Oscars Conclude Abruptly as Anthony Hopkins Surprises with Best Actor Win

Anthony Hopkins made Oscars history in a rather unexpected turn of events by winning the Best Actor award for his role in “The Father,” becoming the oldest recipient ever.

However, Hopkins was not present to accept the award, which was notably placed at the very end of the ceremony for the first time in Oscars history. Joaquin Phoenix stepped in to accept the award on Hopkins’ behalf, leading to an abrupt and somewhat anticlimactic conclusion to the evening’s proceedings.

The decision to present the Best Actor award last remains unclear, especially considering the widespread expectation that the late Chadwick Boseman would posthumously win for his performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Hopkins’ victory, therefore, came as a significant surprise to many.

At 83 years old, Hopkins broke the record for the oldest recipient of an acting Oscar, surpassing Christopher Plummer’s previous record set at the age of 82. This marks Hopkins’ second Oscar win, the first being for his iconic role as Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs” in 1991.

“The Father” also saw success in the category of Best Adapted Screenplay and received nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Olivia Colman, Best Film Editing, and Best Production Design.

Directed by Florian Zeller, “The Father” offers a poignant portrayal of Anthony’s struggles with dementia, with Olivia Colman playing the role of his daughter Anne. The film unfolds through disorienting shifts in perspective, capturing Anthony’s confusion and Anne’s helplessness as she witnesses her father’s mental decline.

Hopkins’ fellow nominees included Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Gary Oldman (“Mank”), and Steven Yeun (“Minari”), marking a historic moment in Oscars history with a majority of nominees being people of color. Yeun’s nomination also marked the first for an Asian American, while Ahmed became the first Muslim and person of Pakistani descent ever nominated for Best Actor. This year’s acting nominations showcased a record level of diversity, with nine out of 20 nominees being actors of color.