Oscars Opener Highlights Best Movies of 2019, From ‘Joker’ to ‘Us’ (Video)
Janelle Monae led the performance at the 2020 Oscars
Beatrice Verhoeven | February 9, 2020 @ 5:14 PM
Last Updated: February 9, 2020 @ 7:02 PM
The Oscars opener highlighted the best films of 2019, including “Joker,” “Us” and “1917,” with an elaborate musical number led by Janelle Monae.
Monae opened the 92nd Academy Awards with a rendition of Mr. Rogers’ “It’s a Beautiful Day in This Neighborhood,” which is especially timely given Tom Hanks is nominated for his role as Mr. Rodgers in Marielle Heller’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” She of course sauntered up to Hanks sitting in the first row of the Dolby Theatre, handing off her hat she wore throughout the musical number.
The show then went on to feature all sorts of movies from 2019, including “Joker,” “Midsommar,” “1917,” “Dolemite Is My Name,” “Little Women,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Queen & Slim” and “Us.” The performance featured nods to the costumes of each movie, and the choreography even included a sequence of Hands Across America from Jordan Peele’s “Us.”
Monae gave a shoutout to “all the women who directed phenomenal films,” and said she’s “proud to stand here with black, queer artists.”
Billy Porter had a cameo on stage when Monae took a seat at a grand piano decked with flowers, before she put on the dress of the May Queen from “Midsommar” and sauntered down the steps towards the nominees, jamming out with actors like Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The 2020 Oscars took place on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The first award of the night went to Brad Pitt for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.”
Watch the video above.
Oscars 2020: We Predict the Winners in All 24 Categories (Photos)
BEST PICTURE
Nominees: "Ford v Ferrari" "The Irishman" "Jojo Rabbit" "Joker" "Little Women" "Marriage Story" "1917" "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" "Parasite"
“Parasite” is a tempting pick that would fit with recent trends, but it also has a de facto best-picture category where it will win, Best International Feature Film. And given what else "1917" has won this year, it seems foolish to bet against it.
Predicted winner: "1917"
Photo credit: Universal Pictures
BEST DIRECTOR
Nominees: Bong Joon Ho, "Parasite" Todd Phillips, "Joker" Sam Mendes, "1917" Martin Scorsese, "The Irishman" Quentin Tarantino, "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
This year, the DGA win gives a big edge to "1917" director Sam Mendes, who pulled off a huge movie that looks like a single shot. "Parasite" director Bong Joon Ho would be a popular alternative, but all signs point to Mendes.
Predicted winner: Sam Mendes, "1917"
Photo credit: Universal Pictures
BEST ACTOR
Nominees: Antonio Banderas, "Pain and Glory" Leonardo DiCaprio, "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" Adam Driver, "Marriage Story" Joaquin Phoenix, "Joker" Jonathan Pryce, "The Two Popes"
It's hard to envision a scenario in which Joaquin Phoenix doesn't win this award for "Joker."
Like Best Actor, this should be one more walk to the podium for a performer who's been there all season.
Predicted winner: Renée Zellweger, "Judy"
Photo credit: Roadside Attractions
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nominees: Tom Hanks, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" Anthony Hopkins, "The Two Popes" Al Pacino, "The Irishman" Joe Pesci, "The Irishman" Brad Pitt, "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
The supporting categories provide surprises more frequently than the lead categories, but don't look for a surprise to happen this year. Pitt is the one sure winner for "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood."
Predicted winner: Brad Pitt, "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
Everybody in Hollywood loves Laura Dern. She's been winning all season and she's not about to stop now.
Predicted winner: Laura Dern, "Marriage Story"
Photo credit: Netflix
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Nominees: "The Irishman" "Jojo Rabbit" "Joker" "Little Women" "The Two Popes"
Barring a surprise from "The Irishman" or "Joker," this now appears to be a showdown between "Little Women" and "Jojo Rabbit."
Predicted winner: "Jojo Rabbit"
Photo credit: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Nominees: "Knives Out" "Marriage Story" "1917" "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" "Parasite"
This could be the voters' only chance to give "Parasite" writer-director Bong Joon Ho an Oscar win of his own.
