It may have been one of the more predictable Oscar nights, however returning host Ellen DeGeneres kept the ceremony an entertaining success for both audiences watching at home and the stars packed in the Dolby Theatre.
While DeGeneres wasn’t nearly as edgy as last year’s Seth MacFarlane, there were plenty of laughs to be had. Moments like DeGeneres’ star-studded selfie and John Travolta epically flubbing Frozen actress Idina Menzel’s name have since gone viral, and in what may become an Academy Award tradition, Jennifer Lawrence tripped for the second year in a row.
In terms of winners, not much was shocking for those making predictions at home. Frontrunners like Jared Leto for Best Supporting Actor, Cate Blanchett for Best Actress, and the movie Frozen for Best Animated feature won in their respective categories.
Special effects powerhouse Gravity swept in just about every technical category, and director Alfonso Cuaron took home the Best Director prize, however the space saga came up short in the lead actress category and the big prize of the night, which went to historical drama 12 Years a Slave. Slave also won actress Lupita Nyong’o a much deserved Supporting Actress award, and screenwriter John Ridley a Best Adapted Screenplay trophy.
Many noticed some behind the scenes drama between Ridley and 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen when Ridley neglected to mention the director during his acceptance speech and when both ignored one another on stage when the film won best picture. It’s believed that this stemmed from a dispute the two had over shared credit for the films screenplay. However, after the ceremony Ridley declined any feud between the two and he simply forgot to acknowledge McQueen.
In addition to Oscar night drama, there was also heartbreak for fans of Leonardo DiCaprio. The Wolf of Wall Street star was nominated for his role as real-life con artist Jordan Belfort, yet he was snubbed by the Academy yet again in favor of Matthew McConaughey’s AIDS victim Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club. The 39 year old actor has been nominated in the past for his roles in films like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, and Blood Diamond but has yet to receive a gold statuette, much to the chagrin of Tumblr and the Internet (go Google “Leonardo DiCaprio oscar meme.” This article can wait).
While this year’s Academy Awards may not have been as exciting as they were in the past, there was still much fun to be had, and yet another chance for DiCaprio to get snubbed.