.
A constellation of Hollywood’s elite, including Margot Robbie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone, assembled to celebrate the cinematic experience. The ceremony, led by late-night luminary and four-time Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel, paid homage to the finest achievements in film.
Christopher Nolan’s Recognition at the Oscars
Triumphantly, Christopher Nolan received his first inaugural Academy Award for Best Director with “Oppenheimer,” a gem that dominated 7 out of its 13 nominations, including Best Picture accolade. Nolan, 53, has received five previous nominations for outstanding projects like “Dunkirk” (2017), “Inception” (2010), and “Memento” (2000).
In his acceptance speech, Nolan thanked the industry for his stellar cast, acknowledging them as individuals “all at the top of their game” and thanking his “incredible crew.” However, he reserved a special shout-out for his wife, Emma Thomas, a constant collaborator and producer on all his films since 1997.
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Nolan acknowledged her dual role as the producer of their cinematic endeavors and the mother of their children. He stated, “Producer of all our films and all our children, I love you.”
Emotional Wins and a Plea for Peace
On Sunday night, Cillian Murphy, 47, and Robert Downey Jr, 58, celebrated their inaugural Oscars in the Best Actor and Supporting Actor categories. After an emotional introduction by Sir Ben Kingsley, Murphy dedicated his win to all “peacemakers.”
He further said, “We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or worse, we’re living in Oppenheimer’s world. So, I’d really like to dedicate this to all the peacemakers out there.” Notably, the event experienced a slight delay, purportedly attributed to hundreds of protesters on Sunset Boulevard.
The protesters were advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Tom Murray of The Independent, who was at the event, said, “As the press shuttle drove towards the Dolby, we saw riot police gearing up and filing out in squadrons. He continued, “We had to go through three separate security checkpoints to get in.”
Emma Stone’s Unexpected Oscars Victory: Laughter, Elegance, and a Second Best Actress Win
The evening’s most unexpected twist was when Emma Stone won the Best Actress Award. This was surprising as she defied expectations and surpassed frontrunner Lily Gladstone. Despite Martin Scorsese’s film “Killers of the Flower Moon” receiving ten nominations, it left the audience empty-handed. Sad.
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Stone, 35, received the award for her role as Bella Baxter, a child trapped in a woman’s body, in Yorgos Lanthiomos’s period comedy “Poor Things.” The film earned Stone the accolade, giving her three consecutive awards for Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, and Costume. However, a minor wardrobe malfunction occurred as Stone accepted her award on stage.
Making light of the situation, she cracked a joke about the broken zipper before delivering her acceptance speech. In good spirits, Stone said, “Don’t look at my dress!” This marked her second Best Actress Award, following her previous win in 2017 for her role in “La La Land.”
Stone genuinely expressed her emotions, tearing up as she acknowledged “all the incredible women in this category.” She thanked her family and husband, who were beaming at her from the audience.
Historic Night for the UK: “The Zone of Interest” Makes History at Oscars
Notably, the UK had a night of historical significance, with “The Zone of Interest” receiving the Best International Film. Jonathan Glazer’s Auschwitz drama, an adaptation of the 2014 Martin Amis novel, marked a milestone as the first British film to win in this category.
Moreover, the film received recognition for Best Sound. In an emotional speech, Glazer moved several audiences, including the film’s star, Sandra Huller, to tears. During his speech, he addressed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. As an individual who rejects the co-opting of their Jewish identity and Holocaust, he worries about the ongoing conflict.
He stated, “Right now, we stand as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation.” He continued, “This has led to conflict for so many innocent people, whether the victims of 7 October in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza.” Glazer was among several stars, including Billie Eilish and Mark Ruffalo, who wore a ceasefire pin at the event.
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