Anthony Hopkins Pays Tribute To Chadwick Boseman In Next-Day Oscars Video

Anthony Hopkins Pays Tribute To Chadwick Boseman In Next-Day Oscars Video




Heading into the 2021 Oscars, few narratives were as seemingly clear-cut because the likelihood of Chadwick Boseman winning a posthumous trophy for Best Actor. His dynamic turn in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom was made all of the more potent by the fact that it was his final film role, completed before his death in August 2020.


It wasn't just fan wishing, either. Some light tweaking of the show's common group of awards seemed to point to a Boseman celebration — why else would producers have chosen to end the night by giving out Best Actor and bumping up regular closer Best Picture to third-to-last?


As an alternative, the award went to Anthony Hopkins for his devastating efficiency in Florian Zeller's The Father, a temporally disorienting and fragile portrait of an elderly man's descent into dementia. Nevertheless Hopkins wasn't there, so presenter Joaquin Phoenix rapidly said that the Academy would accept on Hopkins's behalf. Then the show was over.


Confusion set in on social media, and the word "anticlimactic" was used a notable amount. If Hopkins had been there, either in person or videoed in remotely to give a speech, the moment likely would've felt more substantial. That's why this morning, mere hours right after winning, Hopkins posted a brief, gracious video message on Instagram that acted both as an acceptance and as a tribute to his fellow nominee Boseman.


"Good morning," Hopkins started standing in front of a gorgeous green vista in his native Wales. "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."


Hopkins then turned his words to Boseman, whose efficiency as Levee Green in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom earned him a number of other accolades, including wins at the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice awards. "I wish to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far also early."


"And again, thank you all, very much," he closed with a fast laugh. "I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honored. Thank you."


moreover to Boseman, Hopkins beat out fellow nominees Riz Ahmed, Gary Oldman, and Steven Yeun in the category. His portrayal of Anthony in The Father is both heartbreaking and especially charming, and Hopkins himself earned countless accolades (and a couple of other wins) while in awards season. Last night at the Oscars, The Father also earned an award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writers Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton.


Find all of the 2021 Oscar winners right here.









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