Awarded Oscars in Smaller, But Glamorous Show Without …

The Academy Awards, better known as Oscars, are presented in Los Angeles. The show is limited due to the corona pandemic, with only 170 people welcome at the ceremony, which should still look as normal as possible. No stars appearing in pajamas via Zoom, but old-fashioned glitter and glamor. With also Belgian nominations, and ‘Nomadland’ as the predictable big winner.

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In order to make the show covid-safe, besides a few segments in the usual Dolby Theater in Hollywood, it mainly takes place in Union Station, Los Angeles’ major train hub. Nominees are not allowed to enter through Zoom, but due to the difficulty of travel, twenty additional locations have been set up worldwide, including in London, Paris and Sydney, from which stars can follow the show and appear via video connection.

Those attending the ceremony were asked to isolate themselves as much as possible for the past ten days and their temperature is checked upon arrival. Rapid tests were also conducted on site. The guests do not have to wear a mouth mask “as on a film set” when the cameras are running, only during the commercial breaks, so off screen. The dress code that the guests were given also hammered on formal attire. No stars who appear in pajamas or sweatpants via video connection like at the Golden Globes.

On the sparsely populated red carpet, Colman Domingo and Leslie Odom Jr. in a bright pink and gold costume, respectively. Many attendees had clearly taken inspiration from the color of the statues: Carey Mulligan, who hopes for a golden statuette for best actress, also chose gold for her glamorous dress. Questlove continued the trend, but didn’t stray too much from the formal dress code, showing up in golden Crocs. Director Chloé Zhao also decided to go for comfort, with what looked like a knitted dress and sneakers.

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Traditional glamor brought, among others, Maria Bakalova and Amanda Seyfried, with wide tulle dresses, while Regina King appeared with butterfly shoulders. Angela Bassett also appeared with very wide sleeves. All useful for promoting social distancing.

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Preaching Hollywood

Again, there was no permanent presenter for the three-hour ceremony, but different stars take it in turns. Regina King began by saying that “if things had turned out differently in Minneapolis last week (where ex-cop Derek Chauvin was convicted of the murder of George Floyd, ed.), I would have exchanged my high heels for marching boots ”. To those who now wanted to turn off the TV because Hollywood starts preaching again, King said that all fame just doesn’t make you immune to the fear that a mother of a black child feels. “But, we are here to celebrate!”, After which she shifted the focus to the coveted film awards.

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Although themes of social justice were never far away, in nominations, introductions, in memoriam or thank-you speeches, from racism to feminism to gun laws. Thus pointed out the winners of best short film – Two distant strangers, on police brutality – insists that the police kill an average of three Americans every day. “Including a disproportionate number of blacks. Please don’t be indifferent to our pain. ”

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Although it didn’t have to be all that serious. During a music quiz as an interlude, actress Glenn Close (74) twitched just like that.

The figurines

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The big winner of the evening was, as expected, Nomadland, which was voted best film and thus scooped our country off: Bert Hamelinck of production house Caviar was the first Belgian producer to win the Oscar for best film, for Sound of Metal. The film was able to cash in two of the six nominations, with frames for best sound and best editing, but also had to see an original screenplay, actor in a supporting role, and actor in a leading role awarded to others in addition to best film.

Two Belgian actors also saw their hopes for Oscar glory evaporate: the Tunisian The Man Who Sold His Skin with Koen De Bouw and the Bosnian Where are you going, Aida with Johan Heldenbergh had to give up for the Danish Another Round as best international film.

READ ALSO. Johan Heldenbergh nominated for Oscar for the third time: “But I’m not going to let my sleep for it” (+)

Nomadland in addition to the main prize for best film, also received a string of other prominent prizes to his name. Chloé Zhao set a first by becoming the first non-white woman and only the second woman to ever win best director. And lead actress Frances McDormand was awarded best actress.

Best actor was more surprisingly Anthony Hopkins in Father, and thus not as expected in Chadwick Boseman posthumously for his role Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Mank David Fincher, a black-and-white film that highlights the golden age in Hollywood, had a chance to win the most Oscars with ten nominations, but had to make do with two less prominent categories: best production design and best cinematography.

Best animation film was, as expected, the Disney film Soul, which also won the Oscar for best original music.

These are all winners:

• Beste originele screenplay: Promising young woman
• Beste geadapteerde screenplay: The father
• Best Foreign Language Film: Another round
• Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
• Beste manager: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
• Best Makeup and Hair: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Best Costume Design: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Best Sound: Sound of Metal
• Best Live-Action Short Film: Two Distant Strangers
• Best Animated Short Film: If Anything Happens I Love You
• Best Animated Film: Soul
• Beste korte documentary: Colette
• Beste documentaire: My Octopus Teacher
• Best Visual Effects: Tenet
• Best Supporting Actress: Youn Yuh-Jung, Minari
• Best production design: Lack
• Other cinematography: Mank
• Best film editing: Sound of Metal
• Jean Hersholt humanitarian award: Tyler Perry
• Best Original Music: Soul
• Beste originele muzieknummer: Fight For You, H.E.R., Judas and the Black Messiah
• Best film: Nomadland
• Best Actress in a Leading Role: Frances McDormand, Nomadland
• Best Actor in a Leading Role: Anthony Hopkins, The Father

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