I almost never guess Academy Award winners correctly, but this year, one prediction was actually correct — Argo won the Oscar for Best Picture. During the group acceptance speech, producer George Clooney actually looked pretty good (for him) up there on the stage. I know Kaiser really wanted me on the red carpet with a beehive as George’s (ahem) escort, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Sigh. That bitch, Stacy Keibler, still has her claws firmly intact. Sorry, George. Maybe next time.
As director of Argo, Ben Affleck seemed truly humbled that his baby won this huge award. During his speech, he appeared red-faced, flustered, and incredulous that he was back up there on that stage, and he included Jennifer Garner in his thank yous by adding, “I want to think my wife, who I normally don’t associate with Iran.” While a lot of people were surprised that Ben didn’t get a Best Director nomination, I don’t see that as a snub at all. Hey, it’s going to take a long time for the world to forget about Gigli altogether. In the meantime, Best Picture is absolutely nothing to sniff at.
In the Best Director category, Ang Lee won for his work on Life of Pi in a category that many thought would go to Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. Lee took great pains to thank his cast and his wife of thirty years, and he even enthusiastically exclaimed, “Thank you, movie god!” I’m glad that Lee won this year since he was practically robbed by not winning for Brokeback Mountain. I haven’t seen Life of Pi yet, but it’s one gorgeous looking film.
Photos courtesy of WENN
LOVE Ang Lee!! Hoping Oscar backlash hits Ben even harder than Anne Hathaway.
Forgot to add that Lee previously won Best Director for Brokeback Mountain. Although Brokeback didn’t win Best Picture, Lee technically didn’t lose because he wasn’t a producer. Crash winning was a major Oscar travesty, and I think the Argo win is a minor travesty – lincoln, zero dark thirty, beasts, pi, even silver linings playbook were more deserving.
I was underwhelmed by Zero Dark Thirty. I saw Argo a few weeks ago and was gripped from beginning to end. I was a fan of Hurt Locker, my brother was in Afghanistan during the bin laden stuff so I was really looking forward to that movie. Saw it an hour before the Oscars and I don’ think it was better than Argo. I don’t think SLP was better either. Lincoln might have been though.
Disagree; I think he wholeheartedly deserves the recognition. He works hard, treats crew and cast well. And the story was gripping! Not a fan of the Osama movie. Opinions, opinions 😉
And NO one was more overexposed than Anne. I actually look forward to Ben’s next film. Can’t say the same about Anne!
I agree Lyn. I loved the Life of Pi! It was the best movie of last year and Argo? Meh!
“Argo” was one of the best films I have ever seen. And “Life of Pi” one of the most beautiful. I have no desire to see “Oscar backlash” hit Ben Affleck. I think he is a talented man and can make incredible films.
I agree with you so much! Argo wasn’t just one of the best movies of 2012, but in a long time. That movie was really great.
I agree with the Academy choosing Argo for the win.
When people think of a movie winning Best Picture they have to remember that it isn’t representative of the most enjoyable film nor the one that affected them the most. It is a more technical award for the film that has the best delivery of the major movie elements.
It’s a combination of: plot/screenplay, sound mixing, score, editing, casting & acting, set design, costume, hair/ makeup, etc…
I’m not an Affleck fan but I thought his speech was super sweet, cute and funny. I actually laughed out loud at the wife/Iran bit.
As much as I did enjoy his speech, Argo over Lincoln? Affleck over Spielberg?
Can we just que up the Unicorn Apocalypse now and be done with it?
I’ll second that.
I’m with you. I enjoyed Argo, but Lincoln would’ve had my vote.
I loved his speech! He looked SO flustered! He charmingly lost it!
Though I’m guessing he regrets the comments about Garner. We were like “SHUT UP BEN” when he said that stuff about his marriage.
But the guy was so nervous.
Yes! I was like, why are you talking like that? It sounds like they’ve had a tough marriage and Garner is the one who really made it work from his speech. He makes it too obvious in all his interviews and speech.
Also, a while back this year, there were some rumours that he had a fling with some Hollywood bimbo (forgot her name) and one of the Celebitchy commenters’ friends saw it in person. I really believed it after reading it here and elsewhere.
Congrats to Ang Lee!!!!
And though Life of Pi didn’t win the Best Picture, I think this beautiful film is worthy of the award!
Ben Affleck had one of the most inspirational, spoken from the heart speeches i’ve ever heard. Everything from the fact that you cant hold grudges and that you will get knocked down but it’s how you get up to working as hard as you possibly can from your work to your marriage. And i loved seeing that he was crying at the end and couldn’t even finish what he was saying so he turned around away from the microphone. Real tears.
