Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity may have taken the lion’s share of the night’s prizes, but it was Steve McQueen’s epic 12 Years A Slave, that reeled in the big fish.
The Brit director, no doubt already buoyant over the success of Lupita Nyong’o who earlier scooped the Best Supporting Actress gong, was thrilled to see his film, the story of Solomon Northup –a free man sold into slavery –pick up the night’s richest prize: Best Picture.
McQueen, surrounded by a whole host of people involved in making the film, including actors Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o and producer Brad Pitt, rattled off names from a white sheet of paper, clearly nervous he’d miss someone out. Once the formalities were over, the director leapt for joy before embracing those around him.
