For Oscar Results 2011 CLICK HERE.
We’ve just watched history in the making at the 82nd Academy Awards: The first woman to win a Best Director Oscar, deservedly, Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker.” “The Hurt Locker” is also the major winner of the night, garnering 6 Academy Awards from its 9 nominations:
- Best Picture
- Directing
- Original Screenplay
- Film Editing
- Sound Mixing
- Sound Editing
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“Well the time has come…” Barbra Streisand said as she announced the Oscar for Best Director. It took 82 Academy Awards to arrive. Only three other women had ever been nominated in this category, but none had won. I’m excited to see Kathryn Bigelow turn a new page of Oscar history last night.
She was clearly moved by this honor, describing it as: “The moment of a lifetime.” Bigelow gave credits to many, but especially to Mark Boal who was an embedded journalist in a bomb disposal team in Iraq for writing the story, and dedicated the award to “women and men in the military who risk their lives on a daily basis. May they come home safe.”
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To me, the last half hour was the most worthwhile, as with all Oscar award shows, but especially this one. The comedic duo of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin was a disappointment. I expected better. When jokes were made at the expense of color and race, personal relationships of exes, and Meryl Streep’s record Oscar losses, you know they could have put in more effort. Was that a postmodern, deconstructing comic gig? Or simply denigrating the very films the night was supposed to honor? Of course, the audience could take a joke, or two… but I didn’t see all of them laughing. After Neil Patrick Harris’s enthusiastic opening musical, Martin and Baldwin paled in comparison. We might have just discovered who could be the next Oscar host.
However, there were a few more memorable moments that saved the show:
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The tribute to John Hughes was especially touching. Passed away last year, Hughes was the legendary director whose movies were themselves expressions of teen angst. They represented a generation of youth striving to belong and to connect, in whatever way they knew how. It was quite a moment to see these actors come on stage to honor their director. The now middle-age Molly Ringwald and Matthew Broderick, stars of the iconic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” gave a moving tribute. They were later joined on stage by Jon Cryer, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, the truant youths of “The Breakfast Club”. And who would forget “Sixteen Candles”, “Pretty In Pink”, and a bit more recent, the “Home Alone” movies. Macauley Culkin also joined in. The Hughes family was in attendance to acknowledge the tribute.
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Sandra Bullock won Best Actress for her role in The Blind Side. “Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down?” she asked. Just a day ago she won another acting award, the Razzie, the Worst Actress Award for “All About Steve”. But she took it all in stride. “I had the best time at the Razzie… it’s the great equalizer. No one lets me get too full of myself,” she said after the Oscars. Ahh… what a deserving Oscar winner.
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Jeff Bridges won Best Actor finally after four nominations, his first one dating back to 1971 for “The Last Picture Show”. On the red carpet, when asked what his late father Lloyd Bridges would have said to him if he were here tonight, he answered: “He’d say, atta boy, atta boy!” I was most impressed by his performance in “Crazy Heart” as a washed-up country-western singer, not just acting, but singing as well.
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While I had expected Jason Reitman to win Best Adapted Screenplay, I was glad to see Geoffrey Fletcher getting the recognition for “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire”, the first African American to win a screenwriting Oscar, and with his first feature screenplay. He was definitely moved, “This is for everybody who works on a dream every day, Precious boys and girls everywhere.”
When interviewed after the show, Kathryn Bigelow had this to say to all prospective female directors: “Never give up on your dream.”
So, it was a late-winter night’s dream for many. And it’s gratifying to see some deserving talents have theirs realized in a most amazing way.
For a full list of Oscar Winners, CLICK HERE to the official site of The Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences.
Ripple Effects 
There were noises after the Bafta on this side of the Atlantic — “Bafta is not about money, so the right awards go to the right people. Don’t be surprised if Avatar topped the Oscar, and best actress went to Bullock…” Ha I am glad they’re half right! I like Bullock, and her gracious acceptance of the Razzies while giving out DVD of AAS to the critics. “Something tells me you all didn’t watch the film because I wouldn’t be here if you really watched it.”
“Well the time has come”, perhaps, for the Oscar to acknowledge and recognise the ‘true grits’ of the dream industry.
Thanks for your lovely post, arti.
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cancan,
Thank you for your eloquent analysis, well said indeed. The BAFTA and the Oscars certainly reflect some cultural and social differences. I’m afraid the duality exists, and it’s a hard one to reconcile, that is the struggle between popular and art-house productions, the well-financed and the indie, the crowd pleaser and the critics’ pick. It would be success for the film industry if someone could find the happy medium. But, before then, I’m happy with the results from last night.
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I’m truly happy for Kathryn Bigelow, the cast & crew of the Hurt Locker. Wow, can’t wait to see it which opens on Thursday (11th) here in Hong Kong.
Too bad that Carey Mulligan and Colin Firth went home empty handed. I still remain a loyal and dedicated fan! To me, they are precious and good at their craft. Glad that animated feature ‘UP’ got an Oscar too.
