As expected, the 84th Academy Awards was a bit of a non-event. Also as expected, silent film throwback 'The Artist' triumphed with five Oscars but more surprisingly, it was matched by Martin Scorcese's first foray into 3D, 'Hugo', which swept the technical categories leading it to five Oscars too. Full list of winners, and some general reaction to the ceremony, below.
Host Billy Crystal has received a generally unfavourable reaction, while the most interesting things to have happened over the night involve Angelina Jolie's right leg, Emma Stone's comic turn as presenter, and Sacha Baron Cohen expertly dropping the "ashes of Kim Jong-Il" on American tv personality Ryan Seacrest. I still don't understand why The Muppets couldn't perform their nominated (and now victorious) song. But that's the Oscars for you.
The main categories proved eminently predictable as I stormed through them with alarming accuracy, failing only with the Best Animated Feature - which went to my preferred choice anyway. The stunning success of 'Hugo' on the other hand was much less predictable, and similarly surprising but for different reasons, the hardened Academy voters awarding Best Original Screenplay to Woody Allen for 'Midnight In Paris' was a win for whimsy.
Whether 'Hugo' deserved all its technical awards or equally 'The Artist' its clutch of awards is a matter of debate - generally a debate that I think will end with the word "no". However, it's pleasing to see a lack of total domination from one film which rather denigrates others to the background unfairly, especially this year with no truly outstanding film on offer. Perhaps the Academy will even manage to be more bold in their nominations next year. Perhaps not.
BEST PICTURE:
Will win: 'The Artist'
Should win: 'Midnight In Paris'
Actual winner: 'The Artist'
Prediction success: 1/1 (100%)
DIRECTION:
Will win: Michel Hazanavicius for 'The Artist'
Should win: Michel Hazanavicius for 'The Artist'
Actual winner: Michel Hazanavicius for 'The Artist'
Prediction success: 2/2 (100%)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Will win: Jean Dujardin for 'The Artist'
Should win: Gary Oldman for 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'
Actual winner: Jean Dujardin for 'The Artist'
Prediction success: 3/3 (100%)
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Will win: Meryl Streep for 'The Iron Lady'
Should win: Michelle Williams for 'My Week With Marilyn'
Actual winner: Meryl Streep for 'The Iron Lady'
Prediction success: 4/4 (100%)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Will win: Christopher Plummer for 'Beginners'
Should win: Nick Nolte for 'Warrior'
Actual winner: Christopher Plummer for 'Beginners'
Prediction success: 5/5 (100%)
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Will win: Octavia Spencer for 'The Help'
Should win: Melissa McCarthy for 'Bridesmaids'
Actual winner: Octavia Spencer for 'The Help'
Prediction success: 6/6 (100%)
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Will win: 'Chico & Rita'
Should win: 'Rango'
Actual winner: 'Rango'
Prediction success: 6/7 (85.7%)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Will win: 'A Separation'
Should win: 'A Separation'
Actual winner: 'A Separation'
Prediction sucess: 7/8 (87.5%)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: 'Hugo'
ART DIRECTION: 'Hugo'
COSTUME DESIGN: 'The Artist'
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: 'Undefeated'
DOCUMENTARY SHORT: 'Saving Face'
FILM EDITING: 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'
MAKEUP: 'The Iron Lady'
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE): 'The Artist'
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG): 'Man Or Muppet' from 'The Muppets'
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): 'The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore'
SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION): 'The Shore'
SOUND EDITING: 'Hugo'
SOUND MIXING: 'Hugo'
VISUAL EFFECTS: 'Hugo'
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY): 'The Descendants'
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY): 'Midnight In Paris'
For more info, head to oscar.go.com.
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