The most memorable moments from Hollywood’s biggest night
March 2, 2017
And the winner is… not “La La Land.” The 89th Academy Awards, Hollywood’s biggest night, took place last Sunday, Feb. 26. Although most of the night was fairly predictable, the events that unfolded towards the end were unexpected, to say the least, and will make this one of the most memorable Oscars for decades to come.
Before the show even started, one memorable moment happened as the stars arrived and made their way down the red carpet. It was not a sparkling necklace or unique dress that caught people’s attention, but a blue American Civil Liberties Union ribon. Actress Ruth Negga, actor Lin Manuel-Miranda and model Karlie Kloss were some of the few stars who were seen wearing the ribbon. A.C.L.U., a nonprofit organization, has seen a large increase in donations in the last month after President Trump issued an executive order restricting entry into the U.S. for refugees and citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries.
Jimmy Kimmel, the host for the night, gave an overall good performance and was able to find a nice balance of humor without going too far. Politics have been a strong topic of debate among Hollywood stars, and Kimmel made sure the Oscars were not lacking in that aspect. At one point, he tweeted at Trump wondering if he was up and also used the hashtag #Merylsayshi. Throughout the night, Kimmel performed various skits, but his best moment came when twizzlers and red vines magically floated from the ceiling, giving the stars a snack break.
The biggest winner of the night was “La La Land,” which took home six Oscars, including best director, best original score, best song and best actress, won by Emma Stone. The film garnered 14 nominations, which tied for the most nominations ever. “Moonlight” was successful as well and came out of the night with three Oscars, including best adapted screenplay, best supporting actor and best picture.
Then there was the ending, the moment that everyone will be talking about: “La La Land” was announced as the winner for Best Picture, but “Moonlight” actually won. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway had a look of confusion on their faces as they stared at the card they were given, and rightfully so, because the card was for best actress in a leading role, not best picture. The incident is under investigation and everyone is trying to figure out how this mistake could have happened.
From the red carpet to the Adobe Theater, some of the most memorable moments of the 89th Oscars included the simple but impactful accessory of a blue ribbon, snacks falling from the sky and the Best Picture mistake. This year’s Academy Awards will be one for the history books.