I echo you about the pair (Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin), there is absolutely NO chemistry between the two and they are such a bore. Billy Crystal is the BEST!!
Well folks, another year from now, another Academy Award Ceremony. I long for more great motion pictures and production in the next 12 months to come. Until then, bye for now!
Thanks again for your post Arti.
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Molly Mavis,
I’m sure there will be many for you to enjoy before the next Oscars. As you mention your faves, the up-coming films with Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan are examples. So when you have the chance, catch up with this year’s Best Pictures noms first, 10 of them… I’m sure you’ll be kept busy.
Don’t think they’ll bring Billy Crystal back, but I’m sure they can think of new blood as Oscar host.
Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment.
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Interesing blog. John Hughes tribute was great. A key to understanding Hughes’ work is knowing the distinction between Generation X and Generation Jones (between the Boomers and Xers). Many of his films were about GenJones characters, and many in the Brat Pack were GenJonesers. This was sometimes confusing, since the same actors sometimes played GenXers (Breakfast Club) and sometimes GenJonesers (St. Elmos’s Fire) within the same year.
Google Generation Jones, and you’ll see it’s gotten lots of media attention, and many top commentators from many top publications and networks (Washington Post, Time magazine, NBC, Newsweek, ABC, etc.) now specifically use this term. In fact, the Associated Press’ annual Trend Report chose the Rise of Generation Jones as the #1 trend of 2009. I found this page helpful because it gives a pretty good overview of recent media interest in GenJones: http://generationjones.com/2009latest.html
It is important to distinguish between the post-WWII demographic boom in births vs. the cultural generations born during that era. Generations are a function of the common formative experiences of its members, not the fertility rates of its parents. And most analysts now see generations as getting shorter (usually 10-15 years now), partly because of the acceleration of culture. Many experts now believe it breaks down more or less this way:
DEMOGRAPHIC boom in babies: 1946-1964
Baby Boom GENERATION: 1942-1953
Generation Jones: 1954-1965
Generation X: 1966-1978
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WaterRunning,
Thanks for the link and info about this relatively new sociological analysis and terminology. Suddenly I found myself in a new generation. It certainly instills a new perspective and meaning.
It is crucial, as you have pointed out, to note the differences between the chronological element vs. the cultural characteristics of a demographical group. The finer demarcation offered by the Gen Jones category is certainly relevant in describing this demographic group in between the Boomers and the Gen Xers. I think though we need to be aware that any demarcation is a social construct. We may find the delineations not always so clear-cut, as someone born in a particular generation may exhibit idiosyncrasies different from the ‘typical’ features, mainly because of upbringing, family context, personal experience, and individual differences. Further, clear-cut demarcations could easily fall prey to stereotyping of age groups.
However, I appreciate this new category as it could lead to some meaningful future research in many fields of studies. Its application to movies is certainly interesting and relevant.
Thank you for your visit and this informative comment.
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How could the Oscar not include Farrah Fawcett in the “In Memoriam” reel? Have they forgotten her already????
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I didn’t record the program so can’t go back and check. Did they really forget to include her?
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Indeed Farrah Fawcett was not included, what a bummer!
The least they could do was to give her some kind of recognition. Oh well, maybe next year!
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Farrah Fawcett being forgotten or intentionally ignored’s been all the talk on Houston radio.
One thing I did enjoy about this year’s program was its fluidity – speeches seemed to be shorter, and things kept moving. I also was pleased at the reduced level of snarkiness and political commentary. There was so little I didn’t even think about it until after the show was over.
One of my friends suggested Barbara Streisand had a bit of a “look” on her face when Kathryn Bigelow thanked the troops, but that could have been my friend’s imagination. In any event, we have enough real-life political drama just now, and I was glad not to have to listen to more of it at the Oscars.
My one disappointment was An Unnatural Disaster losing in the short documentary category. I’d become quite interested in that film, thanks to it being highlighted on NPR, and I learned quite a bit about the producers and the filming process.
It’s a good reminder that just making a great film isn’t enough. You have to get the Academy and the public interested in it, and knowledgeable about it. It makes the “merchandising” of films more understandable, and less a matter of money-grubbing.
It was great to see the clips from films you’ve reviewed – especially An Education and A Serious Man.
All in all, it was a satisfying viewing experience. I’m so glad I’ve taken to paying attention to – and sometimes viewing – films during the year. It makes the Oscar’s a totally different experience!
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Linda,
Yes, do go and see, or rent the DVD’s of An Education, A Serious Man, and The Hurt Locker. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them. As for the Oscar show, I’m afraid I found it quite disappointing. Can’t say I’d appreciated the jokes… I was expecting better. But because of some memorable moments, it had ultimately redeemed itself. Kathryn Bigelow’s win is worth the four-hour wait. And you’re right, it sure makes a difference if you’ve seen the movies before watching the show. So now, you have a whole year to prepare for the next Oscars.
