The 2011 Academy Awards

The 2011 Oscars were handed out last night and there were no real surprises. You hear for months the predictions of who is going to be nominated and then who will win and are thrilled when it is the people you wish to take home the trophies. And you scoff that the voters are idiots when your favorites are destined to walk home empty handed or will be sitting at home watching like everyone else. This year my favorites were the front runners and had been winning awards all season. But I always sit and wait and close one eye when the envelopes are opened for you never know with Oscar. Sometimes sure things find themselves still in their seats with a camera in their face (in the hopes of catching a bad loser mean mug) glancing up at the stage at the actual winner. I saw seven of the ten nominated films this year (still NOT sold on the 10 picture format) and I liked everyone of them. My favorite though The King's Speech took home the win.

It was the film who's performances touched and resonated with me most. The one I still think about now and speak of the most fondly. In the days leading up to the ceremony I read several articles stating that it would win but shouldn't. That it was not groundbreaking like Inception or socially relevant like The Social Network and that may be so but it was the most heartfelt perfectly acted film of the season. It was more than deserving of the honor.

The award I was most looking forward to was Best Actor. A long time fan of Mr. Firth's I was thrilled at his nomination for his role as King George VI in the King's Speech. I can not tell you how happy I am to see him at the forefront in Hollywood (sometimes the Hollywood machine latches on to the wrong people and men like Colin have to sit back and wait their turn, all the while shining brighter than any publicity made "stars" of the day buy putting out fabulous work) and to be receiving accolades for his moving performance of a man who is bound by his station and held hostage by an impediment that made him feel unworthy and to fear the role that he had to play in the name of his country. I clapped madly when Mrs. Bullock called his name. Mr. Firth is a man of class and an first class actor.

The other forgone conclusion of the night was Natalie Portman's win as the increasingly troubled Prima Ballerina in The Black Swan. Miss.Portman has grown up in the public eye. She is educated, articulate and has managed to balance her career and personal life in a way that should be envied and copied by others of her generation. Her work had taken her through numerous genre's and she is as fierce as she is funny as strong as she is vulnerable in every role she had taken on. She is one of the most beautiful chameleon's in film and she totally sold me on her role as Nina. She made me feel for her one moment and gave me chills the next. She is a force to be reckoned with and her prime is yet to come. I'd be expecting to see her name being said on Oscar night many times. Last night she lost her composure just a bit and it was touching to see her tear up. It is those who you don't expect if from that tear you up as well. Such a lovely woman and a powerful actress.

The best supporting Actor/Actress categories were won by Christian Bale and Melissa Leo who played mother and son in The Fighter. Melissa who rumor raised a few eyebrows with her own "for your consideration" Oscar campaign (which made some doubt that the Oscar would go home with her) let out the F-bomb during her acceptance speech. They bleeped it (of course) but that doesn't mean everyone isn't talking about it and going after her for it ( of course). I really don't think in this day and age where the F-bomb is more prominent than a Thank you that it is really that big of a deal. It was a slip of the human tongue and the show has instituted the delay for just that purpose. She played a tough as nails grab you buy the balls woman in The Fighter. A couple cuss words ( in my opinion) are par for the course.

Christian Bale chose to segway Mrs. Leo's foe pa into a bit of self deprecating humor, admitting that while he would not drop the F-bomb that evening he'd been known to have done it in the past. It was nice to see him have a sense of humor about his widely reported blow up while making Terminator 3. Mr. Bale is a method actor. He goes above and beyond the call of duty for his parts. I believe he looses himself in his roles which when intense can cause issues both in his private life and with his co-workers. But what is translated onto the screen is always dynamic and often just as explosive. His role as the emaciated,crack addicted Dicky Ekland was one of many roles that he has played over the years that haunt me. He was another who lost it towards the end of his speech and that made me loose it to. Seeing a man with a hard reputation show a softer side to himself is very moving.

P.S Christian please get rid of the beard!!!

The BEST BIG FOUR together backstage after their wins last night. 

Here is a full list of the Winners last night.

