Pop CultureBy Michael Grant on

The Academy Awards were full of interesting, fun, poignant and weird moments. From Spotlight to Mad Max, from Leonardo DiCaprio to Chris Rock, from Kate Winslet to Sly Stallone and from Whoopi to Oprah, here is a summary of the winners and losers of the 2016 Oscars.

Winner: Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio’s win for Best Actor is the equivalent of Denzel Washington winning for Training Day. DiCaprio’s done better work (Blood Diamond, The Aviator, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Catch Me If You Can).

Still, he undoubtedly was the biggest winner after being nominated previously four times for Oscars and never taking home a trophy until last night. DiCaprio’s acting in The Revenant was more physical than verbal as he endured brutally cold temperatures and conditions. In his acceptance speech, DiCaprio took time to address climate change.

Loser: Sylvester Stallone

Hollywood loves a good comeback story and Sylvester Stallone (Creed) was the favorite to win Best Supporting Actor. But in a major upset, Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) grabbed the award.

It’s hard not to feel sad for Stallone who has been a punchline for a long time. Creed was his best acting performance since Copland (1997). However, in a strange twist his loss probably will endear him to audiences more.

Sly was consoled by a fellow aging action star.

Winner: Brie Larson

Room is an extraordinary film with two extraordinary performances (Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay). Only Larson was nominated and she won Best Actress. Her humble speech was full of raw joy and she expressed appreciation for Tremblay.

Larson helped take a difficult subject and made it into life-affirming film. She deserved this.

Loser: Kate Winslet

leokate

On a night her former Titanic co-star Leo finally had his breakthrough, Winslet dropped to 1 for 7 in the Oscars. She lost Best Supporting Actress (Steve Jobs) to Alicia Vikander  (The Danish Girl). Winslet’s sole victory was in 2009 for The Reader (Best Actress). It’s shame because Winslet was the best thing in Steve Jobs, a colossal disappointment of a movie.

Winner(s): Spotlight and Mad Max

Spotlight, the best film about journalism since All The President’s Men, won for Best Picture and Original Screenplay.

It’s incredibly realistic in its depiction of what journalism is truly like. It also had the best ensemble acting. Mark Ruffalo (Best Supporting Actor) and Rachel McAdams (Best Supporting Actress) were both denied. However, Michael Keaton probably did the best work and he wasn’t even nominated.

https://youtu.be/2fmYNZSu3S4

Mad Max: Fury Road picked up the most Oscars victories with six. None were for the big awards (It was nominated for 10, including Best Picture). Mad Max was visually astounding and the academy recognized that with awards for editing, sound, costume and makeup.

(The Biggest) Loser: The Martian

The Martian was shut out after being nominated for seven awards. It’s not a total surprise but you would have figured it could have won once. The Martian was a crowd-pleaser but it should have never been nominated for Best Picture nor Matt Damon for Best Actor.

Winner: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Alejandro González Iñárritu has won Best Director in back-to-back years: Birdman (2015) and now The Revenant. He became the first director in 65 years to accomplish that feat. How amazing is that? Martin Scorsese, by the way, has one Oscar for Best Director (The Departed, 2006).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fS4jQk2Jnk

Winner and Loser: Adam McKay

Adam McKay had been best known as the guy who directed comedies Talladega Nights and Step Brothers. Now, he’s best known for writing an Oscar-winning adapted screenplay (The Big Short). That’s not bad consolation prize after missing out on Best Director and Best Picture.

Big winner: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga’s live performance of the Oscar-nominated “Til It Happens to You” brought chills and got a standing ovation. Her song from the documentary on campus rape, The Hunting Ground, was made especially powerful when a group of sexual assault survivors appeared on stage.

Lady Gaga didn’t win the Oscar but she won the evening.

https://twitter.com/amirconda/status/704159944552022017

Big loser: Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones is a musical legend but he said something that made everyone flinch. He used the phrase “emotion lotion.” Don’t know what that means. Don’t want to know what that means.

Big winners: Chris Rock and Louis C.K.

As expected, Rock delivered with his thoughts about #OscarsSoWhite.

Louis C.K. poked fun at the Documentary Short Film category in the funniest way possible.

Big loser: Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman’s James Bond jokes were forced and weird.

Biggest winner: The Girl Scouts of America

Chris Rock spent part of his night trying to get the rich celebrities in the audience to buy Girl Scout cookies for his daughters. And it worked!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y6FiqfwFbo

Rock announced later in the show that the girls raised $65,243 on the night, and whether or not that’s actually true (there were some deep pockets in that room) the Girl Scouts of America, and specifically the Los Angeles chapter that helped Rock during the show, were big winners with all that attention and exposure.

Biggest loser of them all: @TotalBeauty

And finally, of all nights, this is probably the worst error you can make. @TotalBeauty erased the Tweet and apologized.

Oprah’s response:

About Michael Grant

Born in Jamaica. Grew up in New York City. Lives in Louisville, Ky. Sports writer. Not related to Ulysses S. Grant, Anthony Grant, Amy Grant or Hugh Grant.

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