Oscars 2017: A win for 'smaller films'
Film expert Leon van Nierop says he is happy that this year's Academy Awards did not only focus on big budget blockbusters but that smaller budget movies also received recognition.
"Apart from the chaos after Warren Beatty announced the wrong winner in the Best Picture category, this year's Oscars was way more subdued," van Nierop says.
He adds that there was a great deal of focus on the substance and subject matters of the movies, instead of the music, choreography styling and costumes like previous ceremonies.
"It is about time that movies got recognition for the subjects they deal with instead of the great costumes and big names," he says.
After being nominated for 14 Academy Awards, La La Land did not do as well as predicted and only won 5 Oscars, including Best Director, Best Song and Best Score.
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"Everyone expected a clean sweep from La La Land but I am happy that Casey Affleck won Best Actor while Hacksaw Ridge won for Best Sound Mixing," he says.
When it comes to hosting duties, van Nierop says Jimmy Kimmel was a much more restrained host compared to his predecessors like Ellen de Generes, Billy Crystal and Chris Rock.
"After a slow start, Damien Chazelle was the youngest director ever to win an Oscar, while I was ecstatic that Kenneth Lonergan won Best Screenplay for Manchester By The Sea above La La Land," he says.
There were a few jabs at US President Donald Trump, but little mention in the acceptance speeches.
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Host Jimmy Kimmel tweeted the President, asking him is he was up, after Trump indicated that he won't be watching the Oscars.
"Maybe this is not a popular thing to say, but I want to say thank you to President Turmp. Remember last year when it seemed that the Oscars were racist.....it's gone, thanks to him," Kimmel jabbed.
He also mentioned that Hollywood is much more welcoming and that people are not being discriminated against for their nationality, but rather their age and weight.
"We are at the Oscars and some of you will be able to come up here and make a speech that the US president will tweet about in all caps during his 5am bowel movements..." Kimmel told a cheering crowd.