South Korean Bong Joon-ho winning Best Director for Parasite, which also won Best Picture, Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay. “Thought I was done,” Bong Joon-ho said in his Best Director speech – but no, there was still Best Picture left. Parasite’s sweep might surprise pundits who predicted Sam Mendes and his war drama 1917 would take Best Director and Picture, with Bong Joon-ho a close second – 1917 was seen as the sort of film The Academy, that gives out the Oscars, favours versus Parasite, a fan and critics’ favourite. However, never let it be said that the Oscars don’t know a good plot twist when they see one. The acting slate held no surprises – Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor for Joker, Renee Zellweger won Best Actress for Judy, Brad Pitt is this year’s Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and Laura Dern went home with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for her performance in Marriage Story.
Unsurprisingly, war drama 1917 won Best Cinematography – the movie was filmed to make it seem like one single shot. It also won Best Visual Effects. Jojo Rabbit won Best Adapted Screenplay. Toy Story 4 won Best Animated Feature.
India’s Oscar entry this year, Gully Boy starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, exited the race at the shortlist stage.
This year’s Oscar winners:
Best Picture – Parasite
Best Director – Bong Joon-ho for Parasite
Best Actress – Renee Zellweger for Judy
Best Actor – Joaquin Phoenix for Joker
Best Supporting Actress – Laura Dern for Marriage Story
Best Supporting Actor – Brad Pitt for Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood
Best Original Screenplay – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won for Parasite
Best Adapted Screenplay – Taika Waititi for Jojo Rabbit
Best Animated Feature – Toy Story 4
Best International Feature – Parasite (South Korea)
Best Documentary Feature – American Factory
Best Documentary Short – Learning To Skate In A Warzone (If You’re A Girl)
Best Live Action Short – The Neighbors’ Window
Best Animated Short – Hair Love