The moment of yesterday’s 89th Academy Awards ceremony came at the very end, at the climax of one of Hollywood’s most choreographed spectacles: when the makers of film ”La La Land” were called onstage to receive the award for Best Picture, only to find out that the actual winner was “Moonlight.”
While the kerfuffle on stage was awkward and strangely handled, the scene in the audience offered a full spectrum of human experience. Faces filled with joy and surprise contrasted to others shocked and dumbfounded by the unprecedented flub. Celebrities in the front rows, including Meryl Streep, Ben Affleck, Dwayne Johnson, Denzel Washington and Michelle Williams registered looks ranging from ecstasy to pure bafflement.
From backrow attendees who cannot fathom what just happened…
to the bemused A-listers who are just along for the ride . . .
to whatever Lin-Manuel Miranda is going through here…
. . .these photos reveal an amazing spectacle within a spectacle. Within the confines of an extraordinarily exclusive and stage-managed ceremony, it’s the unscripted moments that allow real human emotion to show its many faces.