South Korean film Parasite beats Hollywood biggies

Los Angeles: South Korean film Parasite beat Hollywood biggies like Joker, 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to win the best picture Oscar on Sunday night that was given a musical touch by artistes such as Elton John and Eminem.

Parasite is the first non-English to win the top honour.

On Sunday night, the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony saw many more highs.

The Oscars did not have an official host this year too, but it was well opened by Janelle Monae's musical performance.

Minutes later, former hosts Chris Rock and Steve Martin hit the stage and delivered a stand-up comedy set in which they called out the Academy for not nominating any woman in the best director category.

Actress Natalie Portman also weighed in on the issue by wearing a cape featuring names of female directors not nominated for an Oscar this year.

However, women power could be seen on stage. Two on-screen superheroes (Brie Larson and Gal Gadot) and Sigourney Weaver, introduced Irish conductor Eimear Noone – the first woman to conduct at the Academy Awards.

Composer Hildur Gudnadottir scored an important Oscar win for women. She is the first woman to win an Academy Award for best original score in two decades.

Moving forward, President Donald Trump's recently-concluded impeachment trial was also given a mention at the Hollywood's biggest night when actor Brad Pitt got on the stage to receive his supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of stuntman Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Taika Waititi, who wrote, directed and co-starred in the anti-fascist story Jojo Rabbit, won the best adapted screenplay award and dedicated it "to all the indigenous kids in the world who want to do art and dance and write stories. We are the original storytellers, and we can make it here".

Waititi is the first Indigenous filmmaker to win an Oscar.

Talking about immigrants, before announcing the Academy Award for best animated feature film, Indian-American comedian Mindy Kaling said she found solace in animated films as a "shy" young girl from an immigrant family.

Now that she's older, she recognises that animation is one of the most sophisticated forms of storytelling.

"I can't wait to introduce those worlds to my daughter now," Kaling said before announcing Toy Story 4 as the winner.

As for best animated short, it went to former athlete Matthew A. Cherry for Hair Love. It's the same category that late basketball player Kobe Bryant won in 2018.

If Kaling was a presenter, Indian-American filmmakers Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan competed in documentary short subject category. Their St. Louis Superman lost to Leaning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl).

India found a place in the winners' list too. Director Sam Mendes' war drama 1917, which has Reliance Entertainment and Amblin Partners among the banners associated with the film's production, took the Oscar for best visual effects, beating out tough competitors like Avengers: Endgame.

The World War I epic also won the best cinematography award at the ceremony held in Hollywood on Sunday night.

India's presence at the gala continued. Indian composer A.R. Rahman, who had won Oscars for his song 'Jai ho', made it to an original song montage.

This wasn't the only musical touch at the ceremony. Eminem, Elton John, Randy Newman, Chrissy Metz, Idina Menzel and Billie Eilish entertained the audience that consisted of stars like Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda and Martin Scorsese.

The Memoriam segment, delivered to Billie Eilish singing the Beatles' 'Yesterday', featured names including Kobe Bryant, Doris Day, Peter Fonda and Kirk Douglas.

Among other winners, Ford v Ferrari, a racing drama, won the best editing award. It won for sound editing too.

American Factory, backed by former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama, was announced as the winner of the best documentary feature.

Designer Jacqueline Durran's work in Little Women helped her win the best costume design.

Renee Zellweger, who had won an Oscar in 2004 for Cold Mountain, collected her best actress trophy for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Judy.

Renee Zellweger's poignant portrayal of yesteryear actor-singer Judy Garland in her twilight years helped the actor win the best actress at the 92 Academy Awards here.

It was a second Academy Award for Zellweger who previously won a best supporting actress Oscar 15 years ago from her role in Cold Mountain.

"Miss Garland you are certainly among the heroes who unite and define us and this is certainly for you," Zellweger said.

Laura Dern, on the other hand, won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role as a divorce lawyer in Marriage Story.

"This is the best birthday present ever," Dern declared as she accepted her trophy.

Joaquin Phoenix walked home with the best actor Oscar at the 92nd Academy Awards for playing superhero Batman's nemesis in Joker.

The 45-year-old actor had earlier bagged a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his turn as a failed, unhinged stand-up comedian who descends into chaos.

In a lengthy and rambling speech, Phoenix touched upon racism, climate change and gender inequality. He also remembered his brother River Phoenix, who died of a drug overdose at the age of 23 in 1993.

And finally, Parasite got the best picture in addition to best directing, international feature film and writing (original screenplay) awards.

The comedy-drama, which has been a favourite since it claimed the Palme d'Or at last year's Cannes film festival, had its India premiere at the International Film Festival of India in November last year.

Winners of Oscars 2020

Best Picture: Parasite

Best Director: Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

Best Actress: Renee Zellweger (Judy)

Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood)

Best Supporting Actress: Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

Original Screenplay: Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won (Parasite)

Adapted Screenplay: Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit)

Animated Feature Film: Toy Story 4

Int'l Feature Film: Parasite (South Korea)

Documentary Feature: American Factory

Documentary - Learning to Skateboard Short Subject: in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)

Live Action Short Film: The Neighbors' Window

Animated Short Film: Hair Love

Original Score: Hildur Gudnadottir (Joker)

Original Song: '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again,' from Rocketman

Sound Editing: Ford v Ferrari

Sound Mixing: 1917

Production Design: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Cinematography: 1917

Make up and Hairstyling: Bombshell

Costume Design: Little Women

Film Editing: Ford v Ferrari"

Visual Effects: 917