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In many ways, the 90th Oscars made history last night. There were a lot of firsts and nothing was off the table as presenters, talent, producers, and performers held nothing back.
Jimmy Kimmel set the tone for the night with his commentary on President Donald Trump and Mike Pence, but not without the mentioning of equal rights and sexual harassment first.
Topics addressed throughout the night were the mistreatment of marginalized people in America and the lack of representation of the Mexican-American and African-American communities, a speech led by Coco director Lee Unkrich.
The treatment of women in Hollywood, the Times Up and Never Again movements, DACA, Harvey Weinstein’s Academy Awards removal, and plenty more were also big topics.
Some firsts included the likes of Mary J. Blige who was the first person, first woman, and first black woman ever to be nominated for an acting and song category as Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song. Her nominations were for Mudbound and its song “Mighty River”.
Daniela Vega was the first openly transgendered Oscars’ presenter. A Fantastic Woman, the film she starred in, was the first time that a Chilean film won the Best Foreign Language Film category.
Rachel Morrison was the first ever female cinematography nominee (Mudbound).
Greta Gerwig was the first woman to be nominated for Best Director in eight years. She was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Both nominations were for Lady Bird.
Jordan Peele is the third person in 90 years to be nominated for all three: Best Original Screenplay (winner), Best Picture, and Best Director for his debut film Get Out.
Timothee Chalamet was the youngest Best Actor nominee in almost 80 years.
The iconic Mexican comedic actor and Hollywood Walk of Fame recipient Eugenio Derbez introduced Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal. He performed the now Oscar Award-winning song “Remember Me” featured in the Oscar Award-winning Best Animated Featured Film Coco along Mexican-African American singer and songwriter Miguel and Mexican pop-rock singer and songwriter Natalia LaFourcade.
Common and Andra Day enlisted 10 political activists for their performance of “Stand For Something”, a message encouraging people to stand up for what they believe in. One of which was Chef Jose Andres who continues to be a notable figure in his fundraising efforts to help Puerto Rico.
Lupita NYong’o and Kumail Nanjiani addressed their support for Dreamers because they share a similar story. NYong’o is Mexican-Kenyan born to Kenyan parents in Mexico City, Mexico. Nanjiani is Pakistani-born and was raised in Iowa.
The 90th Oscars is the first Latinx-driven Oscars, which also makes the Annual Academy Awards the first English-speaking awards show to ever do so.
After last night, Hollywood has made it impossible for anyone to discuss the 2018 Oscars without discussing the political issues raised first. If the intention was to get people talking, involved, and make them aware, well, message received.
