The blast from the past, black and white, silent film “The Artist” took top honors at the 84th Annual Academy Awards ceremony. The film took best picture, best director, best costume design, best original music score, and best actor.
The winner for best actor was Jean Dujardin. Interestingly, his acting performance only included two spoken words, which says a lot about his ability to convey through limited mediums. As the French actor accepted his award, he said “I love your country!”
Long time American favorite directors Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen lost to “The Artist” director, Michel Hazanavicius. “I am the happiest director in the world,” said the director as he accepted the most prestigious directing award of the year.
Meryl Streep won her first Oscar since the eighties. Its about time, seeing as she had been nominated an impressive seventeen times. She won best actress for her performance in “The Iron Lady,” portraying former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. This was her third Oscar. The actress accepted her award with a bit of humor: “When they called my name, I could hear half of America going ‘Oh no, why her again?’ Well, whatever.”
Christopher Plummer broke new ground as he became the oldest actor to win an Academy Award. He won best supporting actor for his role in “Beginners,” playing an aging gay man. He joked “you’re only two years older than me, darling” looking at his Oscar. “Where have you been all my life?” He later called his award a “sort of renewal.”
The Academy Award for best supporting actress went to the charming Octavia Spencer, for her role in fan-favorite “The Help.” She cried as she accepted her award saying “I’m sorry, I’m freaking out.” This was her first Academy Award.
Another big winner was Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo,” which was up for eleven awards. It ended up taking five, including best visual effects, best sound mixing, best sound editing, best art direction, and best cinematography.
Best screenplay went to Woody Allen’s “Midnight In Paris,” starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams, while best adapted screenplay went to family drama “The Descendants,” starring George Clooney.
Billy Crystal hosted the evening, with no shortage of light heartedness and laughter.
The event from broadcast from what was formerly known as “Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.” Ironically, the name Kodak was taken off after a bankruptcy hearing last week. The theatre is now known as the “Hollywood and Highland Center.” Nonetheless, it was a fantastic ceremony and celebration of talent both onscreen and off.