The battle between Avatar vs. The Hurt Locker is the battle between popularity and obscured excellence, $237 million vs. $15 million in production cost, $2.6 billion vs. $21 million in worldwide box office sales. At the point of accepting her award, Kathryn Bigelow was still appealing for a distributor for her movie. Hopefully 6 Oscars can change the situation. But I’m afraid the bottom line is still the profits that it could generate for any takers. However for us film lovers, that is the farthest from our mind as we go and watch a superbly crafted production. I’m glad the Academy voters have acknowledged the merits over the profits of the film.
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I agree with your assessment. Thank you for putting into words so well the feeling I had about Baldwin and Martin. Just off, and pale, and unworthy.
It’s cool that Bigelow got this award just before International Women’s Day.
Was Streisand one of the nominated directors previously, I wonder?
I thought the evening was rather dull, with a few exceptions: Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr.; Ben Stillar, and Sandra Bullock. I have never been a fan of hers, in fact I couldn’t stomach her. But hearing her lately in interviews, I realize how biased I was against her film roles, misplacing that for her, sort of like Meryl Streep saying she had played so many remarkable women she was starting to be mistaken for one. I was doing the opposite with Bullock. I thought she shone more than any of the bright lights Sunday night. And her demeanor and candor was natural and refreshing. I look forward to seeing what opportunities are in front of her.
Loved having “my” James Taylor sing, but yes strange not to include Fawcett in the montage. Loved seeing “my” Colin Firth too. Why is it that the Brits are just so poised? Helen, Amy, Colin.
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Ruth,
Thank you for articulating what I have in mind. First off, I like your word choice: ‘Just off, and pale, and unworthy’ regarding the hosts.
The previous female directors nominated were: Lina Wertmuller (Pasqualino Settebellezze, 1975), Jane Campion (The Piano, 1993) and Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation, 2003). Streisand was not honored in this category even though she had directed a few good ones, my favorite being Yentl (1983).
Although I did not watch many of Sandra Bullock’s interviews, I totally agree with you. Sometimes they are such good actors that you’d think that’s what they’re like while watching them performing their roles. Again, this goes into the very interesting topics of reality vs. image, authenticity vs. avatars. Yes, I remember your comment on my post on WSM’s Theatre and The Search for Reality.
I loved the James Taylor moment too, unfortunately I was interrupted during that time (the peril of not watching it alone) so I missed part of it, and the Memoriam. Hope I can catch it again on YouTube or something.
And finally, and definitely not least, like you, he’s ‘my’ Colin Firth, and Carey Mulligan. I regret to see that Colin was not even interviewed on the Red Carpet by the American channel. I’m afraid the American entertainment circle only know their own Tom Ford, but may have just barely heard of Colin Firth. That reflects how lopsided this Oscar coverage is. You’re totally right, these British actors sure carry with them a special poise… and, just love the way they speak. Too bad American audience didn’t have the chance to see CF and his lovely Italian wife on Oscars night.
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Thanks for your always cogent analysis. I know I’m going to find fresh insight here, including those of your commenters!
I think Martin and Baldwin were playing off their roles in “It’s Complicated,” in which they starred with Meryl Streep, so that explained some of their routine as the two men in the triangle. It was a sort of inside joke, which Hollywood loves to do. A friend of mine in the business says that the leading actors all were very close on the set of that movie, and Martin and Baldwin, who played Streep’s lovers in the movie, were gently teasing her about her Oscars losses.
I got an interesting perspective from my 26-year-old daughter and her fiance, who watched the Oscars with me. They’ve been touring with a band and out of touch with the movie world, not even seeing previews and ads. They hadn’t seen any of the movies, which is unusual for them. They said “We’ve been living life.” They were so excited when Jeff Bridges won. I thought, “What? He’s an old dude.” But then I got it. “Jeff Bridges was the Dude” in the Big Lebowski, one of their favorite movies.
It was also fascinating to listen to Jeff Bridges talk about his family — wife of many years and three daughters –and how important they were to him and how they helped him to achieve his goals, perhaps contrasted with George Clooney who has been quoted as saying he didn’t want children nor wanted to get married. In his roles he always keeps a certain detachment, as well.
I’ve always liked Sandra Bullock as a “fun” actress, rather than a great actress, but was glad to see her win. She gave a fabulous speech paying tribute to everyone. Some friends and I stumbled onto a movie shoot of hers (“28 Days”)on the streets of New York City once, and it was fun to watch her.
I mentioned a little of that in my post here about being a movie extra.
http://catherinesherman.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/im-not-ready-for-my-close-up/
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Cathy,
Thanks for the tidbits. Jeff Bridges is very good in Crazy Heart, can really sing too. I went in without much expectation, but ended up really enjoying it. George Clooney is, well, George Clooney, and Up In The Air was tailor-made for him. Sandra Bullock, oh, how sad to see her being blind-sided by JJ just a short few days after her Oscar win. They say it’s the Oscar curse.
As for your gig as an extra, what a cool thing to do with your son! What an experience and thanks for sharing the link here.
Arti
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I can not wait to see the next Coen Bro films. The True Grit trailer sounds amazing!
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