Director Barry Jenkins and the cast and crew of “Moonlight” accept the Best Picture award onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, Calif.
By Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer, The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Oscar winner, take two.
Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” — not, as it turned out, “La La Land” — won best picture at the Academy Awards in a historic Oscar upset and an unprecedented fiasco that saw one winner swapped for another while the “La La Land” producers were in mid-speech.
Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway apparently took the wrong envelope — the one for best actress winner Emma Stone — onto the stage. When they realized the mistake, representatives for ballot tabulators Price Waterhouse Coopers raced onstage to try to stop the acceptance speech.
But backstage, Stone said she was holding her winning envelope at the time. “I think everyone’s in a state of confusion still,” said Stone. Later the actress, who pledged her deep love of “Moonlight,” added, “Is that the craziest Oscar moment of all time? Cool!” Kenneth Lonergan, who won best screenplay for his “Manchester by the Sea,” joked to reporters, “It turned out that we actually won best picture.”
It was, nevertheless, a shocking upset considering that “La La Land” came in with 14 nominations, a record that tied it with “Titanic” and “All About Eve.” Barry Jenkins’ tender, bathed-in-blue coming-of-age drama, made for just $1.5 million, is an unusually small Oscar winner. Having made just over $22 million as of Sunday at the box office, it’s one of the lowest grossing best-picture winners ever — but also one of the most critically adored.
“Even in my dreams this cannot be true,” said an astonished Jenkins, once he reached the stage. “Moonlight,” released by indie distributor A24, also had some major muscle behind it, including Brad Pitt’s Plan B, which also backed the 2015 winner “12 Years a Slave.”
Host Jimmy Kimmel had come forward to inform the cast that “Moonlight” had indeed won, showing the inside of the envelope as proof. “I knew I would screw this up,” said Kimmel, a first-time host.
Producer Jordan Horwitz then graciously passed his statue to the “Moonlight” producers. “I noticed the commotion that was happening and I thought that something strange had occurred,” Jenkins said backstage. “The last 20 minutes of my life have been insane.” He said that backstage Beatty insisted on showing the wrong envelope to him before anyone else.
“La La Land” still collected a leading six awards, including honors for cinematography, production design, score, the song “City of Stars” and best director. Chazelle, the 32-year-old filmmaker, became the youngest to win best director.
“This was a movie about love and I was luckily enough to fall in love while making it,” said Chazelle, speaking about his girlfriend and Oscars date, Olivia Hamilton.
Up until the chaotic end, the telecast had seesawed between jabs at Donald Trump and passionate arguments for inclusivity. “All you people out there who feel like there isn’t a mirror out there for you, the academy has your back, the ACLU has your back and for the next four years we will not leave you alone, we will not forget you,” said Jenkins.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
(L-R) Prior to learning of a presentation error, 'La La Land' producers Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt accept the Best Picture award for 'La La Land' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Janelle Monae, center, reacts as "Moonlight" is announced as the winner of best picture at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
'Moonlight' actor Mahershala Ali hugs Emma Stone after it was discovered 'La La Land' was mistakenly announced as Best Picture onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Barry Jenkins, foreground left, and the cast accept the award for best picture for "Moonlight" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Presenter Warren Beatty shows the envelope with the actual winner for best picture as host Jimmy Kimmel, left, looks on at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The winner was originally announced as "La La Land," but was later corrected to "Moonlight."
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actors Faye Dunaway (L) and Warren Beatty speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actress Emma Stone (L) and accepts Best Actress for 'La La Land' from actor Leonardo DiCaprio onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actress Emma Stone accepts Best Actress for 'La La Land' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Actor Casey Affleck accepts the Best Actor award for 'Manchester by the Sea' from actor Brie Larson onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actor Mahershala Ali (R) accepts Best Supporting Actor for 'Moonlight' from actor Alicia Vikander onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actor Mahershala Ali accepts Best Supporting Actor for 'Moonlight' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
John Legend performs songs from best original song nominees "City of Stars" and "Audition" from "La La Land" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actress Amy Adams speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Writer/director Barry Jenkins (L) and writer Tarell Alvin McCraney accept Best Adapted Screenplay for 'Moonlight' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Producer Caroline Waterlow (L) and director Ezra Edelman accept Best Documentary Feature for 'O.J.: Made in America' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Justin Hurwitz, from left, Justin Paul, and Benj Pasek accept the award for best original song for "City of Stars" from "La La Land" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
(L-R) Actors Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Janelle Monae, left, Taraji P. Henson, second right and Octavia Spencer, right, introduce Katherine Johnson, seated, the inspiration for "Hidden Figures," as they present the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Riz Ahmed, left, and Felicity Jones present the award for best visual effects at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Scarlett Johansson presents the award for best original song at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Charlize Theron, left, and Shirley MacLaine present the award for best foreign language film at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
(L-R) Engineer/astronaut Anousheh Ansari and former NASA scientist Firouz Naderi accept Best Foreign Language Film for 'The Salesman' on behalf of director Asghar Farhadi onstage with actors Shirley MacLaine and Charlize Theron during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Sound re-recording mixer Kevin O'Connell (L) accepts Best Sound Mixing for 'Hacksaw Ridge' from actor Sofia Boutella onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Robert Mackenzie, from left, Kevin O'Connell, Andy Wright, and Peter Grace accept the award for best sound mixing for "Hacksaw Ridge" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actors Ryan Gosling (L) and Emma Stone speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actor/director Ben Affleck (L) and actor/producer Matt Damon speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan (C) accepts Best Original Screenplay for 'Manchester by the Sea' from actor/director Ben Affleck (L) and actor/producer Matt Damon (R) onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
