The Smoke Signal

By: Alekya Rajanala

The 84^th Annual Academy Awards, held on February 26, 2012, certainly delivered the grandeur and celebrity expected from filmmaking’s biggest awards ceremony. The major winners of the night, at five Oscars each, were Hugo and The Artist, the latter nabbing the award for Best Picture. Now, without further ado, the Oscar goes to…

Best Picture
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Hugo
Midnght in Paris
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse
The Tree of Life

WINNER: The Artist

Best Actor
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

WINNER: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

WINNER: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

WINNER: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

WINNER: Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Director
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

WINNER: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Original Screenplay
JC Chandor, Margin Call
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, Bridesmaids

WINNER: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Best Adapted Screenplay
John Logan, Hugo
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March
Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian, Moneyball
Bridget O’Connor, Peter Straughn, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

WINNER: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, Jim Rash, The Descendants

Best Animated Feature
A Cat In Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots

WINNER: Rango