Things We, and Everyone Else on the Planet Earth, Are Talking About From Last Night’s 92nd Oscars

The Oscars are the highlight of many people’s year: movie watchers, fashion lovers, gossip bloggers. From Eminem’s surprise (and surprising!) performance and Billy Porter’s red-carpet lewk, to Natalie Portman’s statement cape, there was something for everyone at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards. Here’s our take on last night’s iconic awards ceremony!

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Musical Performances

Janelle Monae

This being the second year without a host, we were on the edge of our seats to see how the show would begin and Janelle Monae did not disappoint! With a show-stopping or rather, starting, original musical number that featured dancing Nazis, we wouldn’t have complained if the Oscars turned into a three-and-a-half hour Janelle Monae concert.

Utkarsh Ambudkar

We also got a check-in from actor/rapper Urkarsh Ambudkar, of Pitch Perfect and The Mindy Project fame, who rapped off-the-cuff over Questlove’s beats about the lack of diversity present at the awards, but also celebrating the diverse winners and performers of the evening. 

Idina Menzel (and her army of Elsas)

Josh Gad made sure we’ll never forget how to pronounce Idina’s name, and she made sure we’d never forget her performance. Backed with an army of eleven international Elsas, she soared through a stunning rendition of Frozen II’s Oscar-nominated song, “Into the Unknown”.

Acceptance Speeches

Taika Waititi

Waititi, who had made a joke on the red carpet about staying awake during the award show, is the first Māori person to win an Oscar. He took home the award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Jojo Rabbit, and took the opportunity in his acceptance speech to inspire Indigenous kids around the world “to do art and dance and write stories” as the original storytellers.

Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix took home best actor for Joker after having swept the rest of the awards season. He took the opportunity to discuss racism, sexism, veganism, and animal rights. He ended it off with a heartwarming lyric written by his late brother River Phoenix that was very moving: “Run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow.”

Moms as Dates

Laura Dern

Laura Dern’s mom, three-time Oscar nominee Diane Ladd, was there to watch Laura win her first Oscar for her role in Netflix’s Marriage Story–on her birthday! Best birthday present ever!

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves and his mom Patricia Taylor wowed the red carpet with their timeless looks and striking suits. While they didn’t share their secret for eternal youth, they were, arguably, the most buzz-worthy couple of the evening.

Parasite

Director Bong Joon-Ho took home four Oscars on Sunday night for writing, directing, and producing the darkly comic thriller Parasite. The highest-grossing film ever to come out of South Korea, Parasite is the first non-English language film to win the Best Picture prize. It is also only the third film to win both the top prize at the Oscars and the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival — the others are The Lost Weekend (1945) and Marty (1955). Speaking through his interpreter, the director recently said, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” The Oscars jumped over that barrier last night.

What was your favourite part of last night’s Oscars? Let us know in the comments below!