Overall, a nice, nostalgic return to form for Oscar last night. Congratulations to The Artist, winner of five awards, including Picture, Director and Actor. Definitely a timeless piece of cinema that will inspire and enchant audiences for years to come.
No major surprises as far as awards. While I thought Viola Davis had Best Actress locked, it was nice to see Meryl Streep take home the gold again after 30 years and twelve previous nominations.
Billy Crystal returned as host after an eight-year absence and slipped right into his old duties as if he had never left. All his classic bits were on display: the opening montage where he humorously inserts himself in a bevy of nominated films, the musical medley and the always-amusing interaction with the stars. While a few jokes fell flat, it was nice to have the captain back at the wheel of the ship.
There's a lot of talk this morning that the Oscars are out of touch, that they honor movies not many people have seen. Well, as the Oscars honor quality, films that are unique and will stand the test of time, maybe the masses should start broadening their horizons. That or stick with the MTV Movie Awards.
