Feb. 25 (UPI) — The fact-based, civil rights-era, road dramedy “Green Book” was declared the Best Picture of 2018 at the 91st Oscars ceremony Sunday night in Los Angeles.
The film also won the award for Best Original Screenplay, and its co-star Mahershala Ali was named Best Supporting Actor.
“I want to dedicate this to my grandmother, who has been in my ear my entire life, telling me that if at first I don’t succeed, try, try again, that I could do anything I put my mind to,” Ali said. “Always, always pushing me to think positively. And I know I would not be here without her, that she has gotten me over the hump every step of the way.”
Ali is the second black actor after Denzel Washington to win two Oscars in his career. He previously was honored for his performance in “Moonlight.”
Olivia Colman won the Best Actress Oscar on Sunday for her work in the 18th-century, British costume comedy “The Favourite.”
“This is hilarious. Got an Oscar,” Colman, who was clearly shocked by her win, told the audience, eventually turning her attention to Glenn Close, “The Wife” star who was favored to win in the category.
“You’ve been my idol for so long, and this is not how I wanted it to be. And I think you’re amazing and I love you very much,” Colman said.
Regina King won the Best Supporting Actress prize for her performance in Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of James Baldwin’s tragic love story “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
“James Baldwin birthed this baby and Barry, you nurtured her, you surrounded her with so much love and support, so it’s appropriate for me to be standing here, because I’m an example of what it looks like when support and love is poured into someone,” King said. “Mom, I love you so much. Thank you for teaching me that God is always leaning, always has been leaning in my direction.”
Alfonso Cuaron won the Best Director title for his black-and-white memoir “Roma,” which also scored the prizes for Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film.
“I want to thank the academy for recognizing a film centered around an indigenous woman, one of the 70 million domestic workers in the world without work rights, a character that has historically been relegated in the background in cinema,” Cuaron said. “As artists, our job is to look where others don’t. This responsibility becomes much more important in times when we are being encouraged to look away. Muchas gracias.”
This is the first time a Netflix production has been recognized at the Oscars.
Rami Malek earned the Best Actor title for his portrayal of the late music icon Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The valentine to Mercury and his rock band Queen also won the awards for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Editing.
The surviving members of the band, along with Adam Lambert, opened the Oscars gala with a musical performance.
“I am the son of immigrants from Egypt,” Malek said when he accepted his award. “I’m a first-generation American, and part of my story is being written right now and I could not be more grateful to each and every one of you.”
He also gave a shout out to his co-star and girlfriend Lucy Boynton.
“You’re the heart of this film, you are beyond immensely talented, you have captured my heart,” Malek said.
Marvel’s “Black Panther” earned the accolades for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Original Score.
Ruth E. Carter is also the first black woman to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design, and “Black Panther” was the first superhero movie to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.
Writer-director Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” won for Best Adapted Screenplay. It is based on the true story of a black police officer who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan in 1970s Colorado.
The Dick Cheney biopic “Vice” won the trophy for Best Hair & Makeup.
“Shallow” from the Lady Gaga-Bradley Cooper romance “A Star is Born” was deemed Best Song.
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and “Free Solo” picked up the Best Documentary Oscar.
Netflix’s “Period. End of Sentence.” was named Best Short Documentary, and Pixar’s “Bao” won for Best Animated Short. Its director, Domee Shi, is the first woman to helm an original short for the studio.
