The Oscars, Hollywood's most glamorous and majestic annual acknowledgment of the achievements and contributions of its member guilds, broadcast live to billions of viewers around the world, had finally come to pass in a stunning presentation of nearly 4 hours. What had been on the balance for several weeks due to the writer's guild strike, unleashed a surge of artistic collaboration that embodies the splendor of movie making's grandest honor, providing the winners their much coveted "Oscar Moment" for all the world to witness.
It had a fast pace, but not hurried. It had beautiful sets that evoked grandeur and large scale luxury that were made more expansive by its adherence to minimalism; and
exquisite production numbers rich in detail but not obscenely overdone. The concept for the 80th Academy Awards, including the selection of categories to put on video; the description, dialog, and audio of all video clips; the scripts for the presenters; and the entire monologue and jokes of the host Jon Stewart; were so intricately meshed and skillfully crafted, making the program a seamless showcase of elegant artistry. It seemed like Hollywood's writers were so starved for artistic expression and decided to pour all their creative brilliance in one night; fittingly, on its most sensitive, significant, and prestigious event of the year.
The show was very capably anchored by Jon Stewart, whose overall decorum, naughty and mischievous persona, as well as impeccable timing in delivering his lines; gave impetus to the relaxed atmosphere that has long been plagued by tension due to the uncertainty of being able to air the industry's most momentous production. The Oscars also gave a deep sigh of relief to all jewelers, fashion designers, limousine renters, caterers, restaurant owners, and all allied services whose combined worth of roughly US $400 million would have been unrealized had the writer's strike counted the event as one of the casualties of its cause.
The show allowed the stars to parade their glitz and glamor on the Red Carpet, modeling the designer's clothes and jewelry they have been favored to don for the occasion. The papparazzi too would earn their income for the event based on the stills they would capture in documenting the event, and perhaps, its more revealing and unguarded sequences. The major winners include:
Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis - There Will be Blood
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem - No Country For Old Men
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
Best Director: Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men
Best Picture: No Country For Old Men
The night however, belonged to European actors who romped away with all the major acting awards.
Given the limited time from the end of the strike to the Oscar's play date involved a very large effort which is an accomplishment in itself. The industry managed to inspire its members to come together and escape the ignominy of failure to launch; to continue to inspire, and provide escape for the rest of us through films, for the price of a movie ticket.
Haaarrrwwwwk...Twooooph...Ting!
It had a fast pace, but not hurried. It had beautiful sets that evoked grandeur and large scale luxury that were made more expansive by its adherence to minimalism; and
exquisite production numbers rich in detail but not obscenely overdone. The concept for the 80th Academy Awards, including the selection of categories to put on video; the description, dialog, and audio of all video clips; the scripts for the presenters; and the entire monologue and jokes of the host Jon Stewart; were so intricately meshed and skillfully crafted, making the program a seamless showcase of elegant artistry. It seemed like Hollywood's writers were so starved for artistic expression and decided to pour all their creative brilliance in one night; fittingly, on its most sensitive, significant, and prestigious event of the year.
The show was very capably anchored by Jon Stewart, whose overall decorum, naughty and mischievous persona, as well as impeccable timing in delivering his lines; gave impetus to the relaxed atmosphere that has long been plagued by tension due to the uncertainty of being able to air the industry's most momentous production. The Oscars also gave a deep sigh of relief to all jewelers, fashion designers, limousine renters, caterers, restaurant owners, and all allied services whose combined worth of roughly US $400 million would have been unrealized had the writer's strike counted the event as one of the casualties of its cause.
The show allowed the stars to parade their glitz and glamor on the Red Carpet, modeling the designer's clothes and jewelry they have been favored to don for the occasion. The papparazzi too would earn their income for the event based on the stills they would capture in documenting the event, and perhaps, its more revealing and unguarded sequences. The major winners include:
Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis - There Will be Blood
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem - No Country For Old Men
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
Best Director: Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men
Best Picture: No Country For Old Men
The night however, belonged to European actors who romped away with all the major acting awards.
Given the limited time from the end of the strike to the Oscar's play date involved a very large effort which is an accomplishment in itself. The industry managed to inspire its members to come together and escape the ignominy of failure to launch; to continue to inspire, and provide escape for the rest of us through films, for the price of a movie ticket.
Haaarrrwwwwk...Twooooph...Ting!
