And the Oscar went to: Jean Dujardin!!!Dujardin bested a field that included Clooney's pal Brad Pitt ("Moneyball"), veteran actor / first time nominee Gary Oldman ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy") and Mexican-born Demian Bichir ("A Better Life"). It has to be mentioned that "The Artist" also took home awards in two other major categories, Best Director and Best Picture.
The 39-year-old French actor and comedian spent this awards season accumulating victories at the AACTA, BAFTA, Cannes, the Golden Globes, Hollywood Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards and several critical associations. Wow!!!
Dujardin had prepared his speech, which some may find as overly confident, "I love your country!" he exclaimed on stage. "Thank you to the academy. It's funny because in 1929 it wasn't Billy Crystal, but Douglas Fairbanks who hosted the first Oscar ceremony. Tickets cost five dollars and it lasted 15 minutes. Times have changed. So, thank you Douglas Fairbanks."
The highlight of his Oscar winning speech was when Jean Dujardin screamed at the end:" "Putain, genial, formidable, merci!" which its expressive equivalent is: Damn/sh**, super/brilliant, amazing/tremendous, thank you! Literal translation: putain = "whore" but the use of it is closer to the way one would say, "damn/sh**" in English. You can tell how he was overcome by excitement! I don't blame him...! And as that was not enough Dujardin wasn't quite ready to leave the stage when he finished his speech, so he hung out on stage, dancing and rejoicing as poor Natalie Portman stood by uncomfortably.
Why does this remind me of Sacha Baron Cohen's behaviour??One can easily compare Ryan Seacrest to Natalie Portman...There were "victims" of spontaneity! Even the producers even cut awkwardly to the musicians in the balconies. OMG! Where is their sense of humor? Besides, who said that spontaneity is a no-no at the Academy Awards? Oscars are supposed to be a celebration!
Wonder what' was "The Artist"'s secret of success??"Key to the success of "The Artist" is the work of its two French stars," wrote the "Los Angeles Times"Kenneth Turan. "Dujardin and [Bérénice] Bejo, bursting off the screen like irrepressible Roman candles, give performances that are both subtle and incandescent, reminding us of the truth of silent star Norma Desmon's famous '"Sunset Blvd." line, '"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces." "
Besides, this is what acting should be about! Don't you think??
Feel free to comment and share this blog post if you find it interesting!
Photos taken from reuters.com, ibtimes.com, mirror.co.uk, daily.mail.co.uk
