The 84th edition of the Academy Awards was for many a first time experience they will never forget. And it goes both for artists and the film buffs. This year’s heartwarming acceptance speeches coupled with surprise winners made the Oscars the peak in quality entertainment. Among the biggest surprises of the evening was introduced with the following words: the best supporting actress Oscar award goes to…Octavia Spencer.Sunday’s Oscars were a treat. We got amazing production, all the celebrities we love, memorable red carpet appearances and surprises, surprises. Octavia Spencer was one of them. Her part in “The Help” as Minny Jackson was considered so inspiring that the young actress received her own Oscar.
Directed by Tate Taylor, “The Help” is a more than interesting movie, depicting the reality of the society in the 1960s from an African-American maid’s point of view. It’s a movie that stresses how the white families went about their lives, jobs and how their everyday life unraveled.
Octavia Spencer, apart from being the surprise winner, made a surprising acceptance speech. She entered the stage singing to Frank Sinatra’s “It was a very good year: “Thank you Academy for putting me with the hottest guy in the room”, then said Octavia referring to the Oscar statuette. Among tears, Octavia thanked her family and fellow cast members.
Perhaps Octavia Spencer isn’t exactly a name that will pop up immediately in your mind when related to the movie industry. However, apart from her role in “The Help”, you might remember her from some teen movies such as, “Dinner for Schmucks” (2010) and “Peep World” are just two examples. TV series buffs should definitely remember her from a plethora of performances.
Anyway, Octavia Spencer winning the best supporting actress Oscar award is a clear sign that in her evolution as an actress, Octavia stepped up a notch to more award worthy pictures. “Smashed” and “The Perfect Fit”, or “Lost on Purpose” and “The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife” are the movies she was involved in after shooting for “The Help” in 2011. Plus, in 2013 two pre-productions are scheduled: “Snow Piercer” and “Untitled Diablo Cody Project”.
- Best picture: The Artist.
- Best director: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist.
- Best leading actor: Jean Dujardin in The Artist.
- Best leading actress: Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
- Best supporting actor: Christopher Plummer in Beginners.
- Best supporting actress: Octavia Spencer in The Help.
- Best foreign language film: A Separation (Iran).
- Best animated feature: Rango.
- Best original screenplay: Midnight in Paris.
- Best adapted screenplay: The Descendants.
- Best original score: The Artist.
- Best original song: Man or Muppet from The Muppets.
- Best art direction: Hugo.
- Best cinematography: Hugo.
- Best costume design: The Artist.
- Best documentary feature: Undefeated.
- Best documentary short: Saving Face.
- Best film editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
- Best makeup: The Iron Lady.
- Best short animated film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore.
- Best short live action film: The Shore.
- Best sound editing: Hugo.
- Best sound mixing: Hugo.
- Best visual effects: Hugo.
- Hugo won five awards at the 84th Oscars.
- The Artist – 5
- Hugo – 5
- The Iron Lady – 2
- Beginners – 1
- The Help – 1
- Midnight in Paris – 1
- The Descendants – 1
- A Separation – 1
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – 1
- Undefeated – 1
The following nominated films failed to win any awards:
- Albert Nobbs
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon
- The Tree of Life
- Bridesmaids
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
- My Week with Marilyn
