Anthony Hopkins, Frances McDormand and Chloe Zhao were among the big winners at the 93rd Academy Awards, a second ceremony where the usual spectacle has been disrupted by pandemic considerations.
Video / Getty / TVNZ
It's Oscars day and we are frocked up and at the ready for all that this year's awards have to offer.
A starkly different Academy Awards will be presented to us this year, all thanks to Covid of course. Smaller "hubs" of attendees will gather for the ceremony and all the glitz and glamour that the Oscars can muster in the midst of a pandemic.
The Oscars red carpet coverage starts at 10.30am, with the ceremony itself kicking off at 12.30pm NZ time. The ceremony is being telecast live on TVNZ but we will be keeping everyone updated on wins, upsets and highlights here, as they happen.
3:25pm - It's a wrap!
It's all over for another year. The big awards went to Nomadland - Best Director for Chloe Zhao, Best Picture and Best Actress for Frances McDormand and, in a bit of an upset, Anthony Hopkins won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Father. Keep reading for our full recap of how the ceremony unfolded...
We had our money on the late Chadwick Boseman to take home the Academy Award for Best Actor, but instead the Oscar has gone to Anthony Hopkins for his role in The Father. While Hopkins (who did not show up to accept his award) is, as always, outstanding in his role as a father battling with dementia, many fans have been critical of the "whiteness" of Oscars past and were tipping this to be the year things changed. The votes have spoken, Hopkins won, and the Twitterverse is angry.
Yeah the “let’s put Best Actor last so, obviously, we can celebrate the life of Chadwick Boseman” really backfired
In a race that was fairly wide open, McDormand's win for her role in Nomadland is not really a surprise. Her win is very worthy indeed, but many were hoping that the Award would go to one of the women of colour nominated this year - Andra Day and Viola Davis. No denying that McDormand is exceptional though!
3:05pm Nomadland wins Best Picture
Chloe Zhao's stark and moving tale of America's itinerant community, starring Frances McDormand, has, as expected, taken home the Academy Award for Best Picture. Zhao also won earlier in the evening for Best Director, only the second time the award has ever been won by a woman.
Legendary actress Glenn Close brought a much needed spark of silly to the Academy Awards when she showed off her music knowledge and dancing skills. First Close wowed with her knowledge of hip hop track Da Butt, from Spike Lee's film School Daze, and then busted out some booty shaking moves. It was so joyous!
Halle Berry, who presented several awards at the Oscar's this evening has become the meme favourite of the night, but not for the reasons she might have hoped. The entire internet is talking about Halle Berry's hair. The Oscar-winner opted for a floaty wine-coloured gown, which is fine, even with the massive pointless bow at the waist - but then there is her hair. Her cut could charitably be described as a short, choppy bob. Her look has spawned approximately 3 million memes and counting.
Korean actress, Yuh-Jung Youn, looked as surprised as anyone to have won the Academy Award for Best Supporting actress over Hollywood heavyweights Glenn Close and Olivia Coleman. The softly spoken Minari actress had everyone tuned in to the Awards in stiches when she thanked Brad Pitt, who presented her with her Oscar by saying: "Mr Brad Pitt, finally, nice to meet you." Pitt was off camera at the time, but what we wouldn't give to see his fa
ce.
12:50pm - Chloe Zhao wins Best Director for Nomadland
Chloe Zhao did what everyone expected her to do and won Best Director for Nomadland. Zhao looked thrilled but also very relaxed as she gave a very genuine speech about the inherent goodness she beleives is in most people. It was short and oh so sweet. Zhao is only the second woman ever to win the directing Oscar, and is the first woman of colour.
12:45pm - Daniel Kaluuya wins Best Supporting Actor gives powerful speech
Calling on everyone to continue to continue to work together to unite communities Daniel Kaluuya couldn't hide his utter joy at his first Oscar win. The best moment was when the camera panned to Kaluuya's mortified mother as he wrapped up his speech saying: "We've got to celebrate life, we're breathing, we're walking. My mom and dad had sex, I'm here, it's amazing, I'm so happy to be alive and I'm going to celebrate that. Love. Peace, love, and onwards, we go again."
A captivating, passionate speech from Daniel Kaluuya. "I'd like to thank my mum," he says. "You gave me my factory settings, so I can stand at my fullest height." | #Oscarspic.twitter.com/sCYb8hF0eF
The delightfully self-deprecating Emerald Fennell won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for her incredible Promising Young Woman. In her acceptance speech Fennell joked that she had crossed her legs the whole way through filming so she didn't go into labour with her son, who was born just two weeks after the film wrapped.
12:00pm - Best Director favourite Chloe Zhao wears sneakers on red carpet
Nomadland director Chloe Zhao shows everyone that comfort is key on the red carpet. Photo / Getty Images
Just when we thought we couldn't love her any more than we already do Nomadland director, Chloe Zhao has rocked up on the Academy Awards red carpet in running shoes. The fuss-free director shows, yet again, that she does life with ease and just really doesn't feel the need to impress, which ends up being even more impressive. The long plaits, the vintage-inspired dress and the sneakers together somehow shouldn't work as an ensemble but on Chloe Zhao, it is fierce.
Daniel Kaluuya and Leslie Odom Jr. share a red carpet moment
Despite both being up for the same award tonight, Daniel Kaluuya and Leslie Odom Jr., looked so ridiculously happy to see each other it brought a tear to our collective eyes and reminded us of simpler, pre-Covid times. We hope they both win!
Nomadland is the runaway favourite to take out both best picture and best director for Chloe Zhao, and Frances McDormand (pictured) is also up for best actress. Photo / Supplied
