Academy Awards approach #OscarsSoWhite controversy and finally award DiCaprio

This year was a very exciting and controversial year for the Oscars. The show was opened by Chris Rock who made a comical stab at #OscarsSoWhite and the lack of diversity in the Academy’s nominations.

Despite the poor representation of minorities this year’s show was one to remember. Even if nothing else stands out about this year’s Academy Awards, one Oscar winner brought joy to viewers in the audience and at home alike.  In one night, Leonardo DiCaprio went from being a huge online joke to an Oscar winner.

DiCaprio, for his impeccable performance in “The Revenant,” took home his first Oscar after 6 previous nominations: an Oscar that was well deserved after years of challenging roles.

DiCaprio has taken on roles spanning from the mentally impaired younger brother of Johnny Depp’s character in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” to a psychologically confused World War II veteran in “Shutter Island.”

When it came time to announce “Best Actor,” audience members and viewers held their breath. As they announced DiCaprio’s name the audience stood and cheered in a standing ovation. While holding back tears DiCaprio gave a simple thanks to the Academy and his peers before ending his humbling speech with a recognition of the threat of climate change.

In addition to DiCaprio’s long awaited win, viewers witnessed the great success of the film “Mad Max.” The film exceeds visual and sound excellence which is proven by its multitude of Oscars. The story of “Mad Max” never slows down and takes viewers on a journey through a toxic post-apocalyptic world.

After seeing the film I can say that a dried up wasteland has never looked so beautiful. Director and master storyteller, George Miller, watched through rose-tented glasses as his latest achievement won “Film Editing,” “Makeup and Hairstyling,” “Production Design,” “Sound Editing” and “Sound Mixing.”

In addition, this year’s performances did everything but upstage the main event. Lady Gaga’s tribute to the victims of sexual assault was heart wrenching as she preformed “Till it happens to You” in support of the program It’s On Us. The program stands against rape culture on college campuses.

As Gaga passionately played piano she toned down her normal theatric flare and gave the enter stage to the survivors of sexual assault. Victims flooded the stage with encouraging messages written on each of their arms. This brought attention to the epidemic of rape on college campuses.

Of course Gaga’s was not the only performance of the evening. Performances by Sam Smith and The Weekend also captivated Oscars viewers. The Weekend preformed “Earned it” which was featured this year in the cinematic adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Dressed in a stunning suit The Weekend delivered his performance with dancers dressed in black BDSM influenced outfits and a woman who appeared to be covered only in diamonds hanging from the ceiling.

Sam Smith seemed to be a bit nervous during his performance, and the sound was a bit off. But any setbacks during his performance did not prevent him for taking home an Oscar for “Best Original Song.”

While this year’s Oscars disappointed many through a lack of diversity in nominations, it was an overall wonderful show. Because of the long awaited Oscar win of DiCaprio, the many successes of “Mad Max” and the wonderful live performances, 2016’s Academy Awards will be one for the books.