Oscars 2019: Laughs and tears

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Hollywood's most prestigious and highly anticipated night began as Queen plus Adam Lambert kicked off the Academy Awards with a rocking performance of "We Will Rock You."

The annual awards show, in its 91st edition, was held Sunday at the Dolby Theatre. It marked the stunning final chapter of the Hollywood awards calendar, observing numerous historic firsts with laughs and tears.

"Green Book" and "Roma" shared major prizes with three honors apiece at the ceremony. The former bagged best picture, best original screenplay and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali, while the latter was named best foreign language film with Alfonso Cuaron as best director and cinematographer.

Director Peter Farrelly speaks on stage after "Green Book" won the best picture award at the 91st Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

"Bohemian Rhapsody" also played loud at this year's gala, leading all films with four Oscars, including three technical prizes for best film editing, best sound mixing and best sound editing as well as the first Oscar for leading actor Rami Malek.

In the other major categories, a stunned Olivia Colman received the Academy Award for best actress for the most-nominated film "The Favourite," which earned 10 nods but only grabbed one Oscar.

Regina King won best supporting actress for her brilliant work in "If Beale Street Could Talk."

(L-R) Rami Malek, Olivia Colman, Mahershala Ali and Regina King pose in the press room in Hollywood, California, February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" grabbed best animated feature as widely expected, marking the first Marvel superhero film to win an Oscar, while "Black Panther" managed to take home three trophies from seven nods.

Pixar production "Bao," directed by Chinese-Canadian Domee Shi, garnered best animated short film.

Scroll down to view the complete list of Oscar winners 2019.

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Awards season darlings embraced by the Academy

The crew of best picture nominee "Green Book" accepts the award for best picture during the 91st Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

Two pictures shared the brightest Oscar spotlight on Sunday night. One was the road-trip film "Green Book" which capped a great awards season by pocketing the Oscar statuette for best picture.

Based on actual events, "Green Book" depicts a heartwarming story that follows a road trip between African-American classical pianist Don Shirley and his Italian-American driver through the racially segregated region.

The buddy film, which emotionally recounts a "true friendship" while essentially delineating a portrait of 1960s America that hits home, has been universally praised for its smooth and strong narratives and also won the best original screenplay.

Mahershala Ali accepts the award for best actor in a supporting role for "Green Book", February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

"We made this film with love, we made it with respect, and we made it with tenderness," said the film's producer Jim Burke.

The film was also a boon for Mahershala Ali, who was named as best supporting actor for his portrayal of pianist Don Shirley in the film.

This is the second Oscar statuette for Ali, who won in the same category in 2017 for "Moonlight."

Since its big open at the Golden Globes in January, "Green Book" has been basking in critical adulation and collected a number of accolades through the 2019 awards season.

'Roma' makes Cuaron four-time Oscar winner

Alfonso Cuaron poses in the press room with his Oscars during the 91st Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

Alfonso Cuaron notched his second straight Oscar in the directing category Sunday night. It was his personal fourth golden statuette, while his new masterpiece "Roma" is the first film from his homeland Mexico to win the Oscar for best foreign language film.

As the director's "most personal" work to date, the film is a sincere tribute to the woman who raised him. "I want to thank the Academy for recognizing the film centered around an indigenous woman," said the four-time Oscar winner.

The semi-autobiographical film is the follow-up to his last space epic "Gravity," which remarkably swept seven Academy Awards in 2013, including his first best director Oscar.

Alfonso Cuaron accepts the foreign language film award for "Roma," February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

The beautifully crafted black-and-white piece also won him the Oscar for best cinematography. It marks the director's first time performing his own cinematography and his cinematic achievement is universally acclaimed.

In a previous interview, the film master noted: "Ninety percent of the scenes represented in the film are scenes taken out of my memory," and revealed that the work presents the moments of time that not only shape himself but also his homeland.

Remarkable firsts make history

Rami Malek accepts the best actor award for his role in "Bohemian Rhapsody," February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

Historic firsts made the 91st Oscars one for the history books.

Rami Malek smiled big on Sunday night with best actor trophy in hand. His intrepid performance as legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody" received considerable adulation from band's members to the Academy crews.

It brought Malek his first nomination for best actor and first Oscar win, making him the first actor of Arab descent to win an Oscar, and the first non-white actor to win the honor in the past 12 years.

In his acceptance speech, the 38-year-old actor thanked his mother and late father, noting that "I am the son of immigrants from Egypt, a first-generation American. And part of my story is being written right now."

Regina King (L) holds her best supporting actress award for "If Beale Street Could Talk" and Spike Lee holds his best adapted screenplay award for "BlacKkKlansman," February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

"I could not be more grateful to each and every one of you, and everyone who believed in me for this moment. It's something I will treasure for the rest of my life," added Malek.

Other award winners experienced firsts, such as actress Lady Gaga and veteran director Spike Lee. Lee, who has been nominated five times, brought home his first Oscar ever for best adapted screenplay for his film "BlacKkKlansman."

Touching on Black History Month, Lee ended his acceptance speech by quoting the name of his most celebrated movie, said: "Let's all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let's do the right thing!"

Oscar shines on diversity and gender equality

Ruth E. Carter carries her award backstage after winning the best costume design award for "Black Panther," February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

The 2019 Oscars also set a new record for the most individual black winners, including best supporting actor and actress, costume design, production design, and adapted screenplay.

Ruth E. Carter and Hannah Beachler became the first African-Americans to win in their respective categories for the film "Black Panther" – Carter was awarded for costume design and Beachler for production design.

Not surprisingly, Gaga pocketed her first Oscar for best original song for "Shallow," a hit song from the film "A Star Is Born."

She took to the stage to accept the award in teary excitement and thanked her family and co-star Bradley Cooper, who performed the duet with her.

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper perform "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born", February 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

"There's not a single person on the planet that could have sung this song with me but you," said Gaga of Cooper, "thank you for believing in us."

With the win of Jamie Ray Newman and Guy Nattiv for live action short film for "Skin," 13 women captured Oscars on Sunday. According to the Academy, the previous record was set in 2007 and matched in 2015.

Gaga's win with her songwriting team put the number at 14. And Colman's victory finally locked it at 15 – a new record number of women took home Oscars.

Though it does not mean that the picture is entirely rosy given that no female has been nominated for best director, and none of this year's best picture nominees is directed by female filmmakers. We can still tell that the Academy is trying to "do the right thing."

Complete list of the 2019 Oscar winners

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(Cover image and infographics designed by Du Chenxin)