Aw, your description of it is making me tear up again. I have to say I am so impressed with the man Ben has become, but hitting the deep valley personally and professionally has helped him appreciate his career and marriage in a way not possible if it had all happened earlier.
Agreed. Only a couple of the acceptance speeches had me in floods, and his was definitely one of them!
Congrats to him!
I cried at his speech too! It really was awesome, both funny and moving. Love him, loved the movie. Very well deserved!
So we don’t talk about that Ben thanked his wife and said their marriage is hard work?
Oh and a big YAY for Ang Lee. He was indeed robbed and his Oscar went to freaking Crash. Yeah, haven’t seen that one either.
He thanked her for working on their marriage, said that there is nobody else he’d rather work with and that its the best kind of work. It may have come off wrong to some people but i really like that he said that and i don’t think he meant it in a negative way at all. Most people seem to understand what he meant based on twitter and are loving the fact that he said it. It’s true, marriage IS hard work. That is a memo that most Hollywood couples haven’t gotten and they divorce when things get rough. I’m glad that he doesn’t try and act like they’re perfect but at the same time you can tell he does love her and he was so flustered and speaking so fast that i don’t think he necessarily got to say what he wanted.
I think their marriage has been hard work for Jennifer, not Ben. He just seems to do whatever, whomever(hello, blake)whenever he wants and she is left to pick up the pieces.
I laughed out loud when Ben said the thing about how marriage is hard work. He’s absolutely right, but it was funny that he blurted it out like that.
Came here to say that. Well put!
Marriage is not necessarily hard work – I’ve been married for 34 years and not a day of it was “hard work.”
I guess I’m really fortunate, but I’ve been with my husband for 20 years, married for 16-and neither of us would ever describe it as “hard work.”
I’ve often heard people who’ve been married a long time say marriage is hard work, but it’s worth it. Same with raising kids. It’s hard but very rewarding.
But no, Ben’s honesty has to be used as yet another opportunity to indulge in a viscious internet whispering campaign that has no basis in fact.
He’s has had well-documented gambling and drinking problems in the past. His career has had big ups and downs. He’s worked very hard to turn it around in a high stakes business where the spotlight is always on. He also has a ten year relationship with his wife and three young kids. I bet it is hard work, with probably a lot of it falling on her since the kids are so young and he’s the main bread winner, but clearly it is worth it / has paid off.
I dont buy the Ben being humble bullshizz. This is the same guy who has been exploiting his own children as part of the Oscar campaign. The only part I liked about Argo winning was when Grant Heslov pushed Ben out of the way.
Mary. I am glad I am not the only one. I find no sincerity when it comes to Affleck. He is just a better actor than I have always given him credit for.
he’ll be even more insufferable than he was after goodwill hunting. that only took how many years for his ego to deflate?
he’s awful.
Hmmm sounds like media bias has influenced you; a father should be able to hang out with his kids whenever he pleases. I would not call this exploitation, at all. Seriously, people need to look up the definition to that word.
People don’t realise how gossip can distort their reality sometimes. Look, I have no problem believing some of those outings with the kids are photo ops. But there is also real interest in him and his family, as evidenced by all the gossip and rumour mongering based on the flimsiest of evidence. There is a lucrative industry built around gossip and paparazzi pictures. Pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away. I wouldn’t call how they handle it ‘exploitation’ as much as they are managing the situation in a way that works for them.
I’m glad he won. Argo was a great movie, I loved it.
But Canadian media is going to be pissed. They’ve been going on for…3 days about how the Canadian role was downplayed in favor of showing Americans as the dominate heroes.
Alllll day, they’ve been reporting about Argo probably winning on CBC. And all they wanted to know was whether Ben would address the inaccuracy and clarify that Canadians were the real masterminds. His quick shout out is not going to be enough, can’t wait to see the outrage tomorrow.
The Canadians have a legit argument, but honestly I was not familiar with the story at all and the movie made me want to learn more. Argo is a work of fiction, but a good one. I still would have given Best Picture to Lincoln, however.
I cried during Ben’s speech tonight. I just watched it again, and cried again. Anyone who tries to say that his speech wasn’t genuine or from the heart clearly needs to rewatch his speech. And for those who have a problem with what he said to his wife, nothing wrong at all about it. I watched it again and it was straight from the heart and really beautiful. Maybe not what YOU would have said or what you think he should have said, but it was truly from the heart. He also said something to her that i couldn’t quite make out what it was but she smiled right away and it sounded like something between the two of them. I loved his speech. By far one of my favorite Oscar speeches of all time.
