Talk about a twist ending.
“Moonlight” won Best Picture at the Oscars on Sunday, but not before “La La Land” was mistakenly announced as the winner in one of the most stunning moments in the award show’s 89-year history.
The cast and crew of “La La Land” took the stage to accept the award and acceptance speeches were even being delivered when the film’s producer Jordan Horowitz informed the audience about the mix-up.
“There’s a mistake. ‘Moonlight’ you’ve won best picture,” the producer said. “This is not a joke. Come up here.”
To show he was serious, Horowitz held up the winner card with “Moonlight” on it.
At that point, the “Moonlight” crew came up to accept its shock Oscar.
Presenter Warren Beatty says he paused so long before the name was read because the winner card said Emma Stone, “La La Land” — the previous winner this evening. Actress Faye Dunaway read the title “La La Land” after chiding Beatty for taking so long to read the winner.
“I want to tell you what happened. I opened the envelope, and it said: Emma Stone, ‘La La Land.’ That’s why I took such a long look at Faye and at you. I wasn’t trying to be funny.”
When the actor looked in the envelope, he appeared visibly confused, looking at Dunaway and then off-stage before his “Bonnie and Clyde” castmate incorrectly announced “La La Land” as the winning film.
Neil Patrick Harris, who hosted the event in 2015, was quick to point out on Twitter that the envelope Beatty opened read, “Actress in a Leading Role.”
The cast and crew of “Moonlight” seemed as shocked as anyone to learn that they had one the night’s biggest prize.
“Very clearly, even in my dreams this could not be true,” Barry Jenkins, the film’s director, said. “To hell with dreams. I’m done with it. This is true. Oh my goodness.”
Minutes later, the filmmaker tweeted a picture of the correct winner’s card saying that he was still in shock at the upset win.
With Post Wires