Star-studded recap of Academy Award Show

By: Caitlin Moynihan, Columnist

To be honest, I had no idea what to expect from The 88th Academy Awards Sunday. I knew that there was going to be a lot of amazing (and horrible) outfits on the red carpet, controversial commentary by host Chris Rock, awkward jokes being teleprompted to presenters and a whole lot of speculation on whether or not Leonardo DiCaprio would finally win after being nominated for the sixth time for his powerful performance in “The Revenant.”

For a majority of the show, I was quite bored. Rock’s jokes were predictable, all the winners were expected and there was a lack of mess-ups that I thrive on when it comes to live television.

To help those of you who didn’t feel the need to watch The Oscar’s or who already forgot, here are the top three things from the night that you need to know.

1. “Mad Max: Fury Road.” This movie was a real game-changer when it left the evening with six Oscars, receiving the most of the night. It was pitted against “The Revenant” in most categories, but “Mad Max: Fury Road” came out victorious and I believe that it has a real opportunity to teach, lead and change the film industry. As a female-dominated movie that isn’t about sororities, boys, or a summer camp, it was something unlike we have ever seen. Tough women, women who represent so many people, being the fuel behind the success of the movie made critics and audiences question the rarity of its occurrence and, in turn, supporting the feminist movement.

2. Lady Gaga and Joe Biden. When Vice President Joe Biden initially walked onto The Oscar stage, my roommates and I looked at each other in utter confusion. It only took seconds for us to realize the importance of what was about to happen. Biden spoke about the “It’s On Us” campaign to stop sexual assault of both men and women on college campuses, and used his time on stage as a platform to spread awareness and to present Lady Gaga who sang her Oscar-nominated song “Til It Happens To You” from the movie “The Hunting Ground.” Gaga, a sexual abuse survivor, was obviously emotional within the first verse of the song and used her power and influence yet again to send a message. By the end of the performance, the stage was full of men and women, all survivors, bearing the words “Not Your Fault” and “Survivor” on their arms. I was a weepy mess by the end of the performance, and as a student who needs two hands to count the amount of friends who have been sexually assaulted during my three years in college, this hit close to the heart.

3. Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar. He finally did it. After six nominations over the course of 22 years, DiCaprio will no longer be titled “Oscar Nominee” but now “Oscar Winner.” The moment his name was read, our apartment filled with cheers and screeches and I may or may not have started a chant in DiCaprio’s honor. I had high hopes for his acceptance speech that he has had so long to perfect, and he did not disappoint. From thanking his family, cast and crew to the indigenous people whom he worked with, DiCaprio couldn’t help but use his time to discuss one of his passions: the environment and global warming advocacy. He was eloquent, descriptive and emotional, creating the perfect storm. I also have to say that there are few things I want more in life than for Dicaprio and Kate Winslet to get married and live happily ever after.

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