Yay! Argo wins Best Picture! - Warner Bros.

Some musings, fun facts and reactions from the 2013 Oscars.

--The wealth was spread wide and far at the 85th Academy Awards. Best picture winner "Argo" won three awards, "Life Of Pi" won four including best director, "Les Miserables" won three including supporting actress for Anne Hathaway, and "Lincoln" won two including best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis. Overall no major upsets or surprises, but this was a great year for movies.

--Seth MacFarlane's opening bit was a misfire. I think he played into the presumed reception of his hosting work rather than going all out and owning whatever twisted, awful things he had up his sleeve. I've laughed much harder and been more entertained by other hosts. Cool to find out Charlize Theron can dance, though. 

--Christoph Waltz wins supporting actor for Django Unchained in a mild surprise. This category was wide open, though, and he did give the best performance in this very respectable group. Of course, you recall Waltz won supporting actor for writer/director Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds in 2009.

Django Unchained - The Weinstein Company

--Brave wins animated feature because only Pixar movies are allowed to win this award. This is one of the worst Pixar efforts to win (granted the bar is very high), but this also reflects how incredibly weak the category was this year.

--No surprise that Claudio Miranda wins Cinematography for Life Of Pi, as it was the most beautiful movie I've ever seen (it deserves its visual effects Oscar as well). Can't help but wish Roger Deakins (True Grit) won for Skyfall, though, because he remains long overdue for an Oscar -- 10 nominations, zero wins.

--Jennifer Aniston looks old. Had to happen eventually. Still hot though.

--Loved the tribute to Bond. Wanted more of it. Think how awesome it would've been to have all the actors who played Bond on stage together. Cool to see Shirley Bassey still has the pipes for "Goldfinger" (1964), which is considered by some to be the best Bond movie.

--Enjoying the music from famous movie scores throughout the evening. "E.T." and "Lawrence of Arabia" are among those used, and beautifully so. Also great that John Williams' iconic theme from "Jaws" is playing people off stage!

--Loved, LOVED the musicals tribute. Introduced by John Travolta (perfect!), Catherine Zeta-Jones revisits the only performance I've ever enjoyed her in from "Chicago," Jennifer Hudson brings down the house with "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls, and the cast of Les Miserables nails "One Day More." Note: Zeta-Jones, Hudson, and Hathaway (later in the evening, at least) all won supporting actress Oscars for their performances, and deservedly so for each.

--"Les Miserables" wins sound mixing, Zero Dark Thirty and "Skyfall" tie(!) for sound editing. The difference: Sound mixing is how all three layers of sound in a movie (dialog, score, sound effects) are layered together to create an impressionable overall effect. Sound editing is the assembly and application of all the final sound effects and the accuracy of the sound to what is seen on screen. Note: Ties are awarded when two nominees are within three votes of one another.

--FYI: There have been two other ties in Oscar history, per Wiki Answers:

• In 1932 Wallace Beery and Frederic March both won Best Actor, for "The Champ" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," respectively.
• In 1968 Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand both won Best Actress, for "A Lion in Winter" and "Funny Girl," respectively.

--Seth MacFarlane does a funny "Sound Of Music" joke that those who haven't seen the film will not understand, but trust me: It's hilarious.

--Adele, you sound fabulous.

Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables -- Universal

--Anne Hathaway wins supporting actress for "Les Miserables," and deservedly so. I defy anyone to not get goosebumps when she sings "I Dreamed A Dream." It was an Oscar moment if ever there was one. But why is she talking (in the end of her speech) about the "misfortunes of Fantine" existing only in stories? I could've sworn we found the solution to tuberculosis years ago.

--Why is Kristin Stewart limping? Nevermind, I don't care.

--In Memoriam is always a tough watch. Deep respect. FYI: The song Barbra Streisand sings, the Oscar winner "The Way We Were," was written by Marvin Hamlisch and is from a 1973 movie of the same name starring Streisand and Robert Redford.

--Seth MacFarlane is growing on me as the host. I'm a big "Family Guy" fan, and he's made me laugh.

--Adele is a co-winner for original song for "Skyfall." Surprisingly, this is the first song from a James Bond film to win this award. In fifty years of Bond movies prior to tonight, the franchise earned seven total nominations and won only twice.

--Even with short hair, Charlize Theron is a true beauty.

