2024-03-25 19:53:29
Por Huw Griffith
From Ryan Gosling’s stirring performance of “I’m Just Ken” to calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, there were several standout moments at this Sunday’s 96th Oscars in Hollywood.
Here are some of the most memorable episodes on the most luxurious night in cinema:
– Ceasefire and conflicts –
Several stars, including nominee Mark Ruffalo, wore pins advocating a ceasefire in Gaza, while groups of protesters against Israel’s war against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas gathered around the security cordon guarding the theater where held the event.
Jonathan Glazer, whose film “Zone of Interest” – set in Auschwitz – won two awards, told the audience that his team’s decisions “were made” to reflect and confront “in the present.” “Not only to say what they did before, but to say what we do now.”
«Our film shows that dehumanization leads to the worst. “It shapes our past and our present,” she said upon receiving the award for best international film.
“Right now we are here as men who refute their Judaism and the Holocaust held hostage by an occupation that has brought so many innocent people into conflict,” he explained.
“Whether they are the victims of October 7 in Israel or the current attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization… how do we resist?” he said.
Also during the “In memoriam” segment of the gala, which honors those who died in the industry, tribute was paid to Russian opponent Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last month.
In addition, “20 Days in Mariupol” won the best documentary with its chronicle of the situation in that Ukrainian city after the Russian invasion.
«He will probably be the first director on this stage to say that he wishes he had not made this film. I would like to be able to change this so that Russia will never attack Ukraine, it will never occupy our cities,” said its director Mstyslav Chernov.
-Barbie’s world-
The multimillion-dollar blockbuster “Barbie” was conspicuously excluded from the best director and best actress categories, taking home only one award, but frequent allusions to the film made much of the gala pink-tinted.
Ryan Gosling was proof of the film’s cultural power, as the actor – also nominated – brought the audience to its feet with his kaleidoscopic performance of the song “I’m Just Ken.”
It was the second musical performance for the film tonight, after Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas offered a moving performance of “What Was I Made For?”, which later won the only Oscar for the legendary doll’s film.
Host Jimmy Kimmel also took advantage of his opening monologue to wink at the Academy’s decision to leave director Greta Gerwig out of the race for best direction: “Now, Barbie is a feminist icon, thanks to Greta Gerwig, who many believed deserved to be nominated for best director tonight.
«Wait a second. I know you’re applauding, but you’re the ones who didn’t vote for it, by the way. “Don’t act like you have nothing to do with this,” he said.
-John Cena naked-
As he prepared to present the best costume award, comedian Jimmy Kimmel noted that it had been 50 years since David Niven was heckled on the Oscars stage. Suddenly, an intruder appeared behind him.
“Can you imagine a naked man walking across the stage today?” Kimmel asked three times, before a shy John Cena poked his head out of the set.
Kimmel convinced the apparently reluctant former wrestler to continue with the show and come out naked.
In the end, Cena, with an impressive physical condition, was shown wearing only sandals and protecting himself with the winner’s envelope, which caused the public to go into delirium.
For those wondering: He was actually completely unclothed, and had to wait standing for someone to cover him with what looked like a stage curtain when the broadcast ended.
– Kimmel’s humor –
Kimmel, in his fourth time leading the Oscars, had fun tonight: He was relaxed and his jokes went down well with a receptive audience.
He mocked the length of the broadcast, which started five minutes late, as well as Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half-hour epic.
«When I went to see ‘The Moon Killers’, I asked for my mail to be delivered to the cinema. “It’s so long that it gives you time to drive to Oklahoma and solve the homicides yourself,” he joked.
And he praised the performance of the canine star of the French legal drama “Anatomy of a Fall.”
«He had an overdose scene. “I haven’t seen a French actor vomit like that since Gérard Depardieu,” she said.
hg-mdo/pr/brazo
© Agence France-Presse