Historical drama "12 Years a Slave" has taken the prestigious best picture Oscar at the 86th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett led the individual award winners.
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The glitz and glamor at the 86th Academy Awards
The 86th Academy Awards have been held in Los Angeles, rewarding 2013's best performances on the silver screen. "12 Years a Slave" took the best picture award, while "Gravity" claimed the most Oscar statues, with seven.
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'12 Years' wins three Oscars
The prestigious best film Oscar went to "12 Years A Slave," which told the story of a black man kidnapped into slavery and his bid for freedom. Director Steve McQueen praised the legacy of Solomon Northup, on whose memoirs the movie is based. The performance of Lupita Nyong'o in the film won her the best supporting actress award, while John Ridley was honored for best adapted screenplay.
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McConaughey grateful
His role as an AIDS victim who supplies medication for other sufferers of the disease won him the best actor award, but Matthew McConaughey reverted to type in his acceptance speech. "Whatever it is we look up to, whatever it is we look forward to and whoever it is we're chasing, to that I say, 'Amen,' to that I say, 'Alright, alright, alright'," McConaughey said, using his trademark exclamation.
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Blanchett blooms in second Oscar win
Cate Blanchett took home the second Academy Award of her career after winning the best actress Oscar for her performance in the Woody Allen-directed "Blue Jasmine." Australia-born Blanchett steered away from the sexual assault allegations levelled at Allen by adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, but said: "Thank you so much, Woody, for casting me. I'm truly appreciative."
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Gravity floats above the pack
Alfonso Cuaron's Oscar for best director was one of seven awards won by the space thriller. Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, the movie also took home the awards for best cinematography, best visual effects, best film editing, best original score, best sound editing and best sound mixing. The haul made it the most successful film of the awards.
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75 years of "The Wizard of Oz"
With 2014 being the 75th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz," singer Pink sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in tribute. There was also a reunion of Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft - the three children of Judy Garland, who played Dorothy in the film.
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Great win for "The Great Beauty"
The best foreign language film statue went to Italy's "The Great Beauty," which was directed by Paolo Sorrentino. He thanked his life heroes, including fellow directors Federico Fellini and Martin Scorsese - as well as Argentine football legend Diego Maradona.
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Leto leads off
Jared Leto walked away with the first award of the night for his portrayal as an HIV-positive transgender prostitute in "Dallas Buyers Club." Now dedicating much of his time to rock band "30 Seconds From Mars," Leto beat out fellow nominees Bradley Cooper ("American Hustle"), Barkhad Abdi ("Captain Phillips"), Michael Fassbender ("12 Years A Slave") and Jonah Hill ("The Wolf of Wall Street").
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Delight for Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o first lit up the red carpet and then the stage, winning best supporting actress for her powerful performance as the slave 'Patsey' in "12 Years A Slave." In her acceptance speech, the Kenyan actress paid tribute to director Steve McQueen: "I'm certain that the dead are standing about you and they are watching and they are grateful, and so am I."
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The Steve McQueen-directed "12 Years a Slave" edged out a quality field featuring "American Hustle," "Dallas Buyers Club," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and "Gravity." The film's win was greeted with an emotional speech from McQueen, who was introduced by the movie's fellow producer, Brad Pitt.
"Everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live ... This is the most important legacy of Solomon Northup," McQueen said, referring to the drama's central character and the man who wrote the memoir on which the film was based.
McConaughey won best actor for "Dallas Buyers Club," while Blanchett won the best actress Oscar for her role in "Blue Jasmine."
Jared Leto walked away with the best supporting actor award for his role as an HIV-positive transgender prostitute in "Dallas Buyers Club."
The Academy Award for best supporting actress went to Lupita Nyong'o for her harrowing performance as a hardworking slave in "12 Years a Slave."
Alfonso Cuaron won the best director Oscar for "Gravity" - the space thriller which also won a number of technical awards.
The best animated feature Oscar went to Disney musical "Frozen." It is the first time the studio has won the category since its creation for the 2002 Academy Awards.
It had been up against "The Croods," "Despicable Me," "Ernest & Celestine" and "The Wind Rises."
Italian drama "The Great Beauty" took home the prize for best foreign language film. Directed by Paolo Sorrentino and starring Toni Servillo, it examines the life of an ageing socialite in Rome.
The Oscar for best documentary feature went to "20 Feet From Stardom," which focuses on the lives of backup singers whose voices are recognizable, whose names are unknown.
The biggest loser of the night went to crime caper "American Hustle," which failed to win a single statue despite 10 nominations.
A damp start to the show
The 86th Academy Awards, held at Hollywood's Dolby Theater, was hosted by US comedian and talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.
She opened the evening's festivities with a speech poking fun at the storms which hit California on the eve of the event.
"It's been a tough couple of days for us here. It has been raining," she said. "We're fine. Thank you for your prayers."
Hollywood's finest were forced to squelch across a wet red carpet for one of the most fiercely-contested Oscar shows in decades.
