Last evening’s Oscar telecast included some major snubs and a killer hosting job by Billy Crystal. As predicted by the majority of critics, The Artist took home five awards including the evening’s big prize for Best Picture. The Artist is the first silent film to take home an Oscar since 1929 when Wings won the top honor.
Crystal started off the evening with a montage that travelled through five different films, including Bridesmaids, The Descendants, and Midnight in Paris. Notable cameo Justin Bieber found his way into the sequence, helping Crystal tap into the 18-24 year-old demographic.
At the end of his opening monologue, Crystal cracked one of the best jokes of the evening saying “nothing can take the sting out of the world’s economic problems like watching millionaires present each other with golden statues.”
The practiced host(this was Crystal’s ninth time taking the job), nailed it last night, making the four-hour long show somewhat bearable to watch. Following a year that boasted such amazing films like The Social Network, Black Swan, and The Fighter, it was hard for me to get excited about a black and white silent film or the over-hyped George Clooney vehicle, The Descendents.
Thankfully, presenters Emma Stone, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, and Zach Galifianakis lightened up the evening with some genuinely humorous banter that almost helped me forget about Bradley Cooper’s bizarre mustache, Agelina Jolie’s ridiculous posing, and J-Lo’s inappropriately revealing dress. She was just asking for a wardrobe malfunction last night.
Octavia Spencer took home the much deserved honor for Best Supporting Actress in The Help and looked stunning in her Tadashi Shoji & Neil Lane sequined gown. Viola Davis, nominated for Best Actress in The Help, was one of the biggest snubs of the night. Davis lost to the talented (she’s been nominated 17 times) Meryl Streep, who took home the third Oscar of her career for playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. While there is no doubt Streep is a worthy actress, I think this was Davis’ year.
Martin Scorsese’s Hugo swept several of the major technical categories but lost to Michel Hazanavicius(The Artist) for Best Director. Despite ten years of movie magic and receiving some of the best reviews from audiences and critics alike, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:Part II was neglected by the Academy again.
Ryan Gosling, arguably one of the biggest movie stars in 2011 with exceptional performances in The Ides of March and Drive, was also forgotten by voters. Clearly, I am a big fan of the Harry Potter series and Ryan Gosling, but I think most people would agree they deserved some Oscar love this year.
In my opinion, the Academy really dropped the ball, but to further my point, take a look at the winner for Best Original Song. Yes it makes me laugh, but is it really worthy of an Oscar?
The 84th Annual Academy Awards: Highs and Lows also appeard on Pop Culture Madness Reviews.
