Though the space adventure Gravity took home seven Oscars, including Best Director, it was 12 Years a Slave that owned the evening. The gripping true story of Soloman Northup, a free African-American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, won this year’s prize for Best Picture. The film from director Steve McQueen also won Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and for Lupita Nyong’o’s Best Supporting Actress role. (Though, for readers of our special “Oscar Predictions” article on Friday, none of these would have been a surprise #humblebrag.) During the acceptance speech, McQueen said, “This is for all the people who have endured slavery, and the 21 million people who still endure slavery today.” Matthew McConaughey (The Dallas Buyer’s Club) and Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), won for Best Actor and Best Actress, and Pharrell Williams took home the coveted prize of “Best Use of Tuxedo Shorts to Demonstrate Untouchable Swag.” You can go here to see a full rundown of the evenings winners, and here to read our recent interviews with the filmmakers and actors behind 12 Years a Slave …
