By Kiera McGuire
Hollywood closed out its award season with the most popular award ceremony: The Oscars. Live on March 10, The 96th Oscar Awards created both history and upset within entertainment news.
Jimmy Kimmel returned to host the awards show for the fourth time and opened the event with some light hearted jokes — poking fun at both the nominees and Hollywood in the process. In his opening monologue, Kimmel addressed the monumental summer blockbuster run of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” dubbed Barbenheimer, noting that while “Oppenheimer” was nominated for 13 awards, “Barbie” was behind with 8 nominations.
“Barbie is a feminist icon thanks to Greta Gerwig, who many believe deserved to be nominated for Best Director,” Kimmel professed to the applauding audience, adding, “I know you’re clapping, but you’re the ones who didn’t vote for her, by the way. Don’t act like you had nothing to do with this.”
Kimmel went on to call out Hollywood, addressing the 148-day long Writer’s Strike, claiming that the directors “folded immediately” when offered a deal, but the writers picketed the entertainment industry for almost half the year in order to get a fair contract.
As far as the awards went, audiences could predict some of the winners from previous award shows: Cillian Murphy and Emma Stone for Best Actor and Actress, marking Stone’s second Best Actress win and Murphy’s first, Robert Downey Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, the first for both, “Oppenheimer” for Best Film, “The Boy and the Heron” for Best Animated Feature, “Poor Things” for Best Makeup/Hairstyling and Costume Design, Billie Eilish and Finneas for Best Original Song, making history as the youngest people to win two Oscars and Christopher Nolan for Best Director, marking the first Oscar win of his generations-long career. Wes Anderson took home his first Oscar for the live action short “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” as well.
One of the main controversies of the night was the battle between Emma Stone and Lily Gladstone for Best Actress for their roles in “Poor Things” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” respectively. Lily Gladstone made history for her portrayal of Mollie Kyle, being the first Oscar-nominated Native American in an acting category. Although she did not end up winning the award, Gladstone made history in Hollywood and brought attention to the lack of Native American representation in the industry, a first step that will hopefully be influential for generations to come.
One of the most memorable moments of the night was the speech by “20 Days in Mariupol” creator Mstyslav Chernov for Best Documentary Short, which was the first Oscar win in Ukrainian history. His speech was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. “I wish I never made this film,” Chernov began. “I wish to be able to exchange this to Russia never attacking Ukraine…but I cannot change the history, cannot change the past. We can make sure that the history record is set straight and those people of Mariupol, and those who have given their lives, will never be forgotten. Because cinema forms memories and memories form history.” This speech earned the largest applause of the night. Further serving as a reminder that the elite in Hollywood, many of whom refused to acknowledge the protests taking place right outside the venue, can do more.
Cillian Murphy also made a memorable speech, notably dedicating his award to those who serve to protect. “We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world,” Cillian started, “So I would really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere.”
The Oscars, while intended to serve as a night of celebration for the entertainment industry, also served as a reminder to audiences that more should be done to make the world a better place for everyone.