Hollywood’s best and brightest gathered for the 75th Annual Academy Awards Sunday to honor the year’s best in film. Steve Martin returned for his second turn as host, replacing Whoopi Goldberg, who hosted last year’s event. Martin delivered a much-needed comedic performance to open up this year’s ceremony, helping to ease the tension and concern over the war in Iraq, which had already forced producers to cancel the Red Carpet entrance.
As far as the awards went, the night was full of surefire victories and a few surprises as well. Chicago, the front-runner of this year’s awards, didn’t fail to take advantage of its 13 nomimations. The hit musical picked up six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones). While song and dance moves were enough to earn Zeta-Jones her first Oscar, Renée Zellweger’s equally impressive performance as Chicago’s lead actress wasn’t enough to beat Nicole Kidman, who claimed the Best Actress award for her role in The Hours. As for Best Supporting Actor, Chris Cooper beat out favorite Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can) and several other deserving candidates to win for his role in Adaptation. While Cooper may have had the best overall performance, John C. Reilly may hold the honor of having the best year for a supporting actor, playing significant supporting roles in three Best Picture-nominated films, including The Hours, Gangs of New York and Chicago, for which he received his Oscar bid.
In a surprise result, Adrien Brody made history when the 29-year old actor won the Academy Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in The Pianist, beating favorites Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York) and Jack Nicholson (About Schmidt). Brody, the youngest winner ever of the Best Actor award, celebrated his victory by sharing an intimite moment with presenter Halle Berry.
It’s safe to say that Gangs of New York suffered the biggest upset of the Academy Awards. Despite 10 nominations and favoritism for Best Director (Martin Scorsese) and Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Gangs came away empty handed. Between the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes, Gangs of New York received just three awards out of 27 total nominations.
Speaking of Best Director, an outstanding rape charge and years of controversy after fleeing to France couldn’t stop Roman Polanski from claiming the prize this year, his first Academy Award. Polanski, still facing jail time if he returns to the United States, did not attend.
Even though he’s no longer with us, Conrad Hall ended his legacy with highest honors, winning a posthumous Academy Award for Cinematography in The Road to Perdition. Hall was one of several award-winning contributors to Hollywood that passed away in the last year, all of whom were recognized during a short presentation at the awards. Another presentation featuring many of the Academy Award winners from the past 75 years was also shown, during which some actors and actresses revealed more about their Oscar experiences than most viewers would have liked to hear (Robert Duvall’s suddenly-active bladder is just one example).
As for performances, Queen Latifah and a well-hidden Catherine Zeta-Jones sang “I Move On” from the hit movie Chicago, for which they both received Best Supporting Actress nods. Zeta-Jones, who is eight-months pregnant, required some well-executed lighting and dancers to hide her extra baggage. U2 was also on hand to perform “The Hands That Built America,” part of the Gangs of New York soundtrack. As shocking as it may seem, though, the winner this year for Best Original Song wasn’t from the ranks of U2 or Chicago, but from Eminem, as the rapper won the Academy Award for “Lose Yourself” from his semi-biographical hit 8 Mile. Much to the disappointment of viewers , Eminem was not on hand to accept the award. One can only imagine what one of music’s most controversial artists would have said in such a situation.
With the war raging in Iraq, the Academy Awards did not go without its commemorations to the Coalition forces and their efforts, as well as rants to the war itself. While some acts like Adrien Brody’s unscripted and unrehearsed message of peace were received with standing ovations, Michael Moore (Who won Best Documentary for Bowling for Columbine) was bombarded with a heavy mix of boos and cheers (though mostly the former) throughout his shaming of President Bush. Despite the controversy, Steve Martin managed to close out the Oscars on a high note, dedicating the show to the men and women fighting overseas.