Best Picture: The King's Speech

Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Firth, The King's Speech

Portman, Black Swan

Actor in a Supporting Role: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Actress in a Supporting Role: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Director: Tom Hooper, The King's Speech

Original Screenplay:  David Seidler, The King's Speech

Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Animated Feature Film: Toy Story 3

Foreign-Language Film: In a Better World (Denmark)

Documentary Feature: Inside Job

Art Direction: Alice in Wonderland

Cinematography: Inception

Film Editing: The Social Network

Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland

Original Song: "We Belong Together" (Toy Story 3), music and lyrics by Randy Newman

Original Score: Trent Resnor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network

Animated Short: The Lost Thing

Documentary Short: Strangers No More

Live Action Short: God of Love

Makeup: The Wolfman

Sound Editing: Inception

Sound Mixing: Inception

Visual Effects: Inception

As for the show it self? Well there were a few moments that I enjoyed. Justin Timberlake amused as did the back and forth of Jude Law and Robert Downey. The speech of Luke Matheny who won for best live action short and Randy Newman who won for best Original song both made me laugh out loud. The fact that Trent Resnor the man who brought you CLOSER is now an Oscar winner is a knee slapper as well. I loved to hear Gwenie sing and to see Mr B and the kids of PS 22 ending the show with a song and the nights winners standing on stage together. 

The hosting duties by Mr. Franco and Mrs. Hathaway, well those did not thrill me. I don't think from what I have read this morning that the thrilled anyone. I had been sceptical since the announcement they would host. The combination seemed odd and while I understand they wanted to appeal to a younger demographic these two are polar opposites. James did not seem like he was in the room. Maybe his mind was back at NYU or on the set of General Hospital (he apparently only came in on weekends for rehearsals) but he didn't show up for his hosting duties. His eyes were half closed and his stance reflected a slacker/stoner type of a I don't give a shit mentality. He had said he wasn't going to sweat his hosting duties. Fine no need to get in a tizzy and drive yourself mad about it but maybe you could have tried a bit harder. His biggest contribution was tweets and video he posted throughout the show. Anne ended up flying over the top with enthusiasm in the hopes (I assume and pray) of counteracting the lifelessness of the zombie standing next to her. She'd have been better served hosting the show by herself. That way her usual bubbly nature would have found just the right balance and she wouldn't have made me want to shoot her up with a downer or put a gag in her mouth. She looked beautiful and of course it was fabulous to see what gown she was going to wear next but even Haute Couture can only take you so far. I have a feeling that the ratings will be down and that there will not be another attempt at a younger hipper host for some time to come. 

At the end of Ann'e song of woe over Hugh Jackman (she did a great job) ditching her James came out in drag and commented on how he had just received a text from Charlie Sheen (his only funny moment)

I will say that Anne WOW'D me with her fashion choices. Here are a look at the eight different looks that she wore last night.

Rocking the red carpet in Valentino

Opened the show in Givenchy Haute Couture

The bell of the ball in Vivienne Westwood

Manned Up in a Lavin suit and Brian Atwood heels for her musical number

Shimmied and shaked in Oscar de la Renta

Sleek and shiny in a electric blue Giorgio Armani Prive

Closing the show in Tom Ford with co-host James Franco

And my personal favorite by Atelier Versace which she wore both on stage (hair side swept) and to the Vanity Fair after party (hair down). I guess she liked it as well. 

Here are a few pics I found while googling her gowns that showed me that at the very least Anne enjoyed herself last night.

Having a laugh with Melissa after her win more than likely over the F-bomb

Hugs to her Alice and Wonderland director Tim Burton while his wife Helena Bonham Carter waited her turn.

On stage with her Mother at the end of the show

And the luckiest lady EVER standing next to Best Actor winner Colin Firth at the Vanity Fair after party.

So now with 2010 (yeah I know the show is in 2011 but the movies were released in 2010) awards have all been handed out it is time to sit back and watch the next crop of potential winners. I will be taking names and notes to prepare for my personal Super bowl/World Series movies biggest night. Until we meet again, Oscar 0:)