By Stefan Pape.
It's hard to look back on last night's Academy Awards without discussing one of the most unforgettable moments in the history of this annual ceremony, now in its 89th year – when La La Land was read out as the winner of the Best Picture award, only for the victory speech to be cut short when it was revealed that Moonlight was the actual winner.
Bonnie & Clyde themselves – Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty – were at the heart of the controversy as they called out the Damien Chazelle musical, only to realise they'd made a huge mistake. After the madness died down, it's easy to see why Moonlight, the beautiful endeavour helmed by Barry Jenkins, won Best Picture.
It's hard to look back on last night's Academy Awards without discussing one of the most unforgettable moments in the history of this annual ceremony, now in its 89th year – when La La Land was read out as the winner of the Best Picture award, only for the victory speech to be cut short when it was revealed that Moonlight was the actual winner.
Bonnie & Clyde themselves – Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty – were at the heart of the controversy as they called out the Damien Chazelle musical, only to realise they'd made a huge mistake. After the madness died down, it's easy to see why Moonlight, the beautiful endeavour helmed by Barry Jenkins, won Best Picture.
The film, which tells the story of a young, gay black man striving to find his place in the world and establish his own identity, picked up three awards in total, also taking home Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for the remarkable, nuanced turn by Mahershala Ali (who may also be crowned for delivering the best speech of the evening).
In spite of the embarrassment over Best Picture, La La Land did leave with the most gongs, picking up six out of its breathtaking 14 nominations. Damien Chazelle won Best Director for his efforts while Emma Stone won Best Actress, and “City of Stars” won Best Original Song (good luck getting that one out of your head). Meanwhile Casey Affleck beat off competition from Denzel Washington to win Best Actor for his performance in Manchester by the Sea, which also won Best Original Screenplay. Viola Davis was another unsurprising victor, winning Best Supporting Actress for her stirring performance in character drama Fences.
In spite of the embarrassment over Best Picture, La La Land did leave with the most gongs, picking up six out of its breathtaking 14 nominations. Damien Chazelle won Best Director for his efforts while Emma Stone won Best Actress, and “City of Stars” won Best Original Song (good luck getting that one out of your head). Meanwhile Casey Affleck beat off competition from Denzel Washington to win Best Actor for his performance in Manchester by the Sea, which also won Best Original Screenplay. Viola Davis was another unsurprising victor, winning Best Supporting Actress for her stirring performance in character drama Fences.
One thing that simply cannot be disputed at an otherwise seamlessly executed evening at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles is what a remarkable year it’s been for cinema. La La Land is an enchanting, visual treat, while Moonlight is as visually arresting as it is emotionally immersive. Both are examples of films that demand a big screen viewing. There really is no better place to spend your time than sat in front of the big screen, ready to be swept off your feet.
Get times and tickets for Moonlight. See the full list of awards films to catch at Vue.