John Cho, left, and Leslie Mann speak at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actors Javier Bardem and Meryl Streep speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Sylvain Bellemare accepts the award for best sound editing for "Arrival" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Linus Sandgren accepts the award for best cinematography for "La La Land" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Actor Jennifer Aniston speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Dev Patel introduces a performance for best original song for "The Empty Chair" from "Jim: The James Foley Story" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Janelle Monae, left, shakes hands with "Lion" actor Sunny Pawar as "Moonlight" director Barry Jenkins gestures to Pawar in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Mel Gibson appears in the audience at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Matt Sayles, Invision/AP
Mark Rylance presents the award for best actress in a supporting role at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Viola Davis, winner of the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Fences," right, and Julius Tennon kiss at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Mark Rylance, right, presents Viola Davis with the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Fences" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Hailee Steinfeld, left, and Gael Garcia Bernal present the award for best animated short film at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Director Damien Chazelle (L) accepts Best Director for 'La La Land' from actor Halle Berry onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Director Damien Chazelle (R) accepts Best Director for 'La La Land' from presenter Halle Berry onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Mahershala Ali poses in the press room with the award for best actor in a supporting role for "Moonlight" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Viola Davis poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Casey Affleck, winner of Best Actor for 'Manchester by the Sea' poses in the press room during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jordan Strauss, AP Photo
Damien Chazelle poses in the press room with the award for best director for "La La Land" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Colleen Atwood, winner of the award for best costume design for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Tarell Alvin McCraney, left, and Barry Jenkins, winners of the award for best adapted screenplay for "Moonlight", pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Dan Lemmon, from left, Andrew R. Jones, Adam Valdez and Robert Legato pose in the press room with the award for best visual effects for "The Jungle Book" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
(L-R) Actor Hailee Steinfeld, director Alan Barillaro and producer Marc Sondheimer, winners of Best Animated Short Film for 'Piper' and actor Gael Garcia Bernal pose in the press room during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
(L-R) Co-directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore and producer Clark Spencer, winners of the Best Animated Feature Film award for 'Zootopia' pose in the press room during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
(L-R) Actor Dakota Johnson, production designer David Wasco and art director Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, winners of Best Production Design for 'La La Land' and actor Jamie Dornan pose in the press room during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Producer Anna Udvardy and director Kristof Deak (2nd from R), winners of the award for Short Film (Live Action) for 'Sing,' pose with presenters David Oyelowo (R) and Salma Hayek in the press room during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Auli'i Cravalho performs songs from best original song nominee "How Far I'll Go" from "Moana" at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Seth Rogen, right, and Michael J. Fox speak at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Pictured on stage is a DeLorean.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Musician Sting performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Sara Bareilles performs during an In Memoriam tribute at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Debbie Reynolds is pictured on screen.
Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images
Dwayne Johnson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Sofia Carson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Ben Peterson Remote, Getty Images
Actor Sofia Carson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images
Actor Scarlett Johansson poses for pictures at the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Al Powers, Invision/AP
Kate McKinnon arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Actor Casey Affleck attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Chrissy Teigen, left, and John Legend arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Auli'i Cravalho arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Olivia Culpo unveils a one-of-a-kind Marchesa for Stella Artois gown featuring beads made from the Stella Artois Limited-Edition Chalices that benefit Water.org during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Sunny Pawar arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Lucas Hedges attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Henry Mortensen, left, and Viggo Mortensen arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Ruth Negga attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Richard Shotwell, Invision/AP
Blanca Blanco arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Chef Wolfgang Puck presents Oscars cuisine before the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Jackie Chan arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Al Powers, Invision/AP
Andrew Garfield and his father, Richard Garfield, arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
TV personality Ryan Seacrest attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Glen Powell attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Aldis Hodge attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Actor Isabelle Huppert attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Actor Brie Larson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP
Judd Apatow, left, and Leslie Mann arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
1 of 81
(L-R) Prior to learning of a presentation error, 'La La Land' producers Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt accept the Best Picture award for 'La La Land' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kenneth Lonergan, the New York playwright whose last film (“Margaret”) was beset by lawsuits and conflict, won best original screenplay. “I love the movies. I love being part of the movies,” said Lonergan, who then thanked his star. “Thank you Casey Affleck, Casey Affleck, Casey Affleck.”
Shortly later, Affleck — in one of the night’s most closely watched categories, won best actor — his first Oscar — for his soulful, grief-filled performance in “Manchester by the Sea.” Affleck and Denzel Washington (“Fences”) were seen as neck-and-neck in the category. An admittedly “dumbfounded” Affleck looked shocked when his name was read.
