Every year at the Academy Awards, or as they’re by now well-known, the “Oscars,” there are some great moments and misses, memorably bad and good dresses and deserving wins along with mistakes. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards were presented this year with the comedic support of both Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, and had a wonderfully overdone and showy Broadway introduction by the talented Neil Patrick Harris.

The choice of having a duo go up to host the awards did not hurt either of the two’s comedic acts, and the bond that the two performers shared on stage really showed throughout the entire night. The two started by introducing the different nominees with quick wit and clever jokes. “Avatar” was never spared for a cheap shot at James Cameron or a gag about the 3D in the movie, but it was all in good fun. 

There were a good amount of funny shticks throughout the entire show, including the disguise of Ben Stiller as a N’avi creature from Avatar and a time lapse sequence of Martin and Baldwin spoofing Paranormal Activity, simply too hilarious to try to print. The awards were presented with minimal time for lengthy speeches. This was the only year I can remember in recent times where the Best Original Song nominees didn’t give some sort of live performance. However, this year did take a portion out to pay respects to the late John Hughes, with a montage of his films and appearances by many of his stars. 

The show also introduced a dance montage for the nominees of the Best Original Score. This seemed very out of place and odd amongst the regular clips provided to the nominees of most of the other categories, and could very well have been left out to help make the allotted time. Despite that minor qualm, the show seemed very satisfactory this year. 

This was the first Academy Awards in years that nominated ten Best Picture films instead of the expected five. This seemed balanced enough, as it allowed each movie to get a good introduction from a film celebrity and also gave way to a broader collection of nominees. What most stood out was Kathryn Bigelow’s success in winning two awards: the Best Director and Best Picture for her film “The Hurt Locker.” The absence of drama and extravagance made this year’s Academy Awards a successful one.

OSCAR WINNERS

PICTURE: The Hurt Locker

DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

ACTOR: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mo’Nique, Precious

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: El Secreto do Sus Ojos (Argentina)

ANIMATED FILM: Up

DOCUMENTARY: The Cove

EDITING: The Hurt Locker

VISUAL EFFECTS: Avatar

SONG: “The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart, T-Bone Burnett & Ryan Bingham

SCORE: Up

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Avatar

SOUND MIXING: The Hurt Locker

SOUND EDITING: The Hurt Locker

ART DIRECTION: Avatar

MAKEUP: Star Trek

LIVE-ACTION SHORT: The New Tenants

DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Music by Prudence

ANIMATED SHORT: Logorama