I'm not even sure Peter Jackson thought his film would sweep the Oscar's tonight, but it did, winning 11 awards out of 11 nominations. Return of the King ties Titanic and Ben Hur for the most Oscar's won, at 11.
King captured the Best Picture. Peter Jackson won for Best Director and Adapted Screenplay (with Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens). And the film captured all the technical awards, costume, music, and set design that they were nominated for--Art Direction; Sound Mixing; Costume; Film Editing; Makeup; Visual Effects; Original Score (Howard Shore); and Original Song (Into the West, by Annie Lennox, Fran Walsh, and Howard Shore).
The other films coming out big were Master and Commander, which won for Cinematography and Sound Editing, and Mystic River, which was honored for Best Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) and Best Actor (Sean Penn).
The gracious Charlize Theron was honored as Best Actress (Monster).
The incredible Renee Zellweger, who has been nominated the past three years, finally won the Best Supporting Actress for her turn in Cold Mountain.
Sofia Coppola, the first American woman to have been nominated for Best Director, took home the Best Original Screenplay award for her magnificent film Lost in Transalation.
Finding Nemo was awared Best Animated Film.
The Barbarian Invasions was honored as Best Foreign Film. One of the films producers commented in her acceptance speech: "We are so glad Lord of the Rings wasn't nominated in this category."
Best Documentary went to The Fog of War, comprised from interviews with Robert McNamara about the Vietnam War.
The finest remarks of the evening came from Tim Robbins acceptance speech, in which he pleaded with people who had been abused to seek help and to not feel ashamed. By speaking up, he said, we can break the cycle of abuse.
This years event will be remembered for the thoughtful tributes for Bob Hope and Katherine Hepburne; the recognition award for one of the true kings of comedy Blake Edwards; and Billy Chrystal's oven-times hilarious comments, especially the line "now that everyone in New Zealand has been thanked."
11:10:50 PM  | |
|
