LOS ANGELES — Robert Downey Jr. won the best supporting actor award at the Academy Awards, getting his first Oscar and giving the 58-year-old actor a significant moment in his fluctuating career.
Downey’s impressive second act reached its peak on Sunday when he won for his supporting role in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Downey Jr., 58, had been nominated twice before (for “Chaplin” and “Tropic Thunder”).
“I’d like to thank my difficult childhood and the academy, in that sequence,” said Downey, the son of filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.
Protest and politics impacted the Academy Awards on Sunday, during an election year, with demonstrations for Gaza happening outside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and early awards going to “Poor Things,” “The Zone of Interest” and “The Boy and the Heron.”
Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza caused traffic issues around the Academy Awards on Sunday, delaying the arrival of celebrities at the red carpet and shifting the Oscar spotlight toward the ongoing conflict. Some protesters yelled “Shame!” at those trying to reach the Dolby Theatre.
Jonathan Glazer, the British filmmaker whose chilling Auschwitz drama “The Zone of Interest” won best international film, drew parallels between the dehumanization depicted in his film and current events.
“Right now, we stand here as men who reject their Jewish heritage and the Holocaust being taken over by an occupation which has resulted in conflict for many innocent people, including the victims of October the 7th in Israel, or the ongoing attack on Gaza. All the victims, this dehumanization, how do we resist?”
Several attendees, including Billie Eilish and Finneas, best song nominees for “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie,” wore pins for Gaza. Ava DuVernay and Ramy Youssef also wore pins.
“Oppenheimer,” the major biographical film, was widely expected to dominate all competition — including its release-date companion, “Barbie” — at an Oscars that could become a celebration for Christopher Nolan.
But it took over 90 minutes into the show for “Oppenheimer” to win an award. Instead, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Frankenstein-inspired “Poor Things” received three awards for its lavish craftsmanship, including awards for production design, makeup and hairstyling, and costume design.
Jimmy Kimmel, hosting the ABC telecast for the fourth time, began the 96th Academy Awards with a monologue that drew a few cold looks (from Robert Downey Jr., Sandra Hüller, and Messi, the dog from best-picture nominee “Anatomy of a Fall”). But Kimmel, emphasizing Hollywood as “a union town” following 2023’s actor and writer strikes, received a standing ovation for bringing out teamsters and behind-the-scenes workers — who are now entering their own labor negotiations.
The night’s first award was one of its most expected: Da’Vine Joy Randolph for best supporting actress, for her performance in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” An emotional Randolph was accompanied to the stage by her “Holdovers” co-star Paul Giamatti.
“I've always wanted to be different for a long time,” said Randolph. “And now I realize I just need to be myself.”
Even though it was widely expected that Randolph would win, there was a surprise upset. Hayao Miyazaki's movie “The Boy and the Heron” won the best animated feature award, which was unexpected because “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was slightly favored. Miyazaki, the 83-year-old Japanese anime master, came out of retirement to make this movie but did not attend the ceremony. He also did not attend the 2003 Oscars when his movie “Spirited Away” won the same award.
The award for best original screenplay went to “Anatomy of a Fall,” which, like “Barbie,” was written by a couple: director Justine Triet and Arthur Harari. Triet said, “This will help me through my midlife crisis, I think.”
