Paul Thomas Anderson Leads One Battle After Another to Six Oscars

Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' emerged as the undisputed champion of the 98th Academy Awards, dominating the ceremony with six major wins including the coveted Best Picture prize.

“Los ganadores aparecerán en negrita y con un asterisco, al inicio de cada categoría”

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The political thriller, which had been heavily favored throughout awards season, prevailed over Ryan Coogler's record-breaking 16-nomination vampire epic 'Sinners', which ultimately took home four awards.

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Anderson's film also secured wins for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Best Film Editing for Andy Jurgensen, and the inaugural Best Casting award for Cassandra Kulukundis.

This triumph marked a significant milestone in Anderson's career, as the acclaimed filmmaker had never previously won an Oscar despite 11 previous nominations across his decades-long career.

In accepting his historic Best Director award, Paul Thomas Anderson delivered a deeply personal speech that reflected the film's poignant themes about generational responsibility.

'I wrote this movie for my kids, to say sorry for the housekeeping mess we left in this world we're handing off to them, but also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency,' Anderson explained while accepting his screenplay prize.

ABC

The director also drew parallels between his film and classic cinema by referencing the 1975 Oscar nominees that included 'Dog Day Afternoon,' 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' 'Jaws,' 'Nashville,' and 'Barry Lyndon.'

'There is no best among them,' Anderson said, suggesting that he felt similarly about this year's crop of contenders. 'We're just happy to be part of this. So many great films this year.'

Anderson also humorously acknowledged forgetting to thank his cast earlier in the evening after winning Best Director, prompting laughter from the crowd.

The acting categories brought forth several historic wins and emotional moments.

“Los Óscar dirimen este domingo el duelo entre Pecadores (Sinners) y Una batalla tras otra (One Battle After Another), las más nominadas de esta edición, mientras la española Sirat y la brasileña O Agente Secreto buscan una codiciada estatuilla a mejor película internacional en una gala marcada por la escalada del conflicto en Irán”

Acento

Jessie Buckley emerged as the Best Actress winner for her searing portrayal of a grieving mother in 'Hamnet,' becoming the first Irish actress to win in the category.

Her emotional acceptance speech coincided with Mother's Day in the United Kingdom, leading her to dedicate her award to 'the beautiful chaos of a mother's heart.'

Buckley noted, 'We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds.'

Michael B. Jordan claimed the Best Actor prize for his dual role in 'Sinners,' delivering a powerful tribute to Black actors who preceded him.

'I stand here because of the people that came before,' Jordan said, citing Black actors such as Sidney Poitier and Halle Berry. 'Amongst those giants, amongst my ancestors, amongst my gods, thank you everybody in this room.'

Supporting actor honors went to Sean Penn for 'One Battle After Another,' his third Oscar win, though the 65-year-old actor was notably absent from the ceremony to accept his trophy in person.

The ceremony featured several groundbreaking technical achievements and historic moments that expanded the Academy's recognition of diverse talent.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw made Oscars history by becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography for her work on 'Sinners.'

Agencia EFE

In her acceptance speech, Arkapaw asked, 'I really want all the women in the world to stand up. Because I feel like I don't get here without you guys.'

Ryan Coogler earned his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for 'Sinners,' while Ludwig Göransson won his third Oscar for Best Original Score.

Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' impressed with three technical awards for Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design.

The ceremony also marked the first tie in the Best Live Action Short Film category since 2013, with both 'The Singers' and 'Two People Exchanging Saliva' sharing the award.

Additionally, KPop Demon Hunters made history as the first KPop song to win Best Original Song with 'Golden,' and the film also took home Best Animated Feature.

Amidst the celebration of cinematic achievement, the 98th Academy Awards unfolded against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and political undertones.

“The film, which marks the tenth production from the renowned director, managed to prevail in several key categories and solidified its place as one of the year's standout projects in the film industry”

Aire de Santa Fe

Host Conan O'Brien opened the ceremony by joking that he was honored to be 'the last human host' of the awards at a time when Hollywood is worried about artificial intelligence taking over jobs.

Aire de Santa Fe

Security was particularly tight due to federal warnings of a possible Iranian threat against California, with police dogs visible on the red carpet and helicopters circling overhead.

Several winners used their platform to advocate for social causes. Spanish actor Javier Bardem came onstage with actress Priyanka Chopra and declared, 'No to war, and free Palestine,' while wearing pro-Palestinian political pins on his suit.

The documentary 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin,' which examines how Vladimir Putin has cracked down on free expression during the Russo-Ukrainian war, won Best Documentary Feature.

Its co-director David Borenstein issued a warning about the evils of autocracy, stating, 'This film is about how you lose your country. You lose it through countless small acts of complicity.'

Despite the political tensions, the ceremony maintained its focus on celebrating the art of cinema, with Rolling Stone describing 'One Battle After Another' as both 'an act of resistance' and 'stone cold masterpiece.'