Written by Kevin Finnerty:
THE HIGHLIGHTS
– Billy Crystal’s produced opening with him once again inserting himself into scenes from some of the films nominated for Oscars this year as well as a few scenes re-created with the help of George Clooney and Tom Cruise.
– Crystal’s opening monologue with some very funny jokes including the new name for what used to be the Kodak Theatre now to be renamed The Chapter 11 Theatre.
– The classiest acceptance speech came from Christopher Plummer (Beginners) who at 82 finally won his first Oscar and becomes the oldest actor to receive the Academy Award. His speech was honest, sweet and funny, with his first line being to Oscar itself: “You’re only two years older than I, my darling. Where have you been all my life?!”
– Octavia Spencer (The Help) gets the ‘almost too emotional’ vote for her stumbling and fumbling for words when she received her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Heartfelt and fighting through her tears, she showed her peers and the audience just how much winning the Academy Award meant to her.
– After several years of doing a horrible presentation of “In Memoriam,” the Academy finally got it right by simply focusing on a montage of photos of those we lost this year with a lovely rendition of the song “What a Wonderful World.” Elegant, sad, and touching, it was the perfect way to reflect and remember many talented artists whose like we will never see again.
– Keeping the show almost on time, coming in at 3 hours and 11 minutes. Finally Oscar seems to be learning what to keep short, and gave the time to be creative and funny back to the host where it belongs…especially when it’s Mr. Billy Crystal.
The 84th Academy Awards Winners:
Best Picture: The Artist
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin for The Artist
Best Actress: Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer for Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer for The Help
Director: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Animated Feature: Rango
Art Direction: Hugo
Cinematography: Hugo
Costume Design: The Artist
Film Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Makeup: The Iron Lady
Original Score: The Artist
Original Song: “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets
Documentary Feature: Undefeated
Documentary Short: Saving Face
Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Animated Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris
Live Action Short Film: The Shore
Sound Editing: Hugo
Sound Mixing: Hugo
Visual Effects: Hugo
Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
