The Oscars, 2019 – 91st Academy Awards: We Are the Champions

Televised live, in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide, the biggest night in Hollywood, the 91st Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Awards for the film industry has arrived and the golden Oscars awarded, recognizing excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by their voting membership.

Today seen as the celebrity capital of the world, where annually the Red-Carpet parade at the Oscars has become the place to see and be seen, Hollywood is where those who make their living from the performing arts on both stage and screen gather to support those they work with, and to honour their industry.

It was during WW I when Hollywood became the movie capital of the world. After WW II the commercial television stations moved in and in the 1950’s, music recording studios and offices also invaded followed by ancillary industries (such as editing, special effects, props, post-production, and lighting companies).

These days the Academy’s Oscar Awards day involves taking selfies and tweeting throughout the show, as a light-hearted commentary on our all new world of instant online fame.

To start; there was such a lot of ghastly dresses on this year’s red carpet it was overwhelming… there’s sure to be someone who puts together a top 100 uglies; although, it won’t be me.

What were they thinking!

Marie Kondo, Amy Adams and Emilia Clark led the way in looking lovely, alongside my best from Michelle Yeoh wearing Elie Saab, at least from those seen as at publishing.

However, i’m old fashioned, I really loved what British actress Olivia Coleman was wearing, so understated, so English and entirely right for the moment.

Then there was the moment when Melissa McCarthy and Brian Tyree Henry announced the award for Best Costume Design in some costumes of their own. Hilarious.

Queen singing We Will Rock You was a big hit to start, the audience clapping to the beat and when it was followed by We Are the Champions, well what more can you say. Such a musical highlight is surely much better than a host, whose jokes often bomb out.

Throughout the evening singing the songs nominated for an Oscar turned out to be a star-studded event. It was no surprise when the simply stunning Shallow, sung in spine-tingling style by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper won, such was its, and their extraordinary power to please.

Dynamite moment, only exceeded by Rami Malek becoming Best Actor – so well deserved.

He was followed by Britain’s grand lady Olivia Coleman winning her first Oscar, giving the most delightful speech of the ceremony.

Following the many pointers during the course of the evening, it was really no surprise to me that Green Book took home the Oscar for Best Picture… it’s a tale for all time.

Welcome to the Oscars which would turn out to be, as always, a heightened emotional experience.

The Oscars went to:

Actress in a Supporting Role – Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Documentary Feature – Free Solo

Makeup and Hairstyling – Vice

Costume Design and Production Design – Black Panther

Cinematography – Roma, Alfonso Cuarón

Sound Editing and Sound Mixing – Bohemian Rhapsody

Foreign Language Film – Roma, Mexico

Achievement in Film Editing – Bohemian Rhapsody

Actor in a Supporting Role – Mahershala Ali

Best Animated Feature – Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse

Animated Short Film – Bao

Documentary Short Subject – Period. End of Sentence.

Achievements in Visual Effects – First Man

Live Action Short Film – Skin

Original Screenplay – Green Book

Adapted Screenplay – BlacKkKlansman

Best Original Score – Black Panther

Best Original Song – Shallow, Lady Gaga

Best Actor – Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Actress – Olivia Coleman, The Favourite

Best Director – Alfonso Cuarón for Roma

Best Picture – Green Book

Carolyn McDowall, The Culture Concept Circle, 2019