Smallscreen News

Oscar Indies score big, some thoughts on 83rd Academy Award telecast

By April MacIntyre Feb 28, 2011, 5:01 GMT

01/30/2011 - Melissa Leo - 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Press Room - The Shrine Auditorium - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Bob Charlotte / PR Photos

Well, quite possibly the most boring Oscar telecast ever just ended, and all I can say is, I prefer my James Franco acting.

Anne Hathaway's freakishly long arms distracted me in all her finery and wardrobe changes, and Randy Newman is quite a pip. 

Best Supporting Actress winner (The Fighter) Melissa Leo's campaign of faux fur and "Consider" apparently worked, then she crapped the Hollywood bed by dropping the "F Bomb" as she attempted to restore some class quotient to her tacky self-promotion spread in the trades.

Jeff Bridges, yes please! Heaping piles of the Dude as he never disappoints. And Jennifer Hudson's stunning transformation should send Weight Watchers' stock through the roof. Billy Crystal is wonderful still, and the Academy woofed poor Corey Haim, who was left off the In Memoriam roster.

Finally, what is the deal with Scarlett Johansson's hair? She is a gorgeous woman who hasn't had a good hairdo since Michael Bay's "The Island," or makeup job for that matter.  Paging Heba Thorsdottir...

Sandra Bullock looked a bit angry and tired. Her hair and dress were lovely. Her makeup, the expression in her eyes were off; she was not her best. Like she was given some bad news prior to the event.

So tonight, the Indies captured seven major Oscars. Let's review:

Independent films captured seven major Oscars at tonight’s 83rd Academy Awards , including a Best Picture victory by The Weinstein Co.’s The King’s Speech. The win brings to 19 the number of independent films taking Best Picture honors over the past 30 years, the Independent Film & Television Alliance announced. 

Best Picture

The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)

Best Director

Tom Hooper – The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)

Best Actor

Colin Firth – The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale – The Fighter (The Weinstein Company)

Best Supporting Actress

Melissa Leo – The Fighter (The Weinstein Company)

Best Original Screenplay

David Seidler – The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)

Best Foreign Language Film

In A Better World (Denmark) (Nordisk Film)