--Cool! Chris Terrio wins adapted screenplay for Argo and Quentin Tarantino wins original screenplay for "Django Unchained." This is his second Oscar -- he previously won for "Pulp Fiction." So why the hell can't Tarantino tie his tie?

--Ang Lee wins director for "Life Of Pi." Whoever won this category was a surprise given that Ben Affleck would be the runaway winner if he were nominated. Lee previously won this award for Brokeback Mountain in 2005. And let's be fair: It's not his fault Affleck wasn't nominated, and he did a helluva good job with "Life Of Pi." Give credit where it's due.

--Jennifer Lawrence wins lead actress for Silver Linings Playbook. Poor girl fell on the way to the stage, then laughs it off, which is normal for her fun-loving personality. This is merely the beginning of a fabulous career ahead of her -- she's only 22 years old!

Lincoln - DreamWorks Pictures

--Daniel Day-Lewis wins lead actor for Lincoln. It truly was an astonishing performance. With this win only he and Katharine Hepburn (who has four) have more than two lead actor awards. Day-Lewis previously won for "My Left Foot" and "There Will Be Blood." This is Oscar history, and with the win Day-Lewis defines himself as the greatest actor of his generation. For her part, Streep also has three Oscars, but one was for supporting actress for "Kramer vs. Kramer."

--Fun to see First Lady Michelle Obama help give out best picture, which "Argo" deservedly wins. Ben Affleck, Grant Heslov and George Clooney accept the award because they are the film's producers. So happy it won! Endearing nervous energy from Affleck in his acceptance speech too! Congrats!

Complete list of winners

Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Animated Short: Paperman
Animated Feature: Brave
Cinematography: Life Of Pi
Visual Effects: Life Of Pi
Costume Design: Anna Karenina
Makeup: Les Miserables
Live Action Short: Curfew
Documentary Short: Inocente
Documentary Feature: Searching For Sugar Man
Foreign Language Film: Amour
Sound Mixing: Les Miserables
Sound Editing: Tie! Zero Dark Thirty & Skyfall
Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Editing: Argo
Production Design: Lincoln
Score: Life Of Pi
Original Song: Adele & Paul Epworth, Skyfall
Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio, Argo
Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
Director: Ang Lee, Life Of Pi
Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Picture: Argo

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (13)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

taker123 said:

	... This was one of the more enjoyable Academy Awards show that I had seen in a while. I was glad that Daniel Day Lewis won and that Argo won for best picture
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

xyloco13 said:

	... how did you feel about the orchestra playing the music from Jaws whenever anybody ran over their allotted acceptance speech time? Pretty disrespectful in my view.
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

Belinda527 said:

	... It was great that ARGO won. It was my pick .
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

caplanbl said:

	... The irony of Life of Pi winning all these visual effects awards, is that the company who made the effects is bankrupt.
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

lunix57 said:

	... Yeahhhh Jennifer Lawrence. This was well deserved.
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

noonies said:

	... I just wish that "Les Miserables" won all the awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture Oscar
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

sefe1 said:

	... J Hudson acted and sang THROUGHOUT the entire movie in Dreamgirls and her Oscar was extremely well deserved. Anne Hathaway sings 1 song alone in Les Miserables and disappears from movie...sings ONE song and dies...yet wins an Oscar....NOT cool.. I'd given it to anyone else who acted LONGER than her. Really...Oscars is now American Idol??
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

wendolyngarrido said:

	... I am so glad and proud for both Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway. Got to say the Les Mis cast singing on stage together was amazing!
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

tifftiff789 said:

	... I'm glad, Supporting Actor, Christoph Waltz won an award for Django Unchained he did a great job!
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

bjuvani said:

	... disappointed with the best picture winner but it was expected
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 25, 2013
Votes: +0

Promoted said:

	... Seth McFelane is a handsome Irish dude with a penchant for belting out a showtime at the drop a Kardashian's panty, but my God did he SUCK. Also, how adorbs is Jen Lawrence? If only I could have the aplomb to fall flat on my face in front of a billion people, and then have the graciousness to remember to wish my competitor a Happy Birthday. Can America adopt her?
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 26, 2013
Votes: +0

Promoted said:

	... McFarlane/showtune/of a. PIMPF, etcetera.
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 26, 2013
Votes: +0

jimmygnole said:

	... DDLewis was so deserving. He is the best actor of my lifetime. And to think he didn't win for his work in "Gangs of New York" which as an incredible performance as well.
	report abuse vote down vote up

February 26, 2013
Votes: +0