The 85th Annual Academy Awards [Live-Blog]
Two months of nonstop awards ceremonies have led up to this. The 85th Annual Academy Awards are being held tonight at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Seth MacFarlane, of all people, and we'll be live-blogging the proceedings right here all night.
This season, Argo has emerged as the heavy favorite to win Best Picture (despite the lack of a corresponding Best Director nod), as has Anne Hathaway for Best Actress. But the picture isn't as clear for some of the other categories, and in any case there are no guarantees until the victor is clutching that little gold man up on that stage. Here's hoping for some pleasant surprises.
Hit the jump to read the winners as they're announced, along with live commentary.
8:38 – We are averaging one musical number per five minutes.
8:42 – Samuel L. Jackson : Oscars :: Tommy Lee Jones : Golden Globes
8:45 – Devindra: "At least it's better than Seth MacFarlane talking."
8:50 – Finally, an award!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Thoughts: This wasn't a category where anyone seemed like a lock, but I'm a little surprised nonetheless. And still a little annoyed that this should have counted as a lead role, though of course I'm still happy for Waltz.
8:56 – I never thought I'd see the day where I'd find Paul Rudd less funny than Seth MacFarlane. :(
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Thoughts: No surprise there, but it's a delightful short and I'm happy to see it rewarded.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Thoughts: Plenty of people are gonna be pissed about this one. At least Brenda Chapman got to go up — for a second there, it looked like it was just going to be Mark Andrews.
9:05 – That's not all of the Avengers! Where's Scarlett Johansson? Where's Chris Hemsworth?
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Thoughts: Bummed for those who lost, especially Deakins, but can't argue too much. Life of Pi looks gorgeous, even on my TV at home. Also, that is a glorious mane of hair.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Thoughts: Must be a bittersweet moment for Rhythm & Hues.
9:12 – Oh, come on. Silencing him at that moment? Not cool.
9:13 – Russ: "OK, the Jaws music used as the 'hurry up' song is great."
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Thoughts: Nice to see Anna Karenina get a little love.
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Russ' thoughts: "Winner for making Anne Hathaway 'ugly.'"
9:24 – Russ: "Really nice editing and compositions on this Bond montage — good job capturing the visual identity of the series."
9:25 – Russ: "And that's a killer introduction for Shirley Bassey to sing 'Goldfinger.'"
9:26 – And she's killing it. Love it. This is what I want out of an Oscars celebrating music, not Seth MacFarlane singing about boobs.
BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
9:37 – Is Seth MacFarlane not as bad as we expected, or is it just that the bar I've set for him is so impossibly low?
9:42 – Okay, strike that last comment. On the bright side, consensus among the viewing party at my house is that Affleck and Damon should host next year.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Thoughts: Searching for Sugar Man has won every documentary award in the run-up, so we knew this was coming. Good news nonetheless.
BEST FOREIGN FILM
Thoughts: It's probably not going to win Best Picture, so I'm very pleased to see it get recognition here.
9:59 – Kristy: "This is a diva-off! This is insane!"
10:03 – C'mon guys, it's not that bad. You could barely hear Russell Crowe at all.
10:05 – Russ: "I half-expected the sound mixer to drop everyone's mic there, except for Russell Crowe. Just leave him stranded belting out his bit."
BEST SOUND MIXING
10:13 – Can't say I'm especially excited to see Ted, but I'm legitimately impressed by the effects.
BEST SOUND EDITING
Thoughts: I kept waiting for Mark Wahlberg to reveal that the second winner was a joke and the award was going to Ted. But, whoa! When's the last time this happened? Both winners are excellent choices.
10:17 – Russ: "This tie thing is weird."
10:17 – According to Rudie, the last tie was in 1995 for best live-action short.
10:19 – I feel like such a dork, but I laughed so hard at that Sound of Music reference. That might be my favorite thing that has happened so far tonight.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Thoughts: I mean. Of course. Good for her, though.
10:21 – I'm not alone! Russ: "Even as it was a pretty Family Guy moment, that Sound of Music gag was definitely a highlight so far."
BEST FILM EDITING
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Thoughts: Again: Few surprises so far, but few really objectionable results either.
10:51 – Russ: "I'm not sure what that... er... was that Bardem/Hayek/Cruz line supposed to be a joke?"
THE GOVERNORS AWARDS
11:03 – No Andy Griffith in the In Memoriam?
11:08 – I like Chicago as much as the next gal, but what is this show's obsession with that movie?
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Thoughts: I adore this song. An instantly classic Bond theme. And hey, this means Skyfall has more Oscars than Silver Linings Playbook or Argo so far!
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Thoughts: Exactly the result we expected.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Thoughts: Nice! Not Tarantino's best screenplay ever, but happy to see him get his first win since 1995... and really happy to see something unexpected happen. (Would've picked Zero Dark Thirty, myself, though.)
BEST DIRECTOR
Thoughts: This was a weird category where Ben Affleck would've been the clear favorite if he'd been nominated. I thought Spielberg had the strongest chance of those who were, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see Lee get it. Life of Pi was some impressive work.
11:38 – Just think how much closer we would be to being finished if we could have cut out that "Boobs" number. And all the other numbers sung by MacFarlane.
BEST ACTRESS
Thoughts: Jennifer Lawrence is a delight. And very deserving. A little sorry that Emmanuelle Riva doesn't get to have the Oscar as her 86th birthday present though.
BEST ACTOR
Thoughts: Expectedly, Daniel Day-Lewis wins the Oscar. Unexpectedly, Daniel Day-Lewis has the funniest speech of the night. I love it!
11:52 – This ceremony is running way too long, but at least the spillover part of it has been entertaining. (Michelle Obama!) Can't say the same for the other three hours.
BEST PICTURE
Thought: And here we are. Everyone was proved right.
12:02 – Seems an odd choice to close by dwelling on the people who lost, but whatever — goodbye, Seth MacFarlane! Goodnight, everyone!