The Academy Awards did not want a Zoom ceremony. They’d witnessed the awkward fiasco that was the Golden Globes and, as a result did everything in their power to get celebrities there in person, including setting up hubs in Paris and London. But ‘best actor’ nominee Sir Anthony Hopkins didn’t make the trip, and it turned out to be a very good decision indeed.
On Sunday, the veteran actor scooped up the award for his heart wrenching performance in The Father, and his belated acceptance video was shot from his “homeland in Wales”. It's all clear skies, birds chirping, and plush greenery as far as the eye can see. We haven’t quite made our mind up whether he’s standing on a (his?) golf course or not, but one thing we do know is that it’s an Incredibly Nice Vibe, better than any highly curated bookcase in the land.
“Good morning,” a bleary-eyed Hopkins says in the video, which he posted to his Instagram account once he’d woken up (the announcement came in the early morning, when Hopkins was no doubt sleeping soundly). “At 83 years of age I did not expect to get this award. I really didn’t. I’m very grateful to the Academy, and thank you.”
He then went on to pay his respects to the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away last year at the age of 43. The Ma Rainey's Black Bottom star was widely expected to win the ‘best actor’ award, and it’s a result that has caused considerable shock and anger on social media.
“I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early,” he said, before offering one more surprised titter. “Again thank you all very much, I really did not expect this.”
His surprise is understandable. Even Joaquin Phoenix, the host who gave away the award, looked a little disorientated when he opened the envelope.
“The Academy congratulates Anthony Hopkins and accepts the Oscar on his behalf,” he said, as a black and white headshot of Hopkins appeared on screen. A controversial choice, certainly, but a fitting celebration of a glorious career all the same.
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