Oscar 2016 Winners:
The irrepressible Chris Rock’s opening monologue poked fun at well-known celebrities like Kevin Hart, Will and Jada Pickett Smith and Sylvester Stallone…then went on to make light of the undue focus on red carpet fashion…and finally skewered this year’s “racial controversy” with a call for equal opportunity for actors of all colors. and He told the audience “Not everything is about sexism and racism. His daughter is sure to be pleased with all of the Girl Scout cookies he sold to those in attendance.
Lady Gaga – of Super Bowl 50 national anthem success – received a standing ovation for her performance. We see this new phase in her career as a result of associating with the class and talent of Mr. Tony Bennett.
Leonardo DiCaprio he took home the award for best actor for his performance in “The Revenant” and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief. His podium moment included his call for action regarding global warming (“climate change” for those not yet up to speed).
Brie Larson won best actress for “Room,” the mother-and-child story also starring 5-year-old Jacob Tremblay.
Not to be missed – Alejandro González Iñárritu won best director for “The Revenant” – his second win in a row for this category. Who indeed let this guy have a green card? [Also see Sean Penn, Oscars 2015]
Sam Smith took home his well-deserved Oscar for the theme song “The Writing’s On The Wall” – from the most recent James Bond thriller, “Spectre.”
The Winners List
Best Picture: “Spotlight”
Direction: “The Revenant,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant”
Actress: Brie Larson, “Room”
Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies”
Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, “The Danish Girl”
Adapted Screenplay: “The Big Short,” Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
Original Screenplay: “Spotlight,” Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
Cinematography: “The Revenant,” Emmanuel Lubezki
Production Design: “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Colin Gibson and Lisa Thompson (set decoration)
Film Editing: “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Margaret Sixel
Visual Effects: “Ex Machina,” Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett
Costume Design: “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Jenny Beavan
Makeup: “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin
Sound Editing: “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Mark Mangini and David White
Sound Mixing: “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo
Score: “The Hateful Eight,” Ennio Morricone
Song: “Writing’s on the Wall,” from “Spectre,” Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith
Foreign Language Film: “Son of Saul” (Hungary)
Animated Feature: “Inside Out”
Documentary Feature: “Amy”
Animated Short: “Bear Story”
Documentary Short: “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness”
Live Action Short: “Stutterer”