“Man I wish I had something bigger and more meaningful to say,” said Affleck, who hugged his more famous brother, Ben, before taking the stage.
The show kicked off with Justin Timberlake dancing down the Dolby Theatre aisles, singing his ebullient song, “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” from the animated film “Trolls.” It was an early cue that the Oscars would steer, at least in part, toward festiveness rather than heavy-handedness. Protests, boycotts and rallies have swirled ahead of Sunday night’s Oscars. But host Kimmel, in his opening monologue, quickly acknowledged that he “was not that guy” to heal a divided America.
But he still, pointedly, led a standing ovation for the “overrated” Meryl Streep. He later tweaked the president by tweeting to him on air, including telling him that Streep “says hi.”
The wins for Davis, who co-starred in Denzel Washington’s August Wilson adaptation “Fences,” and Mahershala Ali, the “Moonlight” co-star, were both widely expected. Their awards marked the first time in more than a decade that multiple Oscar acting honors went to black actors.
“I became an artist, and thank god I did, because we are the only profession to celebrate what it means to live a life,” said Davis, the best supporting actress winner. “So here’s to August Wilson, who exhumed and exalted the ordinary people.”
Ali won best supporting actor for “Moonlight.” He glowed on the stage as he informed the crowd that he and his wife, Amatus Sami-Karim, welcomed a daughter four days earlier. The actor thanked his wife for “being such a soldier through the process.”
Both stuck to more private reflections over politics. But a more blunt protest came from a winner not in attendance. Best foreign film for the second time went to Asghar Farhadi, director of Iran’s “A Salesman.” Farhadi, who also won for his “A Separation,” had said he wouldn’t attend because of Trump’s travel band to seven predominantly Muslim nations. Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian astronaut, read a statement from Farhadi.
“I’m sorry I’m not with you tonight,” it read. “My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S.”
The broadcast often veered between such strong personal statements and Kimmel’s efforts to keep things a little lighter with bits reminiscent of his late-night show. Shortly before he led a dazed, unsuspecting tour group into the theater, presenter Gael Garcia Bernal, the Mexican actor, declared: “As a migrant worker, as a Mexican, and as a human being, I am against any wall.” Rich Moore, one of the three directors of Disney’s best animated film winner “Zootopia,” described the movie as about “tolerance being more powerful than fear of the other.”
Gibson’s World War II drama “Hacksaw Ridge” was, surprisingly, the evening’s first double winner, taking awards for editing and sound mixing. The bearded Gibson, for a decade a pariah in Hollywood, was seated front and center for the show, and was a frequent presence throughout.
Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America” took best documentary, making it — at 467 minutes — the longest Oscar winner ever, beating out the 1969 Best Foreign Language Film winner “War and Peace” (431 minutes). Edelman’s documentary, while it received an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release, was seen by most on ESPN as a serial, prompting some to claim its place was at the Emmys, not the Oscars.
Edelman dedicated the award to the victims of the famous crime, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
“This is also for other victims, victims of police violence, police brutality,” Edelman said. “This is their story as it is Ron and Nicole’s.”
The “OscarsSoWhite” crisis of the last two years was largely quelled this season by a richly diverse slate of nominees, thanks to films like “Moonlight,” ”Fences” and “Hidden Figures.” A record six black actors are nominated. For the first time ever, a person of color is nominated in each acting category. And four of the five best documentary nominees were also directed by black filmmakers.
“I want to say thank you to President Trump,” Kimmel said in the opening. “Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist?”
The nominees follow the efforts by Academy of Motions Pictures Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs to diversify the membership of the largely white, older and male film academy. “Tonight is proof that art has no borders, no single language and does not belong to a single faith,” said Isaacs.
List of winners for the 89th annual Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences:
Best Picture: “Moonlight.”
Actor: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea.”
Actress: Emma Stone, “La La Land.”
Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight.”
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, “Fences.”
Directing: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land.”
Foreign Language Film: “The Salesman,” Iran.
Adapted Screenplay: “Moonlight,” screenplay by Barry Jenkins, story by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, “Manchester by the Sea.”
Production Design: “La La Land,” Production Design: David Wasco; Set Decoration: Sandy Reynolds-Wasco.
Cinematography: Linus Sandgren, “La La Land.”
Sound Mixing: “Hacksaw Ridge,” Kevin O’Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace.
Sound Editing: “Arrival,” Sylvain Bellemare.
Original Score: “La La Land,” Justin Hurwitz.
Original Song: “City of Stars” from “La La Land,” music by Justin Hurwitz, lyric by Ben Pasek and Justin Paul.
Costume Design: Colleen Atwood, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
Documentary (short subject): “The White Helmets,” Orlando von
Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara.
Documentary Feature: “O.J.: Made in America,” Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow.
Film Editing: “Hacksaw Ridge,” John Gilbert.
Makeup and Hairstyling: “Suicide Squad,” Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson.
Animated Feature Film: “Zootopia,” Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer.
Animated Short Film: “Piper,” Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer.
Live Action Short Film: “Sing,” Kristof Deak and Anna Udvardy.
Visual Effects: “The Jungle Book,” Robert Legato, Adam Valdez,
Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon.