Paul Thomas Anderson finally secured his first Academy Awards after 11 nominations, winning three Oscars for his film 'One Battle After Another' at the 98th ceremony. The 55-year-old director took home best picture, best director, and best adapted screenplay, marking a long-overdue recognition from the Academy.
The film, a counter-culture thriller set in a proto-fascist California, was praised for its political relevance and ambition. Anderson dedicated the screenplay award to his children, apologising for 'the housekeeping mess we left in this world' and expressing hope that their generation would bring 'common sense and decency'.
'One Battle After Another' won six Oscars overall, defeating Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners', which earned four. The race was described as the most closely contested in years, with both films backed by Warner Bros, which finished the night with 11 awards.
In the acting categories, Jessie Buckley won best actress for 'Hamnet', while Michael B Jordan took best actor for 'Sinners'. Sean Penn and Amy Madigan won supporting actor honours for their roles in 'One Battle After Another' and 'Weapons', respectively.
