THE IMITATION GAME WINNING BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
It's my best pick amongst the eight nominations for Best Picture this year and despite having predicted that it will almost definitely not beat majority favorites Birdman & Boyhood (plus the sad fact that leading man Benedict Cumberbatch did not win Best Actor as well), the film's taking of their one and only award for the night makes it rather special & touching for me. Screenwriter Graham Moore accepted the award and gave an emotional speech including opening up about his attempted suicide at the age of sixteen, and encouraging the rest to embrace being different, earning a standing ovation:-
"Stay weird, stay different and when it's your turn, and you are standing on this stage, please pass the message on to the next person who comes along"
JOHN LEGEND & COMMON'S PERFORMANCE FOR "GLORY"
What a moving performance. Have always loved Legend's vocals, and with the two performing the song which won Best Original Song (from Selma) in front of a backdrop of Alabama’s Edmund Pettus Bridge (as depicted in the film where hundreds walked across in 1965 for the right to vote), and later joined by a massive plain-clothed choir, the performance brought the audience to their feet and tears to the eyes, including Selma's leading man David Oyelowo and Into The Woods' star Chris Pine. Upon accepting their Oscars, Common explained that the bridge “was once a landmark of a divided nation, but now it’s a symbol for change.” Legend added that “Selma is now, because the struggle for justice is right now.” Uplifting.
JULIANNE MOORE WINNING BEST ACTRESS
Her win was highly predicted, but it certainly meant a great deal to the 54 year-old actress; who has been nominated four other times but won none previously. This is Moore's first ever Oscar, having already received myriads including two Golden Globes, a BAFTA, two SAG awards. She is also the fourth person in history to have ever won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival & Venice Film Festival. It is definitely her turn at the Oscars, with a much deserve and a poignant performance in Still Alice. To add to that, her acceptance speech was my favorite amongst all the winners. She was genuine, candid & poured her gratitude in much candour & grace. Congrats!
IDINA MENZEL GETTING BACK AT JOHN TRAVOLTA
It's Dazeem versus GAZINGO!! Remember that WTF moment during the Oscars last year when John Travolta introduced Idina Menzel as "the wicked-ly talented, the one and only, Adele Dazeem". The Dazeem joke went viral, and this year she finally got her chance to get even. First, host Neil Patrick Harris poked fun about how Benedict Cumberbatch's name is "the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to pronounce Ben Affleck". Silly, but I thought it was hilarious. Even Cumberbatch couldn't help bursting into his blushing chuckle. Then Menzel came on stage to present the next award and said "Ladies & gentlemen, please welcome to the stage my very dear friend Glom Gazingo," and that was Travolta's cue to come on stage. Both hugged, and he said "I deserve that!"
BOYHOOD WINNING ONLY ONE AWARD
OK, I'm going to get heaps of hate for this. But honestly, Richard Linklater's Boyhood is to me the most overrated film in 2014. True, much respect is given for his ability to direct and keep the momentum for the story which spawned over the course of twelve years; but I failed to see anything more than several segments of rather ordinary plots over everyday family meals, road trips & birthday parties, seamed together with the same cast growing together. And that was it, nothing more. Though highly undeserving to me, Patricia Arquette's win for Best Supporting Actress was already engraved on the trophy from the beginning. So, Birdman's triumph in Best Film and Best Original Screenplay over Boyhood was in fact a great outcome for the night. Again, apologizing in advance for all the millions of fans of Boyhood, but hey it's just my take
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