February 22nd was a big night for Hollywood and its stars as the 87th Academy Awards (more famously known as the “Oscars”) were held in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre.
Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, the glamorous night brought amazement, laughter, and even a few tears to the audience. Here are the top 5 2015 Oscar moments:
Neil Patrick Harris’s Opening Number:
Last year’s Oscars were hosted by the comedy genius, Ellen DeGeneres, so the “How I Met Your Mother” star had some big shoes to fill. However, his opening number wowed the audience with a song and montage titled, “Moving Pictures,” written by the duo behind “Frozen’s” hit song, “Let It Go.” Anna Kendrick and Jack Black joined Harris as he sang the clever number, making it a very endearing performance.
Common and John Legend’s “Glory” Performance:
The original song “Glory”, from the film “Selma”, which was powerfully and emotionally performed by Common and John Legend, left many in the audience in tears. After winning Best Original Song, John Legend stated, “When people are marching with our song we wanna tell you… we are with you, we see you, we love you. And March on.”
The Speeches:
The passionate speeches from the award winners definitely moved those who were watching. J.K. Simmons, who received Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Whiplash”, reminded his two children – and all the sons and daughters around the world – to make a phone call to their parents. “Call your mom. Call your dad. If you are lucky enough to have a mother or father on this planet, don’t text, call them.”
Patricia Arquette, who won Best Supporting Actor for her role in “Boyhood”, spoke about women’s rights and equality, saying, “We have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and women’s rights for everyone in America.”
Dana Perry raised suicide awareness in her speech following her win for Best Documentary Short Subject. In her speech, she went on to speak about her motivation for the film – her son who committed suicide at age 15. Finally, Graham Moore gave the world insight to his inspiration for the adapted screenplay of “The Imitation Game.”
“When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself. I felt weird and different and felt like I didn’t belong. Now I’m standing here… this is for any kid out there who doesn’t feel like they belong, because you do. Stay weird, stay different.”
“Sound of Music” Tribute
Lady Gaga gave a beautiful tribute to the 1965 classic film, “The Sound of Music” as she sang a few of the movie’s beloved songs. The high notes she hit certainly surprised everyone and even made Julie Andrews proud, who then came on stage expressing her gratefulness and surprise at Gaga’s talent.
The “In Memoriam” Segment
In the middle of the laughter came a solemn time as the show included a segment honoring the industry’s notables. Introduced by Meryl Streep, the piece included Robin Williams, Lauren Bacall, Ruby Dee, James Garner, Elizabeth Pena, Luise Rainer, and Mickey Rooney. It was concluded with a musical performance from Jennifer Hudson.