'Moonlight' Wins Best Picture As Oscars Ends In Chaos
Faizan Hashmi Published February 27, 2017 | 01:05 PM
HOLLYWOOD, United States, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Feb, 2017 ) - Coming-of-age drama "Moonlight" won the coveted best picture statuette at Sunday's Oscars, but the evening ended in chaos as "La La Land" -- already the winner of six prizes -- was first mistakenly handed the award.
Until the final minute, the film industry's biggest night had run smoothly, and was marked by plenty of political statements, mainly jabs at President Donald Trump, and light-hearted jokes from host Jimmy Kimmel.
But the epic stumble on the final award was the nightmare Hollywood ending no one wanted to see. Tinseltown legends Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, stars of 1967 crime classic "Bonnie and Clyde," were meant to give the best picture Oscar to Barry Jenkins's film, but she mistakenly called it for Damien Chazelle's musical.
Scenes of confusion and embarrassment followed after the "La La Land" crew -- already on stage and delivering speeches -- suddenly realized the mistake and announced themselves that "Moonlight" had actually won, prompting Beatty to mumble apologies.
The Oscar-winning veteran actor and director, 79, said he'd been given the wrong envelope -- the one containing the card announcing "La La Land" star Emma Stone's best actress win. Stone said backstage she had been hanging on to her winning envelope the whole time, although slowed-down footage of the commotion appeared to corroborate Beatty's explanation.
Several reports suggested that two sets of envelopes are typically on site during the ceremony -- one on either side of the stage. "This was confusing, obviously, so... we thought he was being coy and cute and milking it but, in reality, he was perplexed by why her name was on it," host Jimmy Kimmel told ABC after the show.
So far, the academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has not issued a formal statement about the embarrassing mix-up.
- 'Speechless' - ================ "Moonlight" was a shock winner for best picture, after Chazelle's runaway favorite "La La Land" -- a modern take on the all-singing, all-dancing Golden Age of Tinseltown's studio system -- had taken six prizes for best director, actress, score, song, production design and cinematography.
"I noticed the commotion and thought something was strange. And then I was speechless by the result," Jenkins, who won earlier for best adapted screenplay, said backstage. "I've watched the Academy Awards before and have and have never seen that happen before." Starring Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali -- who bagged the first of the movie's three Oscars -- "Moonlight" tells the life story of a young African-American struggling to find his place as he grows up poor in Miami.
The film has won plaudits as a vital portrait of contemporary African-American life and is praised in equal measure as a moving meditation on identity, family, friendship and love. It beat seven other films besides "La La Land" -- including alien thriller "Arrival" and family dramas "Manchester by the Sea" and "Fences" -- for best picture honors.
Despite the stunning finish, sure to go down as one of the worst moments in Oscars history, the overall winner of the night was still "La La Land". Starring Stone and Ryan Gosling as an aspiring actress and a struggling Jazz musician who fall in love in Los Angeles, it has charmed critics the world over and returned more than 10 times its $30 million budget.
"This was a movie about love and I was lucky enough to fall in love while making it," said Chazelle, 32, the youngest filmmaker by several months ever to win a best directing Oscar.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Serial winner Kroos eyes two-trophy finish to career
10 bodies found in Mexico's Acapulco, some in street
Djokovic backs Nadal for French Open title
BUITEMS VC calls for funds allocation for varsities
Nine child workers die in Egypt as bus plunges into the Nile
Govt taking various measures to promote sports: Senator
China warns Taiwan of reprisals over Lai inauguration speech
DPM Dar, Kyrgyz FM discuss recent incidents of violence against Pakistanis
UN health agency chief calls for end to recent Israeli siege of Gaza Hospital
BISE Hyderabad announces results of oriental languages examination
Starc helps Kolkata thrash Hyderabad to reach IPL final
Sindh edu dept launches school enrollment campaign
More Stories From World
-
Duesseldorf hope free games are ticket to top flight
11 minutes ago -
The impossible job: Beating Rafael Nadal at the French Open
11 minutes ago -
Swiatek eyes place among greats with fourth French Open crown
21 minutes ago -
Deforestation exacerbated deadly Brazil floods: experts
21 minutes ago -
Vietnam votes in public security minister as president
21 minutes ago -
S. Africa vote fails to inspire Jo'burg township youth
21 minutes ago
-
Black farmers in Brazil changing views on coffee production
21 minutes ago -
One dead, dozens injured as Singapore-bound flight hits turbulence
31 minutes ago -
Nadal ready for emotional French Open farewell
31 minutes ago -
Half of mangrove ecosystems at risk: conservationists
41 minutes ago -
US returns 133 stolen artifacts to Pakistan; Consul General Aamer Atozai expresses 'gratitude'
7 hours ago -
Gunmen kill villagers in raid on Nigerian mining site
7 hours ago