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Oscars recap: The Artist wins three top awards!
The silent film The Artist fended off eight other nominees to take the best picture prize at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood on Sunday.
The top award was among a trio of major awards for the film which also won the best actor award for French star Jean Dujardin and best director for French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius.
The three other major acting awards had major gay connections: Christopher Plummer won in the best supporting actor category for his performance as a gay man in Beginners; Best actress winner Meryl Streep earned her third Oscar for her role in The Iron Lady which was directed by lesbian filmmaker Phyllida Lloyd and Octavia Spencer, winner of best supporting actress for The Help, was directed by gay filmmaker Tate Taylor.
In her speech, Streep congratulated her longtime make-up artist J. Roy Helland who shared the makeup Oscar with Mark Coulier for their work on The Iron Lady.
Heiland has worked with Streep on every film dating back to Sophie’s Choice. In his speech he said: ‘Thanks, Meryl, for keeping me employed for the last 37 years. Your brilliance makes my work look good, no matter what.’
Here are the rest of the 2012 Academy Award winners:
Cinematography: Hugo
Art Direction: Hugo
Costume Design: The Artist
Foreign Language Film: A Separation (Iran)
Film Editing: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Sound Editing: Hugo
Sound Mixing: Hugo
Documentary Feature: Undefeated
Animated Feature Film: Rango
Visual Effects: Hugo
Original Score: The Artist
Original Song: Man or Muppet from The Muppets
Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants
Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Live Action Short Film: The Shore
Documentary (short subject): Saving Face
Animated Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Comments
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Alexa says:
Before viewing, “The Iron Lady”, I didn’t really know much about Margaret Thatcher. Other than she was the prime minister of England for 11 years, she was a very controversial figure and still is to this day. So I was really interested to see the film and I decided to visit the WGA screening.
Now let me begin by saying, Meryl Streep embodies Margaret Thatcher. She doesn’t just look like her, but she talks like her, her facial expressions are spot on. Meryl Streep becomes Margaret Thatcher. I would be shocked if she doesn’t win an Oscar for this performance. The supporting cast is good too, Jim Broadbent gives an excellent performance, everyone is just great.
However aside from the top notch acting, the movie had a few flaws. The story was uninteresting at times, the flashback scenes were a bit muddled and a little confusing. The movie felt a little too safe, it tried too hard, not to be controversial. Although I don’t entirely blame the film itself for that. Margaret Thatcher was such a decisive person, that whichever side the film picked, it would be criticized by a lot of people. I guess the film ultimately achieved the goal.
I also liked the movie didn’t dwell too much on the politics, but on the character of Margaret Thatcher. We see the human side of The Iron Lady herself, beyond all the partisan politics and rumors, we get to see a very personal and sad side of her. The subplot focusing on Thacther’s grief over her husband’s death, as the older version battles with hallucinations and an unwillingness to let go of her dear Denis are heartbreaking.
Overall the movie was really well done, but just shy of greatness. Meryl Streep’s performance and the supporting cast, truly elevates the film into a great biopic. Although I wished a little more time was spent on focusing on her political life, the movie successfully showed a deep and moving side of the prime minister. Which a lot of biopics fail to do. Whatever your opinions might be on Margaret Thatcher, don’t fault the movie because of the opinion. And I highly respect Phyllida LLoyd, Meryl Streep, Abi Morgan and others for trying to portray such a decisive and highly controversial figure.
Have a lovely day
Alexa @
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