The pinnacle of the Hollywood awards season, the 87th Academy Awards were handed out at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. A seasoned host of the Tony and Emmy Awards, Neil Patrick Harris brought his comedic timing and song and dance act to the Oscars for the first time keeping the telecast light and fresh. Harris’ self quick wit kept his delivery from feeling scripted while he got in a few cheeky digs at the Academy and Hollywood while easily making fun of himself, including a ‘stripped-down’ delivery in his tighty-whities.
The telecast felt quick and entertaining with an opening number by Harris and Anna Kendrick with help from Jack Black other performances included best song nominees Tegan & Sara with The Lonely Island, Adam Levine, Tim McGraw, Rita Ora, and John Legend & Common. For the traditional “In Memoriam” segment, Oscar winners Meryl Streep put their legacy into words and Jennifer Hudson paid tribute in song. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Sound Of Music, Lady Gaga channelled Julie Andrews to perform the title song & a selection of other songs from the famed musical, then introduced the legendary actress to present the Best Original Score.
Many of the winners were able to mention causes close to their project or hearts especially Patricia Arquette’s heartfelt call for “…equal rights for women in the United States of America.” and John Legend and Common’s stand for equality for all.
Going into the evening, both The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) lead the nominees with nine each. The outcome of the evening saw each of them coming away with four trophies, Birdman winning the Best Picture and Director.
Other main awards went to:
Best Picture – Birdman
Best Director – Alejandro González Iñárritu for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Best Actor – Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything
Best Actress – Julianne Moore as Dr Alice Howland in Still Alice
Best Supporting Actor – JK Simmons as Terence Fletcher in Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress – Patricia Arquette as Olivia Evans in Boyhood
Best Writing – Original Screenplay – Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) –
Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay – The Imitation Game – Graham Moore from Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges
Best Foreign Language Film – Ida (Poland)
Best Animated Feature – Big Hero 6
Best Documentary Feature – Citizenfour
Best Original Song – “Glory” from Selma – Music and Lyric by Johns Stephens & Lonnie Lynn (John Legend and Common)
Best Original Score – Alexandre Desplat for The Grand Budapest Hotel
For the full list of Oscar recipients visit oscar.com