Best picture Oscar for The Shape of Water

 

Los Angeles, Mar. 5 (AP): The Cold War fantasy film The Shape of Water, one of the front-runners for this year's Oscars, won the best picture Academy Award on Sunday.

Director Guillermo del Toro's film had received a leading 13 nominations for this year's Oscars, and finally won a total of four Oscars on Sunday night, including best director for del Toro.

It stars Sally Hawkins as a mute janitor who falls in love with an aquatic creature kept captive in a government lab.

Frances McDormand's portrayal of a mother seeking justice for her murdered daughter in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has won the best actress Academy Award.

It is McDormand's second Oscar and comes for her blistering turn as a mother who feels authorities haven't done enough to investigate her daughter's rape and murder.

McDormand won a best supporting actress award for her role as a police officer in Fargo. Her win Sunday was not a surprise — she has swept the major awards this year.

The actress opened her speech by saying if she fell over during her speech, someone should pick her up because she had "some things to say." She thanked her family, telling them they fill her with everlasting joy.

She then set her Oscar on the stage and asked every female Oscar nominee to stand up, generating thunderous applause. McDormand looked joyous as she looked out on the women.

Gary Oldman's transformation into Winston Churchill for "Darkest Hour" has won him the best actor Academy Award.

It is Oldman's first win on only his second nomination, despite his lengthy career of compelling performances. The 59-year-old had been considered the front-runner for the honor, having swept awards season.

Oldman underwent hours of makeup to become Churchill for the film, which focuses on a pivotal time in the British leader's career when he rallied his country to fight the Nazis. Oldman thanked Churchill in his acceptance speech, as well as those who worked with him on Darkest Hour.

He also thanked his 99-year-old mother, telling her, "thank you for your love and your support. Put the kettle on. I'm bringing Oscar home."

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez have won their second Academy Award for best original song.

The husband-and-wife duo picked up the honor Sunday for "Remember Me" from Coco. The pair also won best original song for "Let It Go" from Frozen.

Robert Lopez dedicated the win to his mother who passed away. His wife said she was happy to see their category include a number of female nominees.

Composer Alexandre Desplat's music for The Shape of Water has won the Academy Award for best original score.

He thanked his mother, who he said turns 90 this year, and director del Toro.

Cinematographer Roger Deakins finally won his first Oscar, for Blade Runner 2049. It is Deakins' first win after 14 nominations.

Deakins wasn't about to cut his speech short and referenced a running joke of the Oscars that the winner who gave the shortest acceptance speech would win a jet ski. Deakins said he didn't think he'd have much use for the vehicle, and proceeded to thank his wife and his team on "Blade Runner 2049."

Get Out has won the Academy Award for best original screenplay, giving writer-director Jordan Peele a historic win.

Peele is the first African-American writer to win in the category.

His win was greeted by thunderous applause in the Dolby Theatre, which Peele tried to quiet. He said in his acceptance speech that he stopped writing his horror sensation "about 20 times because I thought it was impossible."