‘The Artist’ Wins Top Oscar Honors in Bow to Silent-Film Era
“The Artist,” a black-and-white film with just a few words of dialog, won Oscars for best picture, director and actor as Hollywood continued to honor smaller-budget films.
Michel Hazanavicius captured best director for the mostly silent film and Jean Dujardin was honored as best actor for playing George Valentin, an aging film star unable to make it in talking pictures. Meryl Streep won best actress for playing Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” The Oscars were handed out last night at the 84th Academy Awards, hosted by Billy Crystal, at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.
As in past years, academy voters shunned top-grossing films
focusing on lower-budget, less-seen movies such as “The Artist,” which cost about $15 million, according to Box Office Mojo, a researcher. Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo,” which tied “The Artist” with five awards, was the costliest at $170 million.
“When people love the movie, it’s not very difficult, because you’re not selling, you’re not promoting,” said Hazanavicius backstage. “You just smile and say, ‘thank you.’”
Streep, 62, captured her third Oscar for her portrayal of Thatcher, the former British prime minister. Her 17 lifetime nominations are tops for the industry, according to the academy’s database. Streep’s win was among the few upsets, based on betting lines from Paddy Power PLC, a British oddsmaker.
“It was like I was a kid again,” Streep said backstage. “I understand Streep fatigue, and it shocked me it didn’t override this thing tonight.”
Box Office
Of nine films nominated for best picture, “The Help” from DreamWorks Studios and Walt Disney Co. leads among fans with $206.7 million in worldwide ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. “Hugo” has collected $115.8 million in worldwide ticket sales and “The Artist” has taken in $76.5 million.
With the Oscar, “The Artist” became the second silent film to win best picture. “Wings” was crowned outstanding picture at the first Academy Awards on May 16, 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, steps from this year’s ceremony. “The Artist” was shot in Los Angeles.
“They must be going nuts in France right now,” Crystal said after the award for the 39-year-old Frenchman Dujardin.
The picture produced five awards for Weinstein Co., the closely held New York-based studio that distributed “The Artist” in the U.S. “Hugo” generated five Oscars for Viacom Inc.’s Paramount, which also grabbed best animated feature for “Rango.”
First Oscar
Christopher Plummer, 82, became the oldest Oscar winner for his role in the film “Beginners,” about a man who comes out as gay late in life. Octavia Spencer won best-supporting actress for her role as the sharp-tongued housemaid Minny Jackson in “The Help,” about the sometimes-tense relationship between black maids and the white women who employ them.
The nomination was Plummer’s second in more than 40 years of acting and his only win. The film, from Universal Pictures’ Focus Features, stars Ewan McGregor and took in $14.3 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
Michel Hazanavicius captured best director for the mostly silent film and Jean Dujardin was honored as best actor for playing George Valentin, an aging film star unable to make it in talking pictures. Meryl Streep won best actress for playing Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” The Oscars were handed out last night at the 84th Academy Awards, hosted by Billy Crystal, at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.
As in past years, academy voters shunned top-grossing films
focusing on lower-budget, less-seen movies such as “The Artist,” which cost about $15 million, according to Box Office Mojo, a researcher. Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo,” which tied “The Artist” with five awards, was the costliest at $170 million.
“When people love the movie, it’s not very difficult, because you’re not selling, you’re not promoting,” said Hazanavicius backstage. “You just smile and say, ‘thank you.’”
Streep, 62, captured her third Oscar for her portrayal of Thatcher, the former British prime minister. Her 17 lifetime nominations are tops for the industry, according to the academy’s database. Streep’s win was among the few upsets, based on betting lines from Paddy Power PLC, a British oddsmaker.
“It was like I was a kid again,” Streep said backstage. “I understand Streep fatigue, and it shocked me it didn’t override this thing tonight.”
Of nine films nominated for best picture, “The Help” from DreamWorks Studios and Walt Disney Co. leads among fans with $206.7 million in worldwide ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. “Hugo” has collected $115.8 million in worldwide ticket sales and “The Artist” has taken in $76.5 million.
With the Oscar, “The Artist” became the second silent film to win best picture. “Wings” was crowned outstanding picture at the first Academy Awards on May 16, 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, steps from this year’s ceremony. “The Artist” was shot in Los Angeles.
“They must be going nuts in France right now,” Crystal said after the award for the 39-year-old Frenchman Dujardin.
The picture produced five awards for Weinstein Co., the closely held New York-based studio that distributed “The Artist” in the U.S. “Hugo” generated five Oscars for Viacom Inc.’s Paramount, which also grabbed best animated feature for “Rango.”
First Oscar
Christopher Plummer, 82, became the oldest Oscar winner for his role in the film “Beginners,” about a man who comes out as gay late in life. Octavia Spencer won best-supporting actress for her role as the sharp-tongued housemaid Minny Jackson in “The Help,” about the sometimes-tense relationship between black maids and the white women who employ them.
The nomination was Plummer’s second in more than 40 years of acting and his only win. The film, from Universal Pictures’ Focus Features, stars Ewan McGregor and took in $14.3 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
