The speeches were breathy and tearful, the Best Actress winner tripped on the stairs, everyone knew who designed their outfit, shoes and jewellery, the host was mildly amusing, but not as offensive as he could have been, the show went on for ever, and the winners were worthy recipients – welcome to The Oscars!
The speeches were breathy and tearful, the Best Actress winner tripped on the stairs, everyone knew who designed their outfit, shoes and jewellery, the host was mildly amusing, but not as offensive as he could have been, the show went on for ever, and the winners were worthy recipients – welcome to The Oscars!
If you go back and check my Oscar predictions you’ll see things pretty much turned out how I hoped or expected - the point being, there was little to be surprised or aggrieved about with this year’s results.
Well, actually, maybe there’s one award I thought was slightly unfair, and you can blame it on me being parochial; I felt The Hobbit deserved the Oscar for Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling. Really, Les Miserables? The film where half the cast looked like they’d just had mud flung in their faces?
I’m pleased Argo won Best Film. I would have been happy if a number of nominees had won, but Argo was one of the most entertaining films I watched last year, so good on you Mr. Affleck. If you’d read my review of Lincoln in the NZ Herald you’d know my response was luke-warm, regardless of Daniel Day-Lewis’ worthy, award winning performance. I’m not surprised that while it received the most nominations it failed to fire up the Academy members.
I was a little disappointed Silver Linings Playbook didn’t receive more recognition - in particular, a Best Adapted Screenplay win would have been nice. I’m very fond of this film: it’s fresh, sharply written, amusing and full of energy. Jennifer Lawrence did of course win the Best Actress award from Jessica Chastain (who didn’t win an Oscar but seemed to come dressed as one), and then charmingly tripped over her extravagant Dior dress.
When it comes to the Best Director category, Ang Lee is also a deserving recipient. I found Life of Pi a bit light on the emotion, but Lee did a good job of creating his own unique vision and adapting for the big screen what had generally been considered an ‘impossible-to-film’ novel.
So, congratulations to all, and here’s the full list of The Oscar’s winners 2013.
WINNERS OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS 2013
Best Film: Argo, Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, Producers
Best Director: Ang Lee for Life of Pi
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
Best Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio for Argo
Best Animated Feature: Brave
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year: Amour (Austria)
Best Documentary Feature: Searching for a Sugar Man
Best Documentary Short Subject: Inocente
Best Animated Short Film: Paperman
Best Live Action Short Film: Curfew
Best Original Score: Mychael Danna for Life of Pi
Best Original Song: Skyfall, Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth; Skyfall
Achievement in Production Design: Production Design - Rick Carter Set and Decoration - Jim Erickson for Lincoln
Achievement in Cinematography: Claudio Miranda for Life of Pi
Achievement in Visual Effects: Life of Pi
Film Editing: Willem Goldenberg for Argo
Achievement in Costume Design: Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina
Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling: Les Misérables
Achievement in Sound Editing: Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall
Achievement in Sound Mixing: Les Misérables
Now, March on Rialto Channel might be Rialto Oscar’s Collection, as we premiere a collection of Oscar winners and nominees from 2012, but it’s also Woody Allen month as we celebrate the work of this genius in The Directors' Showcase.
We kick off the party with Woody Allen: A Documentary tonight (1st March, 8.30pm), in which the reclusive filmmaker talks about his life and career from childhood to stand-up comedian and filmmaker. It’s a wonderfully insightful, extensive documentary, and the perfect introduction to the Woody Allen films that follow.
Saturday night, as part of the Rialto Oscars Collection, Rialto Channel is playing the award-winning Midnight in Paris (2nd March, 8.30pm) starring Owen Wilson, Marion Cottilard, Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates. Winner of the Best Writing, Screenplay Oscar and nominated for Best Direction, Best Art Design and Best Motion Picture of the Year, this is Mr. Allen at his delightful best.
The Director’s Showcase swings into action on Sunday evening, and over the coming month you’ll be able to enjoy the very best of this iconic director including Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Husbands and Wives and Mighty Aphrodite.
It’s going to be an intelligent, neurotic and highly amusing month here on Rialto Channel.