After the extremely eventful 2017 Oscars, this year's 90th Academy Awards seemed downright tame in comparison. There were no missteps or embarrassments, and very few surprises. Hosted for the second year in a row by Jimmy Kimmel, the night was a tame ending to a roller coaster of a fall/winter awards season in Hollywood, which was rocked by the exposure and ousting of serial sexual harassers and assaulters in the industry, launching the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.
#TimesUp was the focal point of the Golden Globes in January, with almost every attendee clad in black as a show of support and solidarity with the movement. It was a topic of discussion at Sunday's Academy Awards, but it didn't dominate the conversation. Kimmel respectfully addressed the movements in his opening monologue, and three of Harvey Weinstein's accusers _ Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek _ spoke passionately about the changes in Hollywood and presented a video montage of filmmakers discussing the importance of representation and inclusivity in the industry. But #TimesUp didn't dominate the conversation at the Oscars.
In his opening monologue, Kimmel acknowledged the best picture envelope mix-up of the 2017 Academy Awards, wherein "La La Land" was mistakenly announced before "Moonlight" was announced as the true winner. Kimmel kept things lighthearted but addressed the issues that consumed Hollywood in the past year, as well as the #NeverAgain movement started by the student survivors of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting in February.
Kimmel also brought his everyman sensibility and humor to the night, keeping up a running gag of offering the Oscar winner with the shortest acceptance speech "The Price is Right" style prizes, including a jet ski and trip to Lake Havasu. Dame Helen Mirren served as a "Price is Right" beauty showing off the goods. He also couldn't resist surprising a few civilians, this time taking stars to hand out snacks at a screening of "A Wrinkle In Time" at the TCL Chinese Theater near the Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are held.
Representation was the theme of the night, especially Latino representation. Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro was the big winner of the evening _ his horror/fantasy romance "The Shape of Water" won four prizes out of its 13 nominations, including best director and best picture. Del Toro's win proves three is a trend, as Mexican filmmakers have walked away with four of the best director prizes in the past five years (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu won in 2014 and 2015 for "Birdman" and "The Revenant" respectively, while Alfonso Cuaron won for "Gravity" in 2013).
"The Shape of Water" composer Alexandre Desplat won his second Oscar for his work on the film, and said of del Toro: "He brings everybody in his team together behind him like a king with his knights," and described it as "a rare, beautiful experience."
With del Toro's wins and Jordan Peele's best original screenplay win for "Get Out," his searing social commentary about race in America packaged in the horror-comedy genre, it was a landmark year for genre filmmaking. It's normally eschewed by the Academy, who tend to go for more classic and prestigious fare. With a push to include younger, more diverse members among its ranks, we may be seeing the results of that initiative in the awards themselves.
It was a victorious night for Latin American filmmakers, with Disney's Day of the Dead-themed "Coco," co-directed by Mexican American director Adrian Molina, taking home the best animated feature award and the best song award for "Remember Me," by "Frozen" songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. "Representation matters," "Coco" co-director Lee Unkrich reminded the audience during his acceptance speech.
Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Lelio won the best foreign language film Oscar for his film "A Fantastic Woman," starring trans actress Daniela Vega. Vega presented best song nominee Sufjan Stevens' performance of "Mystery of Love" from best picture nominee "Call Me By Your Name," becoming the first openly transgender presenter at the Academy Awards.
Backstage, Lelio spoke about the importance of casting a transgender actress in the role of Marina, a transgender woman, in his film. Of Vega, he said, "she was a pioneer, and she carries that history, and the camera announced that. And I think that generates more complexity and beauty to the film... it can contribute to opening the limits of what's possible, expanding the horizons of our thinking."
He also addressed the situation of transgender rights in Chile, saying, "It has been a long struggle to have the state recognizing the existence of transgender people... I hope this award and film and the awareness that the film has created, will give more relevance to a matter that is urgent."
Roger Deakins finally won an Oscar for the cinematography of "Blade Runner 2049," directed by Denis Villeneuve. The veteran cinematographer has been nominated for the Academy Award 14 times, and this was the first time he has taken home the prize. "I really love my job," he said, accepting the award. "I've been doing it a long time as you can see." He thanked his crew, some of whom he has been working with for 30 years, and said "I feel it's recognition for their work as well." He also reminisced about working with best actor winner Gary Oldman on the 1986 film "Sid and Nancy."
However, as much as the story of representation and rights within the industry were at top of mind, especially thanks to the acceptance speech of best actress winner Frances McDormand, who urged the audience to consider "inclusion riders" in their contracts, requiring 50 percent diversity in cast and crew, there were also vestiges and reminders of Hollywood's old ways and the issue of sexual assault and abuse, which still lingers.
Best actor winner Gary Oldman has weathered backlash this awards season for offensive comments he made in a 2014 Playboy interview in support of Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin, as well as reports about a 2001 domestic abuse allegation made by his ex-wife Donya Fiorentina. None of this discussion impacted his own awards run, though, as he won all the major industry awards for his performance as Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour," including the best actor Oscar.
Another Oscar winner with a sexual assault allegation in his past is former LA Laker Kobe Bryant, who became a best animated short Oscar winner tonight for his film "Dear Basketball." The short is based on a poem he wrote in 2015 announcing his retirement from basketball, and he shared the award with Disney animator Glen Keane. An online petition protesting his nomination due to his 2003 rape accusation and civil settlement garnered 16,000 signatures, but nothing dampened Bryant's winning chances or his evening. Backstage, he said of the award, "I feel better than winning the (NBA) championship, to be honest with you."
