Oscars – showbiz at its best and worst

Unexpected win: Farrelly holding up the Oscar as he makes his speech on stage after ‘Green Book’ won the Best Picture award. Looking on are Mortensen (left) and Ali (centre) with other cast members of the film.— Reuters

WHO would have imagined Green Book being named Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards? Before this, probably 85% of moviegoers had never heard of the film directed by Peter Farrelly.

Starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, it tells the story of Black American classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley and his driver and bodyguard touring the Deep South in 1962.