The 84th Annual Academy Awards

"Nothing can take the sting out of the world's economic situation like watching millionaires present themselves with golden statues," Billy Crystal said.  It is Crystal's ninth time hosting the Academy Awards and he did it again.  His jokes were funny and he had a few burns on some actors without being all Ricky Gervais.   Jonah Hill's recent weight loss was poked fun at when Crystal made a Hill reference and then joked, "Their serving cupcakes after the show."  Poor Jonah and Moneyball didn't even win one award.

 The first two awards went to Hugo for cinematography and Artistry, presented by Tom Hanks.  Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help.  Once she was finally able to crawl up on stage because of her awkward gown dimensions she gave her emotional speech and then said, "I'm freaking out," and left the stage the best she could.  Crystal gave tribute to the film addressing the problem of slavery in the south: "After watching The Help I wanted to hug the first black lady I saw, which from Beverly Hills is about a 45 minute drive."
 
Best Supporting Actor was Christopher Plummer in Beginners and Crystal couldn't hold back from commenting.  "The average age of the (Oscar) winners has now jumped to 67," Crystal said after Plummer gave his speech. 

In the middle of the biggest award ceremony "on the planet," as stated by Crystal, the Cirque Du Soleil gave an incredible performance.  Acrobats were swinging from the ceiling in every direction they even stood on chairs, on their hands of course, in the audience.  The back handed flips were done so gracefully and at the end of the grand performance everyone watching had their jaws dropped. 

Meryl Streep won her third Oscar after being nominated 17 times it was finally her time once again.  Perhaps it is the golden gown that brought her the good luck.  In 1982 when Streep won her first Oscar she also wore a similar golden gown. 

And Best Leading Actor goes to...Jean DuJardin (The Artist)?  For real Brad Pitt couldn't win an Oscar bummer, but there's always next year.