Last night Tinseltown gathered in the Dolby Theatre to congratulate their best work at the 68th Annual Academy Awards. Gravity the movie with the best special effects and the worst script, took home seven awards. Most of the women managed to not dress like exploded cupcakes, and Leonardo DiCaprio went home empty handed.
But there were some seriously show-stopping and self-aware moments on the stage and off last night.
1. When Matthew McConaughey was announced Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club, he kissed wife Camilla Alves like she was the only person in the entire room that mattered.
2. When Cate Blanchett took the opportunity when she won Best Actress for her role in Blue Jasmine to remind Hollywood that films about women do make money. And that “the world is round.”
3. When Lupita Nyong’o, who took home Best Supporting Actress for her work in 12 Years A Slave, accepted her award by saying, “It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s.”
4. Despite his own loss, Leonardo DiCaprio stood up for Matthew McConaughey, because even though the actor can’t seem to catch a break from the Academy, he’s still a stand up guy who recognizes great work.
5. Jared Leto’s touching speech that mentioned the Ukraine, Venezuela, his high-school drop out single mother, his brother, and the “36 million people who have lost the battle to AIDS,” as well as anyone “who ever felt injustice for who you are and who you love.”
6. In Ellen Degeneres’ opening monologue, the comedian ended the speech with: “Possibility number one: 12 Years a Slave wins Best Picture. Possibility number two: you’re all racists. And now please welcome our first white presenter, Anne Hathaway.”
7. Bill Murray sneaking in a Harold Ramis tribute, since the “In Memoriam” video had already been produced when the actor passed away last week.
8. Gravity‘s Alfonso Cuarón won for Directing, thanking the ”wise guys” at Warner Bros. before correcting himself — “the wise people.”
9. Frozen’s Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez won for their orignial song “Let It Go,” and ended their speech by telling their daughters, “This song is inspired by our love for you, and the hope that you never let fear or shame keep you from celebrating the unique people that you are.”
10. “All these women in my life and they’re all the most powerful,” said Steve McQueen when he accepted Best Picture for 12 Years A Slave. Ending the speech with a jump for joy to the claps of his “hard-headed mom” in the audience.
