Credit: Getty Images
Oscar night always brings out beautiful gowns and lots of sparkle. This year also featured numerous looks with extreme down-to-there cleavage and backless-to-the-max styles. I’ll opt for the classier offerings like Sofia Vergara and Jennifer Garner in stunning black strapless ball gowns, and Cate Blanchett in an ethereal aqua blue creation covered in feathered flowers that fit her flawlessly. Other great looks included Lady Gaga’s white skirt-covered pantsuit styled with an old Hollywood touch, and Kerry Washington in a sleek ponytail and classy black & white gown. Charlize Theron had the best makeup of the night with her clean-but-smoky-beauty style.
But even more notable was the overall social issue tone of
Credit: Getty Images
the event. From Chris Rock’s hard-hitting but hilarious jabs on the complete and shameful absence of black nominees to Vice President Joe Biden’s impassioned plea for prevention of sexual assault, the entire evening reflected an attitude of hope for positive change. The Oscar win for the documentary on honor killings of women in Pakistan is causing Pakistan’s president to outlaw that practice. The Revenant called attention to the treatment of indigenous peoples. The winners for “The Big Short” warned about the greed of corporate corruption. Sam Smith proudly dedicated his Oscar to the LBGT community. And Lady Gaga’s chilling performance of “Til it Happens to You” while surrounded by sexual assault survivors was profoundly moving. The world needs and wants change, and artists are always the first to herald those changes. Some may call it contrived to use the Oscar stage to call for action. I call it using your moment of fame to shine a light on something larger and more important than a gold statue.