Five top moments from Hollywood's biggest night

Witty one-liners, high fashion, tearful acceptance speeches highlight film industry's premier night

HOLLYWOOD/ US:

This year's Oscars saw "One Battle After Another" cap its outstanding awards season by taking home the night's top prize for best picture, as "Sinners" also won big.

It was a particularly competitive night rife with impressive performances, quippy one-liners, high fashion on the red carpet and tearful acceptance speeches.

Here's a rundown of the night's highlights:

Musical moments... and a rare tie

The night's first musical number recreated an extraordinary scene from vampire horror flick "Sinners," a montage that traces the history of Black music from West Africa to the Delta Blues to hip-hop. Actor Miles Caton led other castmates in the rendition of "I Lied to You," joined by other A-list performers such as ballerina Misty Copeland -- who danced despite recently undergoing a hip replacement.

Politics take the stage

As he presented the award for best international film, past winner Javier Bardem made a statement: "No to war and Free Palestine."

Norwegian family dramedy "Sentimental Value" won the prize.

In his speech, filmmaker Joachim Trier paraphrased African American author James Baldwin, who he said "makes us remember that all adults are responsible for all children." Top winner Paul Thomas Anderson said he made "One Battle After Another" -- the top winner with six prizes -- for his kids as an apology "for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we're handing off to them."

Farewell to the greats

A lengthy In Memoriam segment was given ample airtime after a year that took a number of film legends with it.

Billy Crystal -- himself a veteran Oscars host -- delivered a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and regular collaborator Rob Reiner, who was murdered along with his wife at their Los Angeles home late last year.

Promo opportunity

The Oscars were broadcast by the network ABC, which is owned by Disney, and organizers took the opportunity to advertise the studio's upcoming films.

While presenting awards, Sigourney Weaver and Pedro Pascal -- stars of this year's "Star Wars" film "The Mandalorian & Grogu" -- performed a bit that featured Grogu (also known as Baby Yoda) in the audience.

Conan's jokes

Host Conan O'Brien nodded to politics and pulled a few punches, some with global appeal and a few one-liners for the insiders.

"It's great to be back hosting the Oscars. Last year, when I hosted, Los Angeles was on fire. But this year, everything's going great," he joked, pausing for effect.

O'Brien also had a pointed industry remark for Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos: "It's his first time in a theater."