Ladies and Gentlemen: It was a good night for movies, black film, and Hollywood as a whole as the 86th Annual Academy Awards seemed to clearly sing and ring out the names of two amazing films: 12 Years a Slave & Gravity.
During the 3.5 hour ABC broadcast, Gravity was the name heard on replay as it swept the technical categories in everything from best editing to visual effects winning seven total oscars. The film won so many times, that at one point, director Alfonso Cuaron went missing from stage with colleagues wondering on the microphone where he might be. But Cuaron was present when given a historic win as the first Latino to ever win an Academy Award for best director. Ever.
RELATED: Director Alfonso Cuaron brilliantly welcomes us to the future of moviemaking
But the history making didn’t stop there. Not to be missed was the epic win of 12 Years a Slave becoming the only film in the history of the Academy Awards featuring a predominantly black cast, director, and writer to win the Oscar for best picture. Even more amazing about this feat was that 12 Years was predicted to win. Yes, the last minute December 2013 release of American Hustle gave some momentary doubt. Even Wolf of Wall Street’s Christmas debut made a few wonder. But as the Academy Awards March date came closer, and 12 Years a Slave continued to rack up best picture wins across the globe at other award shows, it became apparently obvious that this movie about the life of Solomon Northup, torn from his happy life in upstate New York and illegally sold into 12 long, demeaning years of slavery – was the best film of 2013.
RELATED: Screen Time: 12 Years a Slave
Although many had pegged 12 Years a Slave to take the best picture Oscar, the biggest surprises came in writer John Ridley winning the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, and actress Lupita Nyong’o winning for best supporting actress. Both were stunned in their wins. Ridley shivered and was nearly stuttering as he showed love to his wife for supporting his efforts and process. While Lupita became the 7th black actress to take home an Oscar, she gave hope, inspiration, and motivation to young people everywhere with a dream. “May this little golden statue remind you that no matter where you’re from,” she said, holding the Oscar tightly, tears flowing, out of breath, “your dreams are valid.”
RELATED: Lupita Wins Best Supporting Actress Oscar
Hollywood seemed to get it right this year, validating what so many had hoped would be done. This 86th Oscar broadcast became, hands down, the most memorable, happiest, and historic of all time.
Below is an abbreviated list of winners. For the full list go to ABCnews.go.
Best Picture:
"American Hustle"
"Captain Phillips"
"Dallas Buyers Club"
"Gravity"
"Her"
"Nebraska"
"Philomena"
"12 Years a Slave" WINNER
"The Wolf of Wall Street"
Best Supporting Actor:
Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
Bradley Cooper, "American Hustle"
Jonah Hill, "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Michael Fassbender, "12 Years a Slave"
Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club" WINNER
Best Supporting Actress:
Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"
Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"
Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years a Slave" WINNER
Julia Roberts, "August: Osage County"
June Squibb, "Nebraska"
Best Director:
David O. Russell, "American Hustle"
Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity" WINNER
Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"
Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"
Martin Scorsese, "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Best Actor:
Christian Bale, "American Hustle"
Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"
Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyer's Club" WINNER
Best Actress:
Amy Adams, "American Hustle"
Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine" WINNER
Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"
Judi Dench, "Philomena"
Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"
Best Original Screenplay:
"American Hustle"
"Blue Jasmine"
"Dallas Buyers Club"
"Her" WINNER
"Nebraska"
Best Adapted Screenplay:
"Before Midnight"
"Captain Phillips"
"Philomena"
"12 Years a Slave" WINNER
"The Wolf Of Wall Street"
Best Animated Feature:
"The Croods"
"Despicable Me 2"
"Ernest & Celestine"
"Frozen" WINNER
"The Wind Rises"
Best Foreign Feature:
"The Broken Circle Breakdown," Belgium
"The Great Beauty," Italy WINNER
"The Hunt," Denmark
"The Missing Picture," Cambodia
"Omar," Palestine
Best Visual Effects:
"Gravity" WINNER
"The Hobbit: The Desolation"
"Iron Man 3"
"The Lone Ranger"
"Star Trek Into Darkness"
Best Cinematography:
"The Grandmaster"
"Gravity" WINNER
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"Nebraska"
"Prisoners"
Best Costume Design:
"American Hustle"
"The Grandmaster"
"The Great Gatsby" WINNER
"The Invisible Woman"
"12 Years a Slave"
Best Documentary Feature:
"The Act of Killing"
"Cutie and the Boxer"
"Dirty Wars"
"The Square"
"20 Feet from Stardom" WINNER
Best Documentary Short:
"CaveDigger"
"Facing Fear"
"Karama Has No Walls"
"The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life" WINNER
"Prisoner Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall"
Best Film Editing:
"American Hustle"
"Captain Phillips"
"Dallas Buyers Club"
"Gravity" WINNER
"12 Years a Slave"
Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
"Dallas Buyers Club" WINNER
"Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa"
"The Lone Ranger"
Best Music (Original Score):
"The Book Thief"
"Gravity" WINNER
"Her"
"Philomena"
"Saving Mr. Banks"
Best Music (Original Song):
"Alone Yet Not Alone" from "Alone Yet Not Alone"
"Happy" from "Despicable Me"
"Let It Go" from "Frozen" WINNER
"The Moon Song" from "Her"
"Ordinary Love" from "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"