“Parasite” won the best picture Oscar Sunday night, becoming the first foreign-language film to take home the biggest honor in film.
Bong Joon Ho’s class satire has been one of the season’s darlings, despite failing to garner any Academy Award nominations for its cast.
The filmmaker also won the Oscar for best director for “Parasite,” which also won for best international film, South Korea’s first win in the category. The category was previously known as foreign language film.
Joaquin Phoenix won the best actor Academy Award for his role as a wanna-be-comedian destined to become a supervillain in “Joker.”
It is Phoenix’s first Oscar and fourth nomination. Widely praised for performances in films ranging from “Gladiator” to the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line,” a best actor win had proved elusive for Phoenix.
In his acceptance speech, Phoenix said he did not feel elevated above any of his fellow nominees. He said he didn’t know what he would be if not for acting.
Phoenix had been seen as the front-runner for the award heading in to Sunday’s ceremony. “Joker” won the best original score Oscar as well, and is up for the night’s final prize, best picture.
He becomes the second actor to win an Oscar for playing the notorious DC Comics villain. Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for playing the Joker in “The Dark Knight” in 2008.
Renée Zellwegger has won the best actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Judy Garland in “Judy,” a film chronicling the tumultuous final year of the legendary actress’ life.
It is Zellweger’s second Oscar; she won the supporting actress award in 2004 for “Cold Mountain.”
The actress enjoyed front-runner status throughout awards season, picking up top Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild honors last month.
Few categories were more certain coming into Sunday’s Oscars than best supporting actor, which Pitt had locked down all awards season. While Pitt (who in 2014 shared in the best picture win for “12 Years a Slave,” as was a producer) has regaled audiences with one-liners in the run-up to the Oscars, he began his acceptance speech comments on a political note.
“They told me I have 45 seconds to speak, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week,” said Pitt, alluding to the impeachment hearings. “I’m thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it.”
Pitt said the honor had given him reason to reflect on his fairy-tale journey in the film industry, going back to when he moved to Los Angeles from Missouri. “Once upon a time in Hollywood,” said Pitt. “Ain’t that the truth.”
Nearly twenty years after skipping the Academy Awards, Slim Shady finally arrived on the Oscars stage.
Eminem made a surprise appearance and performed “Lose Yourself,” a best original song winner in 2003 from the soundtrack to “8 Mile.” His performance rocked the Dolby Theatre — Zazie Beetz was among the many who rapped along, and Billie Eilish watched with her jaw dropped.
The appearance was a big deal for the awards show after Eminem didn’t perform as a nominee in ’03. Backstage producer Lynette Howell Taylor was especially excited, save for a momentary panic that he didn’t have his mic. Afterward, she squealed “We did it!” Fitting for a performance that required a few bleeps, Howell Taylor also let out some expletives of her own in excitement.
Here’s the list of the winners at the 92nd Academy Awards:
Best picture: “Parasite,” Kwak Sin-ae and Bong Joon Ho, producers
Best actor: Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Best actress: Renee Zellweger, “Judy”
Best director: Bong Joon Ho for “Parasite’
Best supporting actor: Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Best supporting actress: Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Best international film: South Korea’s “Parasite”
Best cinematography: “1917,” Roger Deakins
Best animated feature film: “Toy Story 4”
Best animated short film: “Hair Love”
Best original screenplay: “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho and Jin Won Han
Best adapted screenplay: “Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi
Best original song: “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” from “Rocketman,” Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Best original score: “Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir
Best costume design: “Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran
Best makeup and hair styling: “Bombshell,” Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan and Vivian Baker
Best production design: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling; set decoration: Nancy Haigh
Best documentary feature: Barack and Michelle Obama-produced “American Factory”
Best documentary short subject: “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl),” Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva
Best live action short film: The Neighbors’ Window,” Marshall Curry
Best sound mixing: “1917,” Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson
Best sound editing: “Ford v Ferrari,” Donald Sylvester
Best film editing: “Ford v Ferrari,” “Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland
Best visual effects: “1917,” Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy
