Oscars: total cheating for the best film

Quebec The arrival of Denis Villeneuve did not turn white at the 89th Oscars, which crowned, as expected, For Hollywood ( La La Land ) with six awards, including Best Director And actress. However, he failed to get the one for the best film, first announced, then handed over after an incredible mess to the excellent Moonlight by Barry Jenkins, who leaves with three awards! The Quebec director’s feature film received one of the precious statuettes awarded Sunday night.

The too long ceremony led by Jimmy Kimmel was punctuated by some political statements condemning the climate of fear and repression of the US presidency.

At 32, Damien Chazelle became the youngest director in history to win the supreme honor with For Hollywood Love . Emma Stone, 28, did not break a record, but her brilliant performance was justly rewarded with the Oscar of the best actress. “A moment like this is a confluence of chance and opportunity,” she said.

His partner, Canadian Ryan Gosling, did not have the same fortune. It’s Casey Affleck, staggering in Manchester by the Sea , who prevailed , with good reason.

Sylvain Bellemare was able to address a few words in French (“Salut Montréal!”) When receiving his Oscar for the sound editing. The Québécois, who worked on a hundred films before the arrival , had already won a BAFTA (British Oscar) with his colleagues Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Claude The Hague. However, they have escaped the statuette of the sound mix at the hands of Hacksaw Ridge . Kevin O’Connell was certainly one of the luckiest recipients of the evening: it was his 21st nomination!

The arrival could have, in theory, get the Oscar for the best adaptation. But Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney deserved so much reward for their work on the touching and original Moonlight . What movie!

Montreal’s Theodore Ushev did not have a better chance for the category of the best animated short. Little consolation, Vaysha the blind lost to the hands of Piper , realized by the Canadian Allan Barillaro.

No records

For Hollywood’s sake, he could not beat the record of 11 Oscars, held by Ben-Hur , Titanic and The Return of the Lord of the Rings King , despite his 14 nominations. The scenario of the original scenario has also escaped Damian Chazelle. It was Kenneth Lonergan’s beautiful and human script that prevailed for Manchester by the Sea .

The evening began with an energetic and dancing number from Justin Timberlake, who played Can not Stop the Feeling , the theme song of the Trolls (2016). Very appropriate. Especially since Jimmy Kimmel made a noteworthy entry with his opening speech, subtle but very direct. Remarks on discrimination, racism and a standing ovation for the “overrated” actress Meryl Streep were jabs to Donald Trump. Not to mention the allusions to “fake news” …

Political allusions were only beginning. The suicide squadron’s make-up artists dedicated their trophies to all immigrants. But none had the impact of the speech of Asghar Farhadi after his victory in the very high category of the film in foreign language.

The client’s director, who boycotted the ceremony due to Donald Trump’s infamous anti-immigration decree, reiterated that his absence was a gesture of solidarity for his compatriots and the people of the other six countries “discriminated against by this inhuman law that Banned immigrants from entering the United States. Divide the world between us and our enemies creates fear. “This was his second Oscar after A Separation (2012).

In the same vein, the Oscar for Best Short Documentary went to Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara for their film about Syrian white helmets. “Saving a life is saving mankind,” they stressed.

Beginning in beauty

Side rewards, the ceremony began with the first Oscar for the support actor handed over to Mahershala Ali, absolutely shocking in Moonlight . Ironically, it was the first Muslim actor to win the statuette …

It was also the first time in the history of the Oscars that African-Americans were nominated in the four categories of actors. Logically, Viola Davis won the award for support actress. His incredible performance in Fences was matched only by his touching speech of thanks. “I became an artist because it’s the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a lifetime,” she said in greeting playwright August Wilson for telling the lives of ordinary people.

As usual, the Oscars ceremony stretched to the thirst. The good moments, many, did not manage to save the evening of 3:45 from the boredom … Not even the end.