The Oscars night was filled with unexpected twists and turns. Oppenheimer may have taken the spotlight with its big win, but the night was far from predictable.
From the surprising appearance of Twins to John Cena’s unexpected nudity and Al Pacino’s puzzling antics, the 2024 Academy Awards left everyone buzzing with excitement and speculation.
Emma Stone’s Second Oscar Win and Wardrobe Mishap
With her surreal performance in ‘Poor Things,’ Emma Stone joined the ranks of esteemed actors like Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster, securing her second Oscar before the age of 35. But the night was not without its hiccups. As she ascended the stage to accept her award, Stone was faced with an unexpected wardrobe malfunction.
Despite the wardrobe mishap, Stone handled the situation with grace and humor. As she accepted her award, she candidly informed the audience, ‘My dress is broken,’ attributing the mishap to her performance in ‘I’m Just Ken’ with a playful smile. This light-hearted moment added a touch of humor to the event.
Amidst expressing gratitude to her family, Stone extended heartwarming thanks to her daughter, about to turn three, who brought vibrant colors to their lives.
Before leaving the stage, she made a playful plea, “Don’t look at the back of my dress.”
Al Pacino’s Oscars Slip-Up
The 2024 Oscars had its share of hiccups, reminiscent of past blunders like the infamous envelope-gate of 2017. This year, the task of announcing the coveted Best Film fell upon Al Pacino’s seasoned shoulders.
However, the veteran actor caused a stir by swiftly declaring Oppenheimer’s victory without first listing all 10 nominees, leaving the audience momentarily puzzled. While the outcome was somewhat predictable, perhaps Pacino was eager to expedite proceedings and head to the Vanity Fair after-party. Despite the rushed finale, it was a minor snag in comparison to past incidents, thankfully devoid of any envelope-slapping theatrics.
Barbie vs. Oppenheimer
The clash between “Barbie,” a film centered around a children’s toy, and “Oppenheimer,” chronicling the life of the scientist behind the atomic bomb, may seem unlikely, but the internet’s influence knows no bounds.
Before the simultaneous release of both films last year, the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon emerged, capturing the attention of moviegoers. While “Barbie” triumphed at the box office, “Oppenheimer” dominated the awards season, reigniting the rivalry spotlighted by actors Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling during a tribute to stunt performers.
Blunt, portraying Robert Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty, downplayed the rivalry, emphasizing Christopher Nolan’s epic as the awards season standout. Gosling humorously quipped about “Oppenheimer” riding “Barbie’s coat-tails all summer,” leading to the playful merger of the film titles into “Barbenheimer.”
In the audience, Margot Robbie, star of “Barbie,” shared a laugh as Blunt retorted to Gosling’s jest about Ken-splaining, cleverly referencing abs painting and playfully jabbing at Gosling’s humor. After all, Ken would never resort to painted-on abs.
Speaking of John Cena
Actor and wrestler John Cena made a memorable entrance at the Oscars by presenting the award for best costume while naked.
Holding the envelope strategically over his midsection, the 46-year-old stepped onto the stage sans attire, prompting host Jimmy Kimmel to quickly provide him with a cloth to cover up.
Cena’s nudity served as a homage to the Oscars’ past, commemorating the 50th anniversary of a notorious streaker incident during the ceremony. Kimmel recounted the 1974 episode when a naked man, later identified as US photographer and gallery owner Robert Opel, dashed across the stage during David Niven’s introduction of Elizabeth Taylor.
Addressing the audience, Cena emphasized the significance of costumes and rejected Kimmel’s jest about his wrestling attire, clarifying that he wore his trademark jorts, or jean shorts, during WWE events.
Despite the unconventional introduction, the award for best costume ultimately went to the designer for “Poor Things,” a film that also clinched the prize for make-up and hairstyling.
Gosling’s Spectacular Oscars Performance
The Oscar for Best Song was awarded to another hit from the Barbie soundtrack, Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”. However, it was Ryan Gosling who stole the spotlight with his captivating performance.
His rendition of “I’m Just Ken” live at the Oscars began with Gosling charmingly serenading a giggling Margot Robbie and concluded with an electrifying power ballad sing-along featuring Robbie, co-star America Ferrera, and director Greta Gerwig.
Dressed in a vibrant pink rhinestone suit, complemented by pink leather gloves and a matching stetson, Gosling exuded energy and charisma. He poured his heart into the performance, accompanied by songwriter Mark Ronson on guitar and, later, a show-stopping solo from Guns ‘N’ Roses guitarist Slash.
Ncuti Gatwa, Simu Liu, and Kingsley Ben-Adir, who portrayed different versions of Ken in the film, also joined in, adding to the spectacle.
With this mesmerizing performance, Gosling showcased his versatility, proving that perhaps Ken’s destiny extends beyond stereotypes of blonde fragility.
Schwarzenegger and DeVito’s Oscars Reunion
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, renowned for their roles in comedy hits like “Twins” and “Junior,” reunited at the Oscars to present awards in visual effects and film editing.
Their iconic portrayal of unlikely twins in the 1988 film “Twins” remains their most memorable collaboration, but the duo added a surprising twist to their on-stage reunion.
“We’re presenting together tonight for very obvious reasons,” quipped DeVito, followed by Schwarzenegger’s witty remark, “We both tried to kill Batman.”
Both actors have notably portrayed Batman villains over the years – DeVito as The Penguin in “Batman Returns” (1992) and Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze in “Batman & Robin” (1997).
The camera then captured former Batman Michael Keaton, who gestured for the duo to bring it on. Schwarzenegger jokingly called Keaton a “son of a bitch” and remarked, “You have a lot of nerve to show your face around here.”
Christopher Nolan’s Long-Awaited Oscar Win
British filmmaker Christopher Nolan celebrated a significant milestone at this year’s Oscars. Some 22 years after his initial nomination, he secured his first Academy Award.
Nolan’s first nod came in 2002 for Best Original Screenplay for “Memento,” followed by a nomination in the same category for “Inception” in 2011. Despite multiple nominations, including a Best Director nod for “Dunkirk” in 2018, Nolan had previously left empty-handed.
However, his work on “Oppenheimer” finally earned him the coveted Oscar statuette.
In addition to Nolan’s triumph, “Oppenheimer” made history by making Cillian Murphy the first Irish actor to win Best Actor. It also marked the first win for his co-star Robert Downey Jr., who had been nominated since 1993 for “Chaplin.”
British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer also achieved a milestone. His film “The Zone of Interest” became the first UK production to win Best International Feature. Set in and around the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, the film’s predominantly German and Polish dialogue made it eligible for the award.
Further historic moments unfolded as “20 Days In Mariupol” secured the title of Best Documentary Feature, marking Ukraine’s first-ever Oscar win.
However, it was a night of disappointment for Diane Warren, who received her 15th nomination for Best Original Song but remained without a win.