Charles Randolph and Adam McKay won the Academy Award for their adapted screenplay of “The Big Short” on Sunday. The dark comedy about the financial crisis of 2008 is based on Michael Lewis’ book “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine.”
The movie was the latest successful adaptation of a Lewis work. His books about sports, “Moneyball” and “The Blind Side” were both critical and commercial hits. The choice of McKay, best known as the director of such broad comedies as “Anchorman” and “Stepbrothers” to adapt “The Big Short” was something of a surprise.
In his acceptance speech, McKay referenced the current political campaign, telling the audience if they didn’t want big banks to “take away your money” don’t vote for candidates who are backed by big money.
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Jennifer Lawrence
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“The Martian” actor Matt Damon
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Actress Priyanka Chopra
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Taylor Kinney, left, and Lady Gaga arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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“Titanic” costars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite on the red carpet.
Oscar nominees Cate Blanchett (“Carol”) and Bryan Cranston (“Trumbo”).
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Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams (supporting actress, “Spotlight”).
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From left, actress Margot Robbie, best actor nominee Eddie Redmayne (“The Danish Girl”) and actress Jennifer Garner.
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People protest the all-white slate of acting Oscar nominees and lack of diversity in the industry near the 88th Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center.
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Taylor Kinney, left, and Lady Gaga
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“Director Ridley Scott and Giannina Facio, left, and supporting actor nominee Tom Hardy (“The Revenant”) with Charlotte Riley.
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Supporting actor nominee Tom Hardy (“The Revenant”) with actress Charlotte Riley.
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Best actress nominee Cate Blanchett (“Carol”).
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Nominees and former costars Kate Winslet (supporting actress, “Steve Jobs”) and Leonardo DiCaprio (best actor, “The Revenant”).
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Leonardo DiCaprio
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Actor Christian Bale with wife Sibi Blazic.
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Reese Witherspoon
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Model Heidi Klum
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Model Chrissy Teigen and husband John Legend
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Kerry Washington
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Cinematographer Ed Lachman, Spirit Award winner and Oscar nominee for “Carol.”
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Mindy Kaling
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Jordan’s foreign-language nominee “Theeb” is represented by, from left, director Naji Abu Nowar and actors Jacir Eid and Hassan Mutlag Al-Maraiyeh.
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Sofia Vergara, costar of ABC’s “Modern Family,” on the red carpet.
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Actor Byung-hun Lee.
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Governors Ball chef Wolfgang Puck.
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From left, model Heidi Klum, best actress nominee Saorise Ronan (“Brooklyn”) and last year’s supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”).
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“Room’s” young actor Jacob Tremblay shares a stretch of red carpet with “Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara.
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Original song nominees Jimmy Napes, left, and Sam Smith (“Writing’s on the Wall,” “Spectre”).
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Nominated film editor Hank Corwin (“The Big Short”) and wife Nancy arrive at the 88th Academy Awards.
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Actor Orlando Jones during the arrivals.
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Tobias Lindholm, center, director of Denmark’s foreign-language nominee “A War,” arrives with the film’s lead actor Pilou Asbæk, right.
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“Beasts of No Nation” actor Abraham Attah.
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Morning show host and former NFL player Michael Strahan addresses the media on the red carpet.
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“Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts.
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Composer Carter Burwell, nominated for original score for “Carol.”
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Model Dorith Mous on the red carpet.
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Members of the nominated live-action short feature “Shok” arrive on the red carpet for the 88th Academy Awards.
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Sofia Vergara at the 88th Academy Awards.
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“Beasts of No Nation” costar Abraham Attah arrives at the 88th Academy Awards.
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Orlando Jones arrives for the 88th Academy Awards.
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TV personality Stephanie Bauer on the Oscars red carpet.
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TV personality Giuliana Rancic at the 88th Academy Awards.
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TV personality Maria Menounos at the 88th Academy Awards.
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Randolph and McKay have been on a roll the past few weeks winning the BAFTA, the Writers Guild Award and the USC Libraries Scripter Award for their screenplay.
Vying with “The Big Short” in the adapted screenplay category were “Brooklyn,” “Carol,” “The Martian” and “Room.”
“The Big Short” is nominated for four more Academy Awards: best picture, director for McKay, supporting actor for Christian Bale and film editing for Hank Corwin.
Susan King is a former entertainment writer at the Los Angeles Times who specialized in Classic Hollywood stories. She also wrote about independent, foreign and studio movies and occasionally TV and theater stories. Born in East Orange, N.J., she received her master’s degree in film history and criticism at USC. She worked for 10 years at the L.A. Herald Examiner and came to work at The Times in January 1990. She left in 2016.
