Last year’s story of the Oscar firsts was based on nominations. However, we switched things up a bit. And based the 2020 Oscar firsts on winners at the 92nd Academy Awards.
The 72nd British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) pretty much mirrored the 76th Golden Globe Awards so we looked forward to The Academy shaking things up. They did, giving us some history-making Oscar firsts at the 2020 ceremony.
“Parasite” made history as the first non-English language film to win “Best Picture”
Pitted against Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” and Golden Globe Award winner for Best Motion Picture – Drama and BAFTA Best Film, “1917,” most did not think that “Parasite” stood a chance in the “Best Picture” category.
It was a huge yet pleasant surprise when the Korean drama was announced as winner of the most coveted award of the night. The expectation was that like Netflix’s “Roma” it would claim the award for “Best Foreign Language Film.” Even director, Bong Joon Ho expressed same in his acceptance speech, “… after winning best international feature, I thought I was done for the day and was ready to relax.”
Brad Pitt won his first Oscar as an actor
Despite stealing the hearts of fans worldwide since the ’90s, and having a steady and flourishing career through the years, Brad Pitt until the 92nd Academy Awards had not won an Oscar as actor. The only Oscar previously held by Mr Pitt was as co-producer of the 2014 “Best Picture” winner “12 Years a Slave.”
After receiving several nominations as actor and producer, and sweeping the “Best Supporting Actor” awards at Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and SAG Awards, on Sunday, he earned the “Best Supporting Actor” accolade for his role in “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.”
Joaquin Phoenix also received his first gold statuette
Joaquin Phoenix’s victories this award season towed the same path as that of Pitt. The award for “Best Actor” was another 2020 Oscar first for the actor and producer.
Ironically, there were strong contenders in the “Best Actor” category including Leonardo di Caprio and Adam Driver. Yet, it seemed uncontested. The industry, fans and critics agreed that Phoenix’s performance as Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillip’s “Joker” was undeniably extraordinary. Phoenix has scored three Oscar nominations previously but this is his first win.
The 2020 Oscars held Sunday 9 February.
