The Academy Awards were a star-studded bittersweet, cry fest last night. I use the term bittersweet because there were so many hilarious moments and ones that would bring you to your knees in tears. Let’s just get the great news out the way! Lupita Nyong’o won Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years A Slave, the film would go onto win Best Picture causing Steve McQueen to jump for joy like a school boy. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto took home the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards for their parts in The Dallas Buyers Club, while Cate Blanchett snagged the Best Actress award for Blue Jasmine. Now why is this good news? Well, because progress swept the Oscars in a lot of ways. Lupita Nyong’o is a new, deep-skinned Black actress whose performance has catalyzed her career and the way we view beauty, The Dallas Buyers Club highlighted the adversities experienced by the gay and trans communities during the HIV/AIDS crisis, while Blue Jasmine was a female-driven film. The Academy Awards managed to be a celebration of diversity and adversity in many ways and took a step in the right direction.
Then of course Ellen Degeneres’ impeccable hosting abilities made for plenty of laughs in between the napkin-needing cries induced by Lupita’s, Jared Leto’s and McConaughey’s speeches. Check out the 10 things everyone will be talking about alllllllllll day.
1. Lupita Nyong’o’s tearjerking acceptance speech.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fluQ6iyy85g&w=590]
2. That time Jennifer Lawrence tried to snatch Lupita’s Academy Award in good fun.
3. That time Meryl Streep danced with Pharrell.
4. That time Angelina Jolie kept grabbing Brad Pitt’s butt over and over again.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b9MQsTXWGgU&w=590]
5. That time Jennifer Lawrence was sucked into the fiery pits of hell.
6. That time Leo lost again.
7. That time Ellen bought everyone pizza.
8. The time Steve McQueen jumped in utter joy and ecstasy at winning BestPicture.
9. The epic selfie.
10. Matthew McConaughey’s inspiring “alright, alright, alright,” acceptance speech.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deNAilnDY4I&w=590]
