On the other hand, some outcomes were utterly predictable after the nominees won a string of other awards contests this season. Instead, he got knocked out by British stage veteran Mark Rylance, who was rewarded for his performance as a Russian secret agent during the Cold War in " Bridge of Spies." The most unexpected upset? Stallone might have seemed like a safe sentimental bet to take the supporting actor prize for his seventh outing as boxer Rocky Balboa, the role that jump-started his rise to stardom 40 years ago. Iñárritu (his second win in the category in a row following last year’s " Birdman"), Best Cinematography (a third win in a row for Emanuel Lubezki after "Birdman" and " Gravity") and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
“The Revenant,” a grueling wilderness tale of survival that came into the night with the most nominations with 12, settled for winning three honors: Best Director for Alejandro G. Meanwhile, the housing crisis dramedy “The Big Short”-which was up for five Oscars-made do with its lone victory for Best Adapted Screenplay. DeMille’s “The Greatest Show on Earth,” to find another Best Picture champ that won less than three awards total (it also took Best Story). You have to go back to 1952’s circus extravaganza, Cecil B. Tom McCarthy's “Spotlight,” an early favorite on the fall film-fest circuit that recounts how the Boston Globe exposed the cover-up of a widespread scandal involving pedophile Catholic priests, had enough staying power to beat out the two December releases to take the win.Įven more unusual for the year’s best, “Spotlight” claimed only one other award among its six nominations-Best Original Screenplay. It was a rare case when three titles-“ The Big Short,” “ The Revenant” and “ Spotlight”-were all considered to be equal possibilities to win the most-coveted category based on results from earlier contests. "Unpredictable," for one, especially when the time came for the winner to be announced for the final category of the night.
The unfortunate losers? Sylvester Stallone, ceremony boycotter Jada Pinkett Smith, that Cirque du sadomasochism troupe performing during "Earned It" and “ Clueless” star Stacey Dash.Īs these eclectic lists suggest, you can describe the 88 th edition of the Academy Awards in multiple ways. The big Oscar winners on Sunday night? Leonardo DiCaprio, Pulitzer-winning journalism, almost anyone who worked behind the scenes on “ Mad Max: Fury Road” and the Girl Scouts.