South Korean movie Parasite has won best picture award at this year’s Oscars, becoming
the first non-English language film to take the top prize.
Renee Zellweger won best actress for playing Judy Garland in Judy. Joaquin Phoenix was named best
actor for Joker.
Laura Dern and Brad Pitt won the supporting acting awards for their roles in
Marriage Story and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood respectively.
Parasite won four awards in total,
while Sam Mendes’s 1917 took three.
The World War One epic 1917 had
been the favorite to win best picture, but its awards all came in the technical
categories.
Parasite‘s Bong Joon-ho beat Sam
Mendes to the prize for best director, and also took the best original
screenplay award.
The South Korean movie is a vicious social satire about two families from
different classes in Seoul – one who live in poverty in a semi-basement, and
another rich family residing in a large home.
It has now managed what no other subtitled film has done in the 92-year
history of the Academy Awards and won best picture.
Bong Joon-ho said: “I feel like
I’ll wake up to find it’s all a dream. It all feels very surreal.”
Producer Kwak Sin-ae, who collected the trophy, said: “I’m speechless. We never imagined this to happen. I feel like a
very opportune moment in history is happening right now.”
There were boos when organizers tried to cut short the best picture
acceptance speech by turning the stage lights off – leading the lights to be
turned back on, allowing the celebrations to continue.
Brad Pitt won the first acting Oscar of his career – picking up the best
supporting actor trophy for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s movie.
He was the first winner of the night, and immediately used his speech to
attack the way the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump were
handled.
Brad Pitt referred to the fact that Republican senators voted against
allowing witnesses including former National Security Adviser John Bolton to
give evidence.
He said: “They told me I only
have 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John
Bolton this week.
“I’m thinking maybe Quentin does
a movie about it and in the end the adults do the right thing.”
Brad Pit, 56, moved from the political to the personal, paying tribute to
co-star Leonardo DiCaprio and reflecting on his journey to Hollywood
superstardom.
Joaquin Phoenix, who won best actor for his remarkable performance in the
origin story about Batman’s nemesis, also used the podium to send a heartfelt
message about the state of the world, saying actors have the power to give a
“voice for the voiceless”.
After telling the audience to stop clapping him as he took to the stage –
“Don’t do that” – Joaquin Phoenix managed to cover topics from animal
rights and the environment to racism and sexism.
The vegan activist told the audience that “we feel entitled to
artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby even
though her cries of anguish are unmistakable”.
The actor also pointed out his own flaws: “I’ve been a scoundrel in my life. I’ve been cruel at times and
hard to work with, but so many people in this room have given me a second
chance.”
Joaquin Phoenix ended his speech by quoting a lyric written by his late
brother River: “Run to the rescue
and love and peace will follow.”
Laura Dern won best supporting actress for playing a divorce lawyer in Marriage Story.
A day before her 53rd birthday, the actress said the award is the best
birthday present ever.
Laura Dern comes from an illustrious acting family, but in winning managed
something her parents have not. Mother Diane Ladd has been nominated for three
Academy Awards, and dad Bruce Dern has two unsuccessful nominations.
She told the audience: “Some say
never meet your heroes.
“But I say if you’re really
blessed, you get them as your parents.”
Renee Zellweger used her speech to pay tribute to Judy Garland, who was
nominated for two Oscars in the 1950s and 60s.
The actress said: “Judy Garland
did not receive this honor in her time,
“I am certain that this moment is an extension of the celebration of her legacy.”
A new study led by UK scientists has explained the key to malaria’s rampant growth.
Scientists say it is down to protein molecules called cyclins which cause cells to divide rapidly in the malaria parasite.
The study, led by a team from the University of Nottingham, could lead to new treatments for malaria, the researchers said.
Malaria is responsible for nearly half a million deaths a year.
A cyclin is one of the most important protein molecules needed for cell division.
They have been well studied in humans, yeasts and plants – but until now, little has been known about cyclins in the malaria parasite and how they affect cell development.
This research, published in the journal PLoS Pathogens, has been able to classify the number and type of cyclins present in malaria parasites.
Dr. Bill Wickstead, from the University of Nottingham’s School of Life Sciences, identified three different types of cyclin genes in the malaria parasite.
This is far fewer cyclins than are present in humans – and compared with other sets of cyclins, he said, they caused an “exciting type of cell division”.
Prof. Rita Tewari then carried out an in-depth analysis of a cyclin in the malaria parasite to find out more about what they do and why they do it.
She worked out that the cyclins found in malaria parasites made cells divide very quickly and enabled them to spread quickly in blood cells.
Working out why this happens could aid understanding of how the malaria parasite thrives within the mosquito and its human host, and lead to new treatments.
A live tapeworm parasite was removed from a 26-year-old California man’s brain during emergency surgery.
Luis Ortiz was admitted to a hospital in Napa with what he called the worst headache of his life.
In a brain scan, neurosurgeon Soren Singel discovered the larva of a tapeworm and told Luis Ortiz he had about 30 minutes to live.
The tapeworm grew inside a cyst that cut off circulation and water flow to the rest of his brain.
“I stood up and then I threw up,” said Luis Ortiz.
“The doctor pulled it out and he said it was still wiggling, and I’m like <<Ugh, that doesn’t sound too good>>.”
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports larval cysts in the brain – neurocysticercosis – develop after a person swallows microscopic eggs passed in the faeces of a person who has an intestinal pork tapeworm.
Once inside the body, those eggs hatch and the worms can make their way to the brain. The CDC says approximately 1,000 people per year are hospitalized for neurocysticercosis and removal of the larvae.
Luis Ortiz is recovering after the surgery in August and is hoping to return to Sacramento State University, where he was scheduled to begin his final year before the surgery.
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