Academy Awards ends with a fizzle as Best Actor Anthony Hopkins skips the night


The 93rd Academy Awards has ended in upset, with Antony Hopkins beating the late Chadwick Boseman to take home the Best Actor award. 

Hopkins, 83, won the coveted gong for his role in The Father, becoming the oldest person ever to win an acting Oscar. 

It is the second Academy Award for the British icon, who first won 30 years ago for his role as Hannibal Lector in The Silence of The Lambs. 

Hopkins has since been nominated a five further times, but he was not expected to take home this year’s award, with many believing Boseman would be honored with the gong posthumously. 

Boseman passed away last from colon cancer last August at the age of 43, but he received a Best Actor nomination for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. 

The Best Actor category was the last award of the night, and Hopkin’s win caused upset on social media.

One user blasted that it was ‘the worst TV ending since Game of Thrones’.  

Hopkins skipped the awards ceremony – which was held in Los Angeles’ Union Station – and did not deliver an acceptance speech.  

The 93rd Academy Awards has ended in upset, with Antony Hopkins beating the late Chadwick Boseman to take home the Best Actor award. He is pictured in the film The Father

The 93rd Academy Awards has ended in upset, with Antony Hopkins beating the late Chadwick Boseman to take home the Best Actor award. He is pictured in the film The Father

Boseman passed away last from colon cancer last August at the age of 43, but he received a Best Actor nomination for his role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. The Best Actor category was the last award of the night, and Hopkin's win caused upset on social media

Boseman passed away last from colon cancer last August at the age of 43, but he received a Best Actor nomination for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The Best Actor category was the last award of the night, and Hopkin’s win caused upset on social media

 

he Academy Awards has celebrated its 'most diverse' ceremony in its 93 year history

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The Academy Awards has celebrated its ‘most diverse’ ceremony in its 93 year history, with Chloe Zhao (right) becoming the first woman of color to win Best Director and Youn Yuh-jung  (left) honored as the first Korean national to win Best Actress

Daniel Kaluuya won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Judas and the Black Messiah

Daniel Kaluuya won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Judas and the Black Messiah

Elsewhere, director Travon Free turned his Oscars acceptance speech into a condemnation of police killings during the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night. 

The 35-year-old won Best Live Action Short along with co-director Martin Desmond Roe for their drama Two Distant Strangers – a 29 minute movie that examines the deaths of black Americans during encounters with police.  

‘Today, the police will kill three people,’ Free stated as he took to the stage to accept his award. 

‘Tomorrow, the police will kill three people. And the day after that, the police will kill three people. Because on average, the police in America every day kill three people. Which amounts to about 1,000 people a year. ‘

He continued: ‘Those people happen to be disproportionately black people. I just ask that you please not be indifferent. Please don’t be indifferent to our pain,’ Free continued.  

Earlier, as he walked the red carpet, Free also made a political statement, showing off the inside of his blazer which was emblazoned with the names of black people killed by police, including Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Rayshard Brooks and Daunte Wright. 

Director Travon Free turned his Oscars acceptance speech into a condemnation of police killings during the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night

Director Travon Free turned his Oscars acceptance speech into a condemnation of police killings during the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night 

The 35-year-old (left) won Best Live Action Short along with co-director Martin Desmond Roe (right) for their drama Two Distant Strangers

The 35-year-old (left) won Best Live Action Short along with co-director Martin Desmond Roe (right) for their drama Two Distant Strangers

Free wasn’t the only star at the show to make a political statement. 

Actress Regina King kicked off the night by hailing Derek Chauvin’s conviction for murdering George Floyd during her opening monologue. 

The 50-year-old actress took to the stage at the glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles’ Union Station stating: ‘It has been quite a year, and we are still smack dab in the middle of it. We are mourning the loss of so many. 

‘And I have to be honest, if things had gone differently this past week in Minneapolis, I may have traded in my heels for marching boots.’

King’s comments prompted vocal agreement among the 170 people who were sitting in the audience. 

Actress Regina King kicked off the 93rd Academy Awards Sunday night by hailing Derek Chauvin 's guilty verdict for murdering George Floyd

Actress Regina King kicked off the 93rd Academy Awards Sunday night by hailing Derek Chauvin ‘s guilty verdict for murdering George Floyd 

Last week, Derek Chauvin was convicted of second degree murder over the May 2020 death of black man, George Floyd

Last week, Derek Chauvin was convicted of second degree murder over the May 2020 death of black man, George Floyd

The actress continued: ‘Now, I know that a lot of you people at home want to reach for your remote when you feel like Hollywood is preaching to you. But as a mother of a black son, I know the fear that so many live with, and no amount of fame or fortune changes. That okay?’

The crowd responding with a loud applause, seeming to confirm their support for King’s commentary.

Last Monday, a Minneapolis jury found Chauvin guilty of second-degree manslaughter, third-degree murder and second-degree unintentional murder over the May 2020 death of unarmed black man, George Floyd.  

Meanwhile, Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, and Jamika Wilson also spoke about identity politics as they accepted the award for Oscar for Best Hair and Makeup. 

Neal and Wilson are the first two black women to win the award, with Neal speaking out about breaking barriers as she took to the podium.   

Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson and Sergio Lopez-Rivera, winners of the award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson and Sergio Lopez-Rivera, winners of the award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

‘I want to say thank you to our ancestors who put the work in. Who were denied but never gave up. And I also stand here, as we break this glass ceiling with so much excitement for the future,’ she stated to cheers from the crowd. 

‘Because I can picture black trans women standing up here, Asian and Latina sisters, and indigenous women. And it won’t be unusual or groundbreaking one day, it will just be normal’.

This year’s Academy Awards have been hailed as ‘the most diverse’ in history, with a record number of nominees who are BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color). 

Nine of the 20 acting nominees this year are actors of color and it is the first time in history that the best actor category isn’t majority white.

Nominations in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category include Steven Yeun (Minari) who is the first Asian American to receive a nod; Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) who received a posthumous nomination; and Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) who is the first Muslim actor to be given a nod in the category.

It is also the first time two female directors have ever been nominated in the Best Director category, with Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) and Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) both receiving nods. Only five women have ever been nominated in the category before.

Zhao is also the first woman of color to ever be nominated for best director.

93RD ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS

Best Picture

The Father

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

Minari

Nomadland – WINNER

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the eight films nominated

Best Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the eight films nominated

 

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holiday

Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman

Frances McDormand – Nomadland – WINNER

Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman – The Father

Amanda Seyfried – Mank

Youn Yuh-jung – Minari – WINNER

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Colman is up for her role in The Father

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Colman is up for her role in The Father

Best Music (Original Score)

Da 5 Bloods

Mank

Minari

News of the World

Soul – WINNER

 

Best Animated Short Film

Burrow

Genius Loci

If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER

Opera

Yes-People

 

Best Live Action Short Film

Feeling Through

The Letter Room

The Present

Two Distant Strangers

White Eye

 

Best International Feature Film

Another Round – WINNER

Better Days

Collective

The Man Who Sold His Skin

Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best Sound: Greyhound - a war film starring Tom Hanks - is up for the gong

Best Sound: Greyhound – a war film starring Tom Hanks – is up for the gong 

Best Sound

Greyhound

Mank

News of the World

Soul

Sound of Metal  – WINNER

 

Best Cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank – WINNER

News of the World

Nomadland

The Trial of the Chicago 7  

 

Best Music (Original Song)

H.E.R. – Fight for You – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER

Hear My Voice – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Husavik – Eurovision Song Contest

Io Si (Seen) – The Life Ahead

Speak Now – One Night in Miami…

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is vying for the award

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is vying for the award

 Best Director  

Thomas Vinterberg – Another Round

David Fincher – Mank

Lee Isaac Chung – Minari

Chloé Zhao – Nomadland – WINNER

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman

 

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal 

 Anthony Hopkins – The Father – WINNER

Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 

Gary Oldman – Mank

Steven Yeun – Minari 

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER

Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami…

Paul Raci – Sound of Metal

Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah

 

Best Animated Feature Film

Onward

Over the Moon

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Soul – WINNER

Wolfwalkers

Best Animated Feature Film:  A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is nominated

Best Animated Feature Film:  A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is nominated

Best Costume Design

Emma

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER

Mank

Mulan

Pinnochio

 

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

The Father – WINNER

Nomadland

One Night in Miami…

The White Tiger

 

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman – WINNER

Shaka King and Will Berson – Judas and the Black Messiah

Lee Isaac Chung – Minari

Darius Marder and Abraham Marder – Sound of Metal

 Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

 

Best Documentary Feature

Collective

Crip Camp

The Mole Agent

My Octopus Teacher – WINNER

Time

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Judas and the Black Messiah is up for the gong

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Judas and the Black Messiah is up for the gong

Best Documentary Short Subject

Colette – WINNER

A Concerto Is a Conversation

Do Not Split

Hunger Ward

A Love Song for Latasha

 

Best Film Editing

The Father

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal – WINNER

The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Best Production Design

The Father

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mank – WINNER

News of the World

Tenet

 

Best Visual Effects

Love and Monsters

The Midnight Sky

Mulan

The One and Only Ivan

Tenet – WINNER

 

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Emma

Hillbilly Elegy

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER

Mank

Pinocchio

 

 

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