The grand event in the world of movies has come to a close! The Oscars were very eventful, and luckily there were no surprising situations or need for damage control.
Although the final award was announced by Al Pacino in a way that surprised many, as he was the last presenter of the evening. Anyway, the 96th Academy Awards featured unforgettable acceptance speeches, a standout performance by Ryan Gosling, and a major win for Oppenheimer.
Here are some of the most memorable moments from the ceremony:
Ryan Gosling goes ‘I’m Just Ken’
Ryan Gosling delivered a powerful performance that did not disappoint. Even though he didn’t win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar 2024, his live performance of the song I’m Just Ken from Barbie was truly unforgettable.
At the beginning of the show, the actor was sitting among the audience and gradually shifted the focus towards Margot Robbie, who was seated directly in front of him. She couldn’t contain her laughter, finding it quite amusing. On stage, the actor in pink overalls was soon joined by a big group of dancers sporting cowboy hats. Is there anything else? In Greta Gerwig’s film, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Ncuti Gatwa also joined the other Kens shortly. X is already full of praise for the performance, which may have also honored Marilyn Monroe!
I’m serious when I say I’ll never be over this. #Oscars2024 pic.twitter.com/D7mzoLyoy4
— Jessica Clemons (@lulu_clemons) March 11, 2024
Da’Vine Joy Randolph gives emotional Oscar Speech
Da’Vine Joy Randolph received the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in The Holdovers. She delivered a moving acceptance speech on stage that left everyone in tears. Leading the pack in the category, she went into the ceremony with a string of precursor awards under her belt, such as a Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG Award, Independent Spirit Award, and Critics Choice Award.
“God is amazing,” she started her speech. Isn’t God just amazing? I never thought this was meant to be my career. As a singer, I began my journey when my mother encouraged me to visit the theater department across the street. There’s something waiting for you there. She expressed gratitude towards her mother for that action.
She also said, “Ran Laroux, I appreciate it.” When I was the only Black girl in that class, you noticed me and reassured me that I was valued. I mentioned that I didn’t see myself. You mentioned, “That’s okay, we will create our own way forward.” I have always desired to stand out from the crowd. Now, I understand that I simply needed to be authentic. Thank you for meeting with me. Paul Giamatti’s emotional expression resonated with everyone.
Sean Lennon’s Sweet Tribute to his Mother Yoko
After winning Best Animated Short Film for War Is Over!, Sean Ono Lennon went on stage and expressed his gratitude, mentioning that his mother celebrated her 91st birthday in February. Today is Mother’s Day in the U.K., so let’s all wish Yoko a Happy Mother’s Day! The sweet request was well received by the audience who enthusiastically shouted, “Happy Mother’s Day, Yoko!”
Oppenheimer Wins Big
Oppenheimer excelled at the Oscars, taking home a total of seven awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Christopher Nolan. There was a small mistake right before the final award was announced. Al Pacino announced Oppenheimer as the Best Picture winner without introducing the nominees.
Al Pacino and Christopher Nolan at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/nOCus3rlir
— best of al pacino (@bestofpacino) March 11, 2024
Anatomy of a Fall’s Dog Steals the Limelight
If you’ve watched Anatomy of a Fall, you’d agree that Snoop the dog truly deserved an Oscar. The dog with four legs, who had a significant role in the Best Picture nominee, stole the spotlight of the night by sitting cutely in the theater. Messi, the 7-year-old Border Collie, received a special mention from host Jimmy Kimmel during his opening monologue. “Even though he’s a dog, Messi may have given the performance of the year in Anatomy of a Fall.” There is a scene where he overdoses. “I haven’t witnessed a French actor consume vomit in such a manner since Gérard Depardieu,” he remarked. Then there was a quick transition to Messi clapping with his hands! So cute!
NO WAY MESSI CLAPPING AT THE OSCARS 😭 pic.twitter.com/3kCAjy5fkV
— Rina (@bbblanchett) March 11, 2024
Actresses Nominated for Best Actress Embrace Each Other
Emma Stone, Annette Bening, and Lily Gladstone embraced in a group hug at the ceremony. All the actors nominated in the Best Actress category seemed emotional and were spotted chatting with each other during the commercial break. Margot Robbie, who did not receive a nomination in the Best Actress category, also joined them shortly for the hug. Even though they were not part of the main event, Sandra Huller and Carey Mulligan were also in attendance at the ceremony.
In the end, Emma Stone came out on top in that category. The actress won her second Academy Award for her role as Bella Baxter in Poor Things, and thanked all the nominees in her heartfelt acceptance speech.
Special Naatu Naatu Surprise
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt paid homage to the stunt community and action design’s impact on the history of cinema. A scene from SS Rajamouli’s RRR was included in the montage, showcasing clips from various movies such as John Wick and Mad Max: Fury Road. “They have played a vital role in our industry since the inception of cinema… Shoutout to all the amazing stunt performers and stunt coordinators who bring movie scenes to life! “We salute you,” Ryan Gosling said.
And again, a sweet surprise for us… 🔥🌊
Glad that @TheAcademy included #RRRMovie action sequences as part of their tribute to the world’s greatest stunt sequences in cinema. pic.twitter.com/TGkycNtF2I
— RRR Movie (@RRRMovie) March 11, 2024
Barbenheimer was the standout cinema event of the previous year, so it was no surprise that it was mentioned during the Oscars ceremony. Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, who were nominated for their work in Oppenheimer and Barbie, brought a genuine and refreshing presence to the event. “No, I’m just glad that we can finally move past this Barbenheimer rivalry. Indeed. Ken and Kitty are leaving all that fodder behind,” Emily remarked.
A Meeting of Twins
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, who appeared in the movie Twins in 1988, took on the role of presenters for the evening and commemorated their partnership. “Wow, that is absolutely stunning.” Take a look at everyone. Wow, that looks great! “Arnold and I are presenting together for a very obvious reason,” DeVito said. Schwarzenegger responded, “We both attempted to eliminate Batman!”
John Cena Bares It All
An unclothed person John Cena unexpectedly appearing at the Oscars this year was quite a surprise for everyone! The WWE wrestler appeared on stage at the Oscars without any clothing to present the award for Best Costume Design.
This is a sophisticated occasion. You might want to reconsider your suggestion as it may not be well-received. “The male body is not a joke!” he exclaimed, as he walked on stage with an oversized winner’s envelope shielding his private parts. When the lights dimmed to announce the nominees, a team of assistants rushed to help him with a stunning gown. He proceeded to reveal the winner of the category: Holly Waddington for Poor Things.