Predicted winner: "Parasite"
Photo credit: TheWrap
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Nominees: "The Irishman" "Joker" "The Lighthouse" "1917" "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
When "1917" first screened for voters and press in late November, virtually everybody agreed that Roger Deakins was going to win his second Oscar for cinematography. They still agree.
Predicted winner: "1917"
Photo credit: Universal Pictures
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Nominees: "The Irishman" "Jojo Rabbit" "Joker" "Little Women" "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
It might help that this is one of the few places to honor "Little Women," which was popular enough to land a Best Picture nomination.
Predicted winner: "Little Women"
Photo credit: Sony
BEST FILM EDITING
Nominees: "Ford v Ferrari" "The Irishman" "Jojo Rabbit" "Joker" "Parasite"
Typically, this award goes to a film that is nominated for but doesn't win Best Picture, and one with a liberal amount of action.
Predicted winner: "Ford v Ferrari"
Photo credit: Disney/Fox
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Nominees: "Bombshell" "Joker" "Judy" "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" "1917"
Make an actor look like a famous person, win an Oscar.
Predicted winner: "Bombshell"
Photo credit: Lionsgate
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Nominees: "Joker" "Little Women" "Marriage Story" "1917" "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Though Thomas Newman still has a shot for "1917," the momentum seems to be with "Joker" composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Predicted winner: "Joker"
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Nominees: "I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" from "Toy Story 4" "Into the Unknown" from "Frozen II" "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from "Rocketman" "I'm Standing With You" from "Breakthrough" "Stand Up" from "Harriet"
Elton John will likely get to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his "Lion King" win with another trophy.
Predicted winner: "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from "Rocketman"
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Nominees: "The Irishman" "Jojo Rabbit" "1917" "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" "Parasite"
In a battle between "1917," "Parasite" and "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood," the last of those may have the scale and hometown appeal to win.
Predicted winner: "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
Photo credit: Sony Pictures
BEST SOUND EDITING
Nominees: "Ford v Ferrari" "Joker" "1917" "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Will it be the war movie, "1917," or the auto-racing movie, "Ford v Ferrari?" War has a slight edge.
Predicted winner: "1917"
Photo credit: Universal Pictures
BEST SOUND MIXING
Nominees: "Ad Astra" "Ford v Ferrari" "Joker" "1917" "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood"
Even if "Ford v Ferrari" wins for sound editing, "1917" is probably the front-runner here.
Predicted winner: "1917"
Photo credit: Universal Pictures
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Nominees: "Avengers: Endgame" "The Irishman" "The Lion King" "1917" "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
Best Picture nominees have an edge in this category, and the work in "1917" isn't as divisive as the de-aging effects in "The Irishman."
Predicted winner: "1917"
Photo credit: Universal Pictures
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Nominees: "Corpus Christi" "Honeyland" "Les Miserables" "Pain and Glory" "Parasite"
There are other easy categories to predict at this year's Oscars, but nothing quite this easy.
Predicted winner: "Parasite"
Photo credit: Neon
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Nominees: "American Factory" "The Cave" "The Edge of Democracy" "For Sama" "Honeyland"
In a very close race between those three films, "American Factory" may have a slight edge.
Predicted winner: "American Factory"
Photo credit: Netflix
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Nominees: "In the Absence" "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)" "Life Overtakes Me" "St. Louis Superman" "Walk Run Cha-Cha"
In a close race, the hopeful doc with the best title, "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)," edges out the dark one that packs the biggest punch, "In the Absence."
Predicted winner: "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)"
Photo credit: A+E Networks
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Nominees: "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" "I Lost My Body" "Klaus" "Missing Link" "Toy Story 4"
The Academy might be showing a bit of Pixar fatigue, but "Toy Story 4" won most of the guild awards and there's nothing really positioned to take it down.
This race may well come down to the two big-studio offerings, Sony's "Hair Love" and Pixar's "Kitbull."
Predicted winner: "Kitbull"
Photo credit: Pixar
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
Nominees: "Brotherhood" "Nefta Football Club" "The Neighbors' Window" "Saria" "A Sister"
All of the nominees are strong, but the one American film in the group could have a slight edge.
Predicted winner: "The Neighbors' Window"
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Photo credit: Universal Pictures
