In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Academy
Awards, “Crash,” director Paul Haggis’ meditation
on racism, won Best Picture over the heavily favored
“Brokeback Mountain” on Sunday night.
“You have made this one of the most breathtaking and
stunning maverick years in American cinema,” said
“Crash” producer and UCLA Professor Cathy Schulman,
referring to the fact that “Crash” had independent
distribution.
“Brokeback Mountain” had won almost every awards
precursor leading up the Academy Awards, including the top awards
from the Producers Guild of America, Writers Guild of America,
Directors Guild of America and the Golden Globes.
“Crash” triumphed despite being one of the most
notoriously divisive films of 2005. In January, the film was the
subject of a heated war of words between Roger Ebert and LA
Weekly’s Scott Foundas, who called it “the worst movie
of the year.”
But “Crash” distributor Lions Gate campaigned hard
for the film, sending out 130,000 DVDs to Screen Actors Guild
members earlier this year. The Los Angeles Times estimated
Lion’s Gate spent $4 million promoting a film that cost only
about $6.5 million to make.
It was a night for first-time Oscar winners ““ Ang Lee took
home Best Director for “Brokeback Mountain,” and Philip
Seymour Hoffman and Reese Witherspoon won the Best Actor and
Actress Oscars for their roles in “Capote” and
“Walk the Line,” respectively.
Hoffman expressed how overwhelmed he was to have won for his
portrayal of writer Truman Capote and asked the audience to help
thank his mother for raising four children by herself.
“Be proud, mom, because I’m proud of you,” he
said.
Other first-time winners included George Clooney, who won Best
Supporting Actor for his role in “Syriana,” and Rachel
Weisz for her role in “The Constant Gardener.”
“We’re the ones who were talking about AIDS when it
was just being whispered, and we talked about civil rights when it
wasn’t really popular,” Clooney said. “I’m
proud to be a part of this academy, proud to be a part of this
community, and proud to be out of touch.”
Rounding out the major categories, “Brokeback
Mountain” was awarded Best Adapted Screenplay, while
“Crash” won for Best Original Screenplay.
And it took 78 years, but someone finally accepted an Oscar
while wearing a diamond-studded grill in his mouth.
Rap group Three 6 Mafia won Best Original Song for
“It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp” from
“Hustle & Flow.” The group had just finished
performing when its win was announced. The members ran back
onstage, initially missing the podium, and delivered an exuberant
acceptance speech.
The ceremony ran three and a half hours but, unlike in other
years, the show featured a new host ““ “Daily
Show” star Jon Stewart.
Incorporating “fake news” segments similar to those
in his Comedy Central series, Stewart and narrator Stephen Colbert
poked fun at nominees and ran a humorous montage pointing out
homoerotic undertones in cowboy movies other than “Brokeback
Mountain.”
Yet on a night when issue-driven films were honored, Stewart was
able to inject his brand of social criticism.
“”˜Capote’ and “˜Good Night, and Good
Luck.’ are about determined journalists defying obstacles in
a relentless pursuit of the truth,” Stewart said.
“Needless to say, both are period pieces.”