LOS ANGELES, March 5 — In a stunning twist, the motion picture academy turned its back on "Brokeback Mountain" and its unflinching gay love story Sunday night, awarding the Oscar for best picture to "Crash," a moody kaleidoscope of racial confrontation in Los Angeles in which every character is at once sympathetic and repulsive.
"Brokeback Mountain," which had taken nearly every major best-picture prize in the run-up to the Oscars, won the awards for its director, Ang Lee, and for best score and adapted screenplay.
"Crash" also won the Oscars for best original screenplay, for its writers, Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, and for the film's editor, Hughes Winborne.
Philip Seymour Hoffman was named best actor for inhabiting the role of Truman Capote and Reese Witherspoon won best actress for her steely, charming turn as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line."
And Rachel Weisz was named best supporting actress for her performance in "The Constant Gardener"
For the full story:
'Crash' Walks Away With the Top Prize at the Oscars
Some pictures...
The setting at the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Boulevard for the 78th Academy Awards. Jon Stewart, the host, is at the microphone
Philip Seymour Hoffman earned a best actor Oscar for playing Truman Capote in "Capote." Mr. Hoffman thanked his mother for having raised four children on her own.
Reese Witherspoon won the Oscar for best actress for playing June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line
With the first award of the night, George Clooney was a winner for best supporting actor for "Syriana." Mr. Clooney was the first person to be nominated for acting and directing awards for two different films in the same year.
Rachel Weisz took home the statuette for best supporting actress for "The Constant Gardener
The best director Oscar went to Ang Lee for "Brokeback Mountain
Ben Stiller, in green suit, presented an Oscar to the visual effects team from "King Kong," which won three technical awards.
Robert Altman, director of films including "Nashville" and "The Player," was presented with the evening's honorary award
Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman, the producers of "Crash," accepting the award for best picture.
Source: NYTimes.com
Why am I yawning?
ReplyDeleteOops! ;)
Strange - exactly how I feel when I see a kayaking post on your blog.
ReplyDeleteOops! ;)
Well, good night then.
Considering "Brokeback Mountain" has won top honors in just about every awards event except the Oscars, I have a feeling that the results have more to do with homophobia. Considering the current conservative swing of the country, and the fact that the Republican party and these increasingly power-hungry religious revival groups tend to be very vocally anti-gay, it's no surprise.
ReplyDeleteHappy, you need to put a gratuitous sex-related statement in there somewhere to keep our kayaking friend happy and encourage another one to come out from under his metal table.
;-)
haha.. I didn't last through the whole presentation... and yes, I did yawn on it too.
ReplyDeleteI must watch Crash, Unker, is it available yet? ahem****
Happy, have u seen Crash?
I watch Brokeback Mountain and fell asleep after 20 mins.. watch it the next night and it happen again.. I will recommend it to anyone who has insomia.
MM, you could be right about the homophobia bit. A writer hinted that Americans don't want cowboys to be gay. Or perhaps Oscar voters were more comfortable with a tale about racial conflict in contemporary LA than with a heart-breaking tale of love between two married men.
ReplyDeleteI think you could be right, the last para.
Guys, anyway the film is rated R
(Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). It has violence, strong language (including many racial slurs) and a brief sex scene.
So, if you're underaged, sorry!
Robin, actually I only watched some fifteen to twenty minutes of the repeat - the beginning.
ReplyDeleteNo, I have not seen 'Crash!' but defintely will, this w/e. Will go out and get one. Read the review. Sounds interesting. Well, it must be good to have won the Oscar for best picture.
Brokeback Mountain, for insomniacs, eh? I have a friend who fits the bill. Will recommend it to her. haha..
I like the soundtrack for brokeback mountain. time for me to visit my local dvd store to watch the winners.
ReplyDeleteAgus, will have to watch this too and see if I too fall asleep like Robin did (twice at that).
ReplyDeleteOhohoooo...reflecting on your "Do it" post, add this one;
ReplyDeleteRobin did it twice!
Agus, haha.. that's a good one. I'll put it in. Oops! Pun not intended.
ReplyDeleteOscars....zzzzzzzz.....
ReplyDeleteA bunch of people in the same industry slapping each other on the back.
Or stabbing each other in the back, depending on your point of view...
ReplyDeleteThe reason why Best Picture went to Crash instead of Brokeback Mountian is simple. The people at Hollywood, not openly but secretly, are not really that comfortable with giving their full support to a movie about gays. Yeah, sure they may claim to be open liberals. But deep inside , i guess they r by and large quite conservative ;p
ReplyDeleteHello Michael, thanks for visiting and leaving your wisdom.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they're humans afterall - probably God-fearing too.