OSCARS 2012 - AND THE WINNER IS...

Watching this year’s Oscar award ceremony, I was happy to see that thanks to its 7 times host Billy Crystal, the show gained back some of its old magic. Not completely though but pretty descend. His excellent intro presenting all the nominated best films was hilarious alongside his smart quotes about almost anything (from global economy and politics to showbiz of course).  Cirque du soleil also gave an amazing performance, based on our love for films.

What I cannot understand is the hypocrisy of the Americans, every time an AfroAmerican wins for supporting or leading roles. Octavia Spencer cried the hell out for getting the Oscar and everybody was standing up to support her but a few minutes before when Farhadi, the Iranian director, in his speech, summed up some of the most important questions in our time, he didn’t get half of Spencer’s enthusiasm and support. Farhadi also lost best original screenplay to Woody Allen. Woody is one of my favourite creators, but I can’t admit that Midnight in Paris has such extraordinary plot or characters.

Hugo didn’t have a change to the main categories, although Scorsese gave some of his co-operators the change to take an Oscar home. The big winner is The artist, a film that is made with words listened by the hearts of so many, as it seems. Jean Dujardin left Clooney with just the memory of kissing Crystal and gave the most interesting speech in his sweet French authentic way. Streep must be very tired of being always in the limelight, she was natural but kind of boring to death while accepting her third Oscar. Alexander Payne, getting the Oscar for best adopted scenario, didn’t forget to thank his greek mother, letting her know that he loves her, screaming out loud: Σ’αγαπώ, just because she had heard Bardem doing the same when he was in his position. Greek mothers, what can you say.

The show was not as boring as it became year by year, thanks to the smartness of its host and the humour that almost all the winners used in their acceptance speech.

Hollywood is just showbiz as everyone admits, but I do not think there is an artist all over the world who has never dreamed of being upstage, there, and giving his own thanks to everyone he has ever met. Some of this year’s winners showed the way, to make the impossible a living certainty. 

Full list of winners: 

Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson, "Hugo"
Best Art Direction: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schavo, "Hugo"
Best Costume Design: Mark Bridges, "The Artist"
Best Makeup: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, "The Iron Lady"
Best Foreign Language Film: "A Separation"
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Best Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Best Sound Editing: Phillip Stockton and Eugene Gearty, "Hugo"
Best Sound Mixing: Tom Fleischman and John Midgley, "Hugo"
Best Documentary: "Undefeated"
Best Animated Feature: "Rango"
Best Visual Effects: "Hugo"
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource, "The Artist"
Best Original Song: Bret McKenzie, "Man or Muppet"
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, "The Descendants"
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Best Live Action Short: "The Shore"
Best Documentary Short: "Saving Face"
Best Animated Short: "The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore"
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Best Picture: "The Artist"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1f84aZazgQ&feature=related