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SOUTH KOREAN FILM Parasite has become the first non-English-language movie to win the best picture Oscar, in a significant upset for British war film 1917.
The class satire by auteur Bong Joon-ho also won best director, best original screenplay and best international feature, leaving Sir Sam Mendes empty-handed.
It was widely thought that the British filmmaker would win his second directing Oscar for the First World War epic, filmed to appear as one long take.
It would have come exactly 20 years after his win for American Beauty but he was pipped to the post for the Academy Award by director Bong, despite success at both the Baftas and the Golden Globes.
The South Korean filmmaker appeared stunned to win the directing prize, saying: “After winning best international feature, I thought I was done for the day and ready to relax.”
He quoted Martin Scorsese, saying: “When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, ‘What is the most personal is the most creative’,” and asked the audience to stand in honour of the veteran director.
He added: “I will drink until next morning.”
1917 did enjoy success in the cinematography category, where Roger Deakins won his second Oscar in three years.
It was also celebrated for sound mixing and visual effects.
British hopefuls were shut out of the acting categories, with success for Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Laura Dern and Brad Pitt, but Sir Elton John did triumph in the original song category.
He won alongside his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin for their track (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again for biopic Rocketman.
Pitt won his first acting Oscar for his supporting role in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood and took a swipe at the Senate and thanked his children.
He previously won a best picture Oscar as the producer of 12 Years A Slave but this is his first acting prize.
As he was handed his prize by Regina King, he criticised Senate Republicans for refusing to allow former national security adviser John Bolton to testify in US president Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
He said: “They tell me I have only got 45 seconds, that is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week.
“I’m thinking maybe Quentin does a movie about it and in the end the adults do the right thing.”
Dern got an early birthday present as she won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in Marriage Story.
She will turn 53 at midnight in Los Angeles.
Her mother, the actress Diane Ladd, wiped away tears as she watched her daughter collect her prize.
Dern said: “Some say never meet your heroes but I say, if you’re really blessed, you get them as your parents.
“I share this with my acting legends, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. You got game, I love you.”
Ladd was nominated for the best supporting actress prize three times but never won.
Dern added: “Thank you all for this gift, this is the best birthday present ever.”
Phoenix won the leading actor prize for Joker and used his impassioned speech to talk about equality rights.
He said: “I think at times we feel or are made to feel that we champion different causes. But for me, I see commonality. I think, whether we’re talking about gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights, we’re talking about the fight against injustice.”
Phoenix became tearful at the end of the speech as he remembered his late brother, the actor River Phoenix, who died aged 23 in 1993.
He said: “When he was 17, my brother wrote this lyric, ‘Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow’.”
Zellweger paid tribute to Judy Garland as she was named best actress for her role as the Wizard Of Oz star in Judy.
She said: “And though Judy Garland did not receive this honour in her time, I am certain that this moment is an extension of the celebration of her legacy that began on our film set and is also representative of the fact that her legacy of unique exceptionalism and inclusivity and generosity of spirit.
“Miss Garland, you are certainly among the heroes who unite and define us and this is certainly for you. I’m so grateful.”
The Oscars ceremony, which did not have a host for the second year in a row, featured a surprise appearance from Eminem.
The rapper performed his Oscar-winning song Lose Yourself, 17 years after he snubbed the ceremony.
There was also a performance by Billie Eilish, who sang The Beatles’ Yesterday during the In Memoriam segment.
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RTE have too much power here we are in the middle of a pandemic and they have an army of tv licence inspectors touring the country spreading the virus
@Richard Russell: huh…..
@Richard Russell: lol
@Richard Russell: worst whataboutery ever
@Richard Russell: in fairness tv licence guy works for an post not rte
About time
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: yes, this now paves the way for Chinese companies to take over and be the most powerful and richest companies on the New York Stock Exchange in the next 10-15 years. I’ve a funny feeling China won’t mind them being too big when this happens.
@The Upside-down Triangle: takeovers can be blocked under all sorts of laws
@DJ François: no I mean Chinese companies will surpass American ones as the most powerful. There’s already more Chinese companies listed on the S&P 500 than American ones for the first time in history.
Google is one of the most dangerous companies in the world, with stated aims of directly influencing people to make decisions that they want them to make. They have been found to also be meddling with democracy and interfering with elections. There has and is ongoing cases against them for same. They are also invested in many other activities like oil and gas exploration while pretending to be green.
@Da_Dell: if you haven’t seen or heard of it, look up The Social Dilemma on Netflix.
@Celtic Spirit: Is that the one about Facebook, Ive seen one by PBS ? Truly shocking stuff.
Search, not with google of course for the Google head of UX leaked video, or any of the Google whistleblowers that have been brave enough to leave.
RTE have too much power, we are in the middle of a pandemic and they have an army of tv licence inspectors touring the country spreading the virus
@Richard Russell: you ok hun?
@Richard Russell: An army of them, on tour? Clearly a well planned coup! Tell us more.
@Richard Russell: you can say that again…..
@Rachel O’ Meara: did you not hear it’s part of the new police state. It’s the end of the world. Gemma o d and her cronies warned us. We should of listened. LOL!!
@K C: Clearly we were all wrong, wonder if it’s to do with 5G? That’ll be it you know, tv inspectors in disguise working on behalf of R.T.E going around installing 5G brain chips in us while we’re asleep so R.T.E can control us for the government and big pharma. It’s such a dastardly plan, can’t believe we were lulled into such a false sense of security. Well we all know now so take heed people, sleep with your eyes open from now on that way you’ll see them coming for you. Gemms and her cronies are having panic attacks reading our comments I’d say! Relax lads it’s as made up as the stuff Gemms herself comes out with.
@Rachel O’ Meara: yep it’s 5G and the illuminati. We should make Gemma our dictator and there would be no problems in the country haha
@Richard Russell: bit early to be on the sauce Ricky
That worked so well when they did it with the phone company in America. A couple decades later they all merged back in to a handful of companies who now operate as a single oligarchy.
@Wade Wilson: True, but they have to try, start somewhere.
Break em up!
Oh the hypocrisy…
Microsoft?
have your say