From Falls to First-Timers: A Night of Surprises at the 96th Oscars

On an unpredictable night at the 96th Academy Awards, Hollywood’s best of the best gathered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for a celebration of cinematic excellence. Kicking off an hour earlier than usual, the Oscars promised a night of glam, humor, and a few unexpected moments.

The red carpet was a spectacle in itself, featuring Vanessa Hudgens’ pregnancy reveal and Liza Koshy’s accidental tumble. Koshy, victim to her towering heels, joined the ranks of stars who’ve faced red carpet mishaps, reminiscent of Jennifer Lawrence’s famous fall in 2013.

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The show began with a bang, thanks to Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue. The four-time host set a celebratory and humorous tone for the evening, addressing controversies and poking fun at Hollywood’s finest, including an awkwardly long moment with Robert Downey Jr. in which he made fun of his past addictions.
He also acknowledged Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s snubs in the Best Actress and Best Director categories, respectively, and made a shout out to Messi, the Anatomy of a Fall dog. The audience seemed divided on Kimmel’s humor, with some finding it “annoying,” but his acknowledgment of IATSE members who stood against strikes resonated positively.

The night’s first trophy went to Da’Vine Joy Randolph, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Holdovers.” Da’Vine’s emotional acceptance speech made everyone tear up: “I am so grateful to all you beautiful people out here,” said Randolph. “For so long, I’ve always wanted to be different and now I realize I just need to be myself, and I thank you.”

A surprise appearance by John Cena in the nude was among the feel-good moments. Cena’s bare-skinned antics were a callback to a streaker incident from 1974, and he emphasized the importance of costumes before presenting the award for Best Costume Design to “Poor Things.”

UK’s “Zone of Interest” won the Oscar Best International Film, leaving Spanish-Uruguayan production with mostly Latin American cast “Society of the Snow” without the trophy, also losing the nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” entered the night with 13 nominations, eyeing a potential record-breaking victory. While it lost early in the night for Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay, the film still claimed an impressive seven awards, including the coveted Best Picture.

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The musical performances were a highlight, with Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell earning a standing ovation for their emotional rendition of “What Was I Made For?”. It was then followed by powerful performances of nominated songs, including “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Becky G’s fiery rendition of “The Fire Inside,” which included a choir of children, and a large digital screen with oversized flames.

The best performance of all was when Ryan Gosling took the stage to perform “Barbie”’s “I’m Just Ken.” The actor, wearing a pink suit, was surrounded by men wearing cowboy hats, as well as some of his fellow castmates. Smiles and giggles filled the room, with Gosling poking at former “La La Land” costar, Emma Stone, and Barbie herself, Margot Robbie.

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Casually, Billie Eilish then became the youngest person ever to become a two-time Oscar winner at 22 years-old. The singer and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, won Best Original Song for their Barbie ballad, “What Was I Made For?.” “I just didn’t think this would happen,” Eilish said. “I feel so incredibly lucky and honored.”

In the acting categories, Robert Downey Jr. secured his first-ever Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in “Oppenheimer.” Cillian Murphy, who portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer, won Best Actor, and Emma Stone took home Best Actress for her role in “Poor Things,” despite a broken dress.

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The crowning moment of the night was Christopher Nolan winning Best Director for “Oppenheimer.” The film, chronicling the creation of the atomic bomb, had already made waves during the awards season, and the Oscars were the cherry on top.

In a final triumph, “Oppenheimer” clinched the Best Picture award, cementing its place as the standout film of the 96th Oscars. The cast, including Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, and Robert Downey Jr., celebrated a night filled with wins and memorable moments.

As the curtain fell on the 2024 Oscars, Hollywood’s finest left the Dolby Theatre with golden trophies in hand, memories of unexpected surprises, and a sense of pride in the cinematic achievements celebrated on this star-studded night.