Parasite took home the top prize at the 92nd Academy Awards Sunday night. It is the first non-English language film to win the best picture award. The movie was considered an underdog headed into the ceremony, beating out strong competition from 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood for the best picture win.
The film also won the award for best international feature, best director and best original screenplay. It is South Korea’s first nominated film. I’m speechless, Kwak Sin Ae, producer of Parasite, said during her acceptance speech.
”We never imagined this to ever happen. We are so happy.”
Director Bong Joon Ho’s win in the achievement in directing category was an upset as 1917′s Sam Mendes was the favorite to win after securing the Golden Globe and Directors Guild awards for best director. Universal’s 1917 took home three prizes on Sunday, including best cinematography, best sound editing and best visual effects.
Disney garnered wins for Toy Story 4 in the best animation category, Jojo Rabbit in the best adapted screenplay category and two for Ford v. Ferrari, which won in the film editing and sound editing categories.
Netflix, which nabbed 24 nominations for the big awards ceremony, more than any other media company in the industry this year, received trophies for best documentary and best supporting actress. Warner Bros. scored wins for best score and best actor.
Brad Pitt was adjudged the best actor in a supporting role for the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Pitt, who was presented the trophy by last year’s best supporting actress winner Regina King, dedicated his award to one of a kind and original Tarantino, co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, Hollywood’s stunt people and his children.
”I loved the ethos of Cliff Booth. Look for the best in people, expect the worst but look for the best. Leo, I will ride on your coattails any day man,” Pitt said in his acceptance speech.
Hollywood star Laura Dern couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present than an Oscar as she won her maiden Academy Award in the best supporting actress category for her role in Marriage Story. The actor, who turns 53 on Monday, won the Oscar for playing Nora Fanshaw, a firebrand divorce counsel to Scarlett Johansson’s character undergoing separation from her husband, played by Adam Driver.
Dern beat Johansson, nominated for Jojo Rabbit, and her Little Women co-star Florence Pugh in the category. Other nominees were Margot Robbie (Bombshell) and Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell). This is the best birthday present ever, Dern declared as she accepted her trophy.
”Some say never meet your heroes but I say if you are really blessed, you get them as your parents,” the actress said, dedicating the award to her parents, veteran actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd.