The glitz and glam of Hollywood were on display Sunday night when the elite actors and actresses all gathered for the 91st Academy Awards. Every year, this event is one not to miss both for its fashion, performances, and honoring the year’s best in film. This year was no exception. Here are the moments from this years’ Oscars that still have us talking.
“Shallow” Performance with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
Arguably the best part of the whole show was the Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s performance of “Shallow.” The chemistry between the two was palpable, leading many to believe that they were doing more than just acting. Whatever the relationship between the two, the performance of the song that would later go on to win Best Song was truly a highlight of the night.
Billy Porter’s Gown
We’ve seen women wear pantsuits to the Oscars for many years now, but up until Sunday night, the role had never been reversed. Billy Porter made history as the first man to wear a gown to the Oscars. The tuxedo gown hybrid, designed by Christian Siriano, was intended to spark conversation about gender. It certainly reached this goal as it has been a hot topic of conversation throughout the past few days. It will be fascinating to see if this trend continues into the future.
Best Picture: Green Book
The film Green Book took home one of the biggest awards of the night: Best Picture. However, this win sparked controversy as many thought the film was racist and promoted the “white savior” stereotype. This served to reignite the conversation about racism at the Oscars, which has been an ongoing topic for the past few years.
Black Panther Wins Big
Black Panther was one of the night’s biggest winners with three Academy Awards. These wins were significant for two reasons. First, after the #oscarssowhite situation, the Academy has made efforts to give awards to a more diverse population. Black Panther’s wins made strides in this effort because the people working on this film were particularly diverse. Secondly, the recognition of a superhero/action movie is new to the Oscars, so these wins could change what types of movies are nominated in the future.
“I can’t believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar!”
Lastly, one of my favorite moments of the night was when the winner for Best Documentary for the film Period. End of a Sentence. got up to give her acceptance speech and exclaimed: “I can’t believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar!” Not only was this remark hilarious, but it brought attention to the important documentary that highlights the stigma around menstruation.
All in all, this year’s Academy Awards did not disappoint in regards to film and fashion. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!