SPIKE Lee bounding into the arms of Samuel L. Jackson, and trading shout-outs to Brooklyn (and hats!) with Barbra Streisand. A weeping Lady Gaga in her elegant up-do, extolling the virtues of hard work. A stunned Olivia Colman and her delightfully daft acceptance speech. Historic breakthroughs for winners of color, and for women.

Yes, the hostless Oscars at first threatened to be a rather antiseptic affair, but the brisk-moving ceremony soon came alive with genuinely moving feel-good moments and heartwarming surprises though it finished on a decidedly unsettled note with a best-picture win for the divisive segregation-era drama “Green Book.” Some key moments from one of the more unusual nights in recent Oscar memory:

It was a great night for diversity at the Oscars, thanks in part to the groundbreaking Marvel film “Black Panther.” Celebrated costume designer Ruth E. Carter won for her vivid, futuristic designs, the first black winner in the category, and moments later Hannah Beachler became the first black winner (and nominee, too) in production design.

“This has been a long time coming,” mused Carter, who thanked the academy for honoring “the empowered way women can look and lead onscreen.” As for Beachler, she gave a deeply emotional speech, singling out the ways she had become stronger. “I give the strength to all of those who come next to keep going, to never give up,” she said.

Finally, Oscar does the ‘right thing’

Carter also thanked Lee, with whom she worked on the 1992 “Malcom X,” and soon Lee himself was onstage, accepting his award for best adapted screenplay for “BlacKkKlansman.” It was perhaps the feel-good moment of the night as the director, who’d never won a competitive Oscar, leaped up into the arms of presenter Jackson. His speech touched on Black History Month, Jamestown, and his own grandmother, “who called me Spikey-poo,” and used her Social Security cheques to put him through school.

It wasn’t just Lee’s grandma who came in for special praise. Best supporting actor Mahershala Ali dedicated his second Oscar to his own grandmother, “who has been in my ear my entire life, telling me that if first I don’t succeed, try try again, that I could do anything I put my mind to.”

And if it wasn’t Grandma, it was Mom. Best supporting actress Regina King brought mother Gloria as her date, and thanked her tearfully “for teaching me that God is always leaning in my direction.”

Best actor Rami Malek also pointed out his mom as he accepted his award for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” saying, “I love you, lady.” Carter, winning her costume award, called her own 97-year-old mother “the original superhero.” Best actress nominee Yalitza Aparicio brought her mother as her date, at one point introducing her to actor Diego Luna.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019