Thankfully, the Oscars had Lupita Nyong’o Sunday night.
The 86th Academy Awards was a tough watch. Maybe it’s always tough, as Hollywood gives itself a collective pat on the back and the ceremony hands out awards to many winners whom only the most hardcore of movie followers and analysts are familiar with. As vital to film productions as they are, costume designers, visual effects artists, sound mixers and film editors are typically not the people we tune in see.
Host Ellen DeGeneres didn’t help matters, acting more like a pitchman for Samsung phones and pizza deliveries than the emcee of the year’s biggest awards show. Perhaps her inability to generate memorable laughs wasn’t entirely her fault. DeGeneres is a fantastic comedian and a vibrant TV personality, but she didn’t have much to work with here. Maybe walking along the aisles of the Dolby Theatre seemed like a good idea. Just let Ellen be Ellen, coming up with quips on the spot and hoping that some of those celebrities would play along.
The pizza delivery gag fell pretty flat, taking up a surprising amount of the show. Maybe we should admire DeGeneres for committing so hard to the joke. What could’ve been a throwaway line about ordering pizza turned out to be somewhat entertaining. (And impressive, when it was discovered that DeGeneres really did order pizza and foot the bill.) Celebrities — they’re just like us! When there’s free pizza to be had, they will make a grab for it.
In another instance, however, that strategy worked great. Even if the whole bit was an extended promo for Samsung phones, DeGeneres cozying up to celebrities to take photos and post them on Twitter brought a sense of fun — and normalcy — to the proceedings. She was essentially a fan in those moments, behaving much like some of us likely would in the same situation. Hey, there’s Meryl Streep! Can we take a picture?
When DeGeneres got a dozen stars to huddle together for one picture, the gag had its payoff and the 2014 Oscars had its signature moment. Look at how eager those guys were to snap a photo together! The playfulness was refreshing, a little touch of the Golden Globes to liven up what tends to be such a serious, self-important ceremony. DeGeneres can always say she broke Twitter, which seemed to be on her list of things to do for the evening.
Let’s just be thankful that Bradley Cooper made sure to turn the phone sideways to landscape mode, so everyone could fit in the picture. (Well. almost.) That guy’s a future director.
Another reason the 2014 Oscars may have seemed lackluster — especially going in — is that the results appeared to be predictable. There apparently wouldn’t be much suspense, other than the perceived three-way Best Picture race between 12 Years a Slave, Gravity and American Hustle. Cate Blanchett was going to win Best Actress, Matthew McConaughey had Best Actor locked up and Jared Leto winning Best Supporting Actor was all but a formality.
Jennifer Lawrence appeared to be the favorite to win Best Supporting Actress, which was rather perplexing. No one questions her talent and she’s a refreshingly humorous presence at award shows. But was Lawrence’s role in American Hustle truly Oscar-worthy? She was arguably miscast, really too young for the part of New Jersey housewife Rosalyn Rosenfeld, whose husband is running a con operation and having an affair with his co-conspirator. Yet Lawrence seemed on the verge of another Oscar win for her popularity as much as her talent.
However, Lupita Nyong’o had become a darling of critics, film journalists and celebrity observers during this awards season. Her background —born in Mexico, raised in Kenya, educated in America — was fascinating. Her sense of style and taste was making her a fashion icon. (At the very least, Nyong’o looks to have a bright future posing for magazine covers.) And then, of course, was her role in 12 Years a Slave, the reason we know who Nyong’o is now.
As Patsey, a slave who picks hundreds of pounds of cotton per day (far more than her male counterparts) and is sexually objectified by her master, Nyong’o embodied the pain and suffering endured by captive servants just as well — if not even better — than the star of the film, Chiwetel Ejiofor. At least Ejiofor’s character, Solomon Northrup, could presumably defend himself, if needed. Patsey is no physical match for her captors, which is made painfully, heartbreakingly clear toward the end of the story when she is fiercely whipped by her master.
Nyong’o almost steals the film. She seizes your curiosity. (Depending on your view, maybe she does.) Considering the performances of Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender, which also earned Oscar nominations, that’s rather impressive. Whether it was a star-making turn has yet to be seen, but it was one hell of a debut. Among so many familiar faces making the rounds during awards season and sitting in the front rows at the Dolby Theatre, Nyong’o was a new, fresh one to see. (And what a face it is. That woman’s skin is flawless. I’m not sure I’ve ever said that about anyone.)
She also arguably stole the show from her fellow nominees and marquee celebrities on Sunday night. Her dance with Pharrell during his performance of “Happy” instantly became a GIF worth watching over and over again. It was a great example of Nyong’o embracing her moment of stardom. She didn’t politely demure when Pharrell approached her. Instead, she rose to the occasion and seized the spotlight. This wasn’t going to be a night when the nominees sat quietly.
When Nyong’o’s name was announced as the Best Supporting Actress winner, she became far more than just a curiosity. This was affirmation. She wouldn’t have to wait her turn and earn an Oscar for later performances, as often seems to happen in Hollywood. Voters knew she was something special in 12 Years a Slave and rightly rewarded her for it.
Yet Nyong’o made the moment even more memorable with her acceptance speech. Awards speeches are often cringe-worthy. They go on too long, they’re awkwardly worded or articulated. They’re often made to end abruptly. Sometimes, they seem phony and self-indulgent. All we ask is for some genuine sentiment and emotion. Say what you feel, thank who needs to be thanked and express some legitimate gratitude. Nyong’o delivered here too.
She acknowledged that her joy came from someone else’s pain. She thanked her director and castmates. She tearfully gave tribute to those who helped her along the way and put her in this position. Best of all, Nyong’o showed humility and presented herself as inspiration to others. “May it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid,” she said. It was everything you want in an Oscar acceptance speech, the perfect ending to an amazing ride for Nyong’o.
Let’s just hope Nyong’o isn’t a flash in the pan, that her success is short-lived. Ideally, she continues to get great roles, provide more memorable performances and makes several appearances at the Oscars. It’s exciting to see Nyong’o emerge as a star. As NPR TV critic Eric Deggans said on Twitter, this better be just the beginning for her. Don’t let us down and let her fade away, Hollywood.