It was sweet. He was rambling. He has been directing movies, acting in them at the same time, and writing the script on some, plus acting. This has been a real upswing for him these past five years that he had to grab and having so many babies at the same time meant the tug and pull of work and family and she is his support system. A ten-year relationship with a heavy workload off on location, having three children, Jen trying to squeeze in a few small films does take work and communication. He turned down being the director for Homeland on HBO, which he wanted to do, because Jen didn’t want him to do it, bad for the family at that time.
This is a hard business, and directing is even more consuming, especially if acting in it. Jen said marriage is hard work, but she learned to have the hard conversations, which she never would do in her other relationships.
It sounds to me like they are a team and he appreciates her. She is a big part of why he still has a stable and happy homelife and yet can be focused on his career, building it back up. He gave a beautiful speech about her in one of the other award shows where he got choked up about her.
+1! Well said.
I am thrilled that Ang Lee won.
And Argo!
I liked Argo a lot but Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty were far superior IMO. (Haven’t seen the other movies) Maybe the Academy was trying to make amends for the Best Director snub??
It’s not just the Academy. He won for the best director and/or best movie at the Golden Globes, Critic’s Choice awards, BAFTA, Director’s Guild of America Awards, and others I might be missing. He came in with Argo being votest best movie or he best director by every award show.
I’ve watched Argo and I thought it was beautiful (visually too), but this win felt a bit anticlimactic for me. Does anyone else feel the same?
I loved Ben’s speech…but I was dying when Grant Heslov was taking forever to talk…by the time Ben (who’s the one I actually wanted to hear from) got to talk, he had to talk really fast.
By the way, random trivia: For you License to Drive fans, didja realize that Grant Heslov played Corey Haim’s twin sister’s Commie boyfriend? “Who cares what your Commie Boyfriend thinks?!” Lol!
Am I the only one who thought it was ridiculously out of place for Michelle Obama to read off the winner? I’m sorry, but all the talk show appearances the Obama’s do don’t make them more relatable to me…it makes them undignified. And I LIKE the Obamas. The FLOTUS has nothing to do with making movies in Hollywood. They’re like the TMZ of presidential families.
If anything, let Jimmy Carter present it, since Argo won and the hostage crisis happened during his presidency. I just have to think that Michelle Obama should have better things to do than this. Hillary or Nancy Reagan would never be caught dead doing something like this. Ugh.
I think this year and the movies is why she did because of the unprecedented amount of patriotic movies nominated for best movie like Argo, Lincoln, and Zero Dark Thirty.
Ditto. I like Michelle Obama, but her giving an Academy Award is a complete WTF moment. As a federal worker who has to reassure my employees daily (since they’re so upset about the upcoming possible loss of 20% of their income due to furloughs), I think the White House should be striving to show an attitude of seriousness. Associating with the Oscars does not accomplish that goal. And yes, I know the first lady has nothing to do with furloughs and public policy, but still, it’s an image-thing. Totally tone-deaf of the White House, IMO.
My husband was pissed that Michelle had a part in the oscars. He feels like the obamas should be doing more important things. At least it wasnt the president.
She had no business doing this. Nothing is off limits to them.
I loved Ben’s speech. It seemed genuine to me, I’m happy for him. Ang Lee is amazing, I’m glad he won, too 🙂
+1
Did anyone else pick on the fact that he said that him and Jen have spend the past 10 Christmas’ together during his speech? And she smiled at him and knew exactly what he went. Is that basically his way of saying they’ve been together for 10 years? Like did he say 10 Christmas’ and not 10 years because the earliest they were rumored to be together was March 2004 so he couldn’t say 10 years? I know there have been tons of rumors about them having an affair before they came out as dating, and this kind of seals it for me. The affair rumors go all the way back to when they were filming Daredevil in 2002. (Some of the articles still exist online).
OR is this confirmation that the Bennifer romance was fake? A lot of people thought it was and they were only together for the media attention, especially because JLo got married so quickly after. I remember a lot of people thought that JLo/Marc Anthony and Ben/Jen Garner were dating the whole time and the Bennifer thing was only a front for the media. But i have no idea where Scott Foley and Michael Vartan tie into that theory.
I do know an article from 2003 is still online and it says that JLo found emails to Jennifer Garner in there and that it was part of the reason their wedding was called off. And in an interview in 2010, Jen Garner said that Ben used to email her lovey emails before they were together…which totally matched that article.
Sorry, this is really bugging me. He couldn’t have gotten the amount of years wrong either because she smiled at him when he said 10 Christmas’!!!! Does anyone else have thoughts on this???
Ten Decembers would take it back to December of 2003. It seemed significant to him, like that is when they began falling in love, around Christmastime.
I just caught the 10 years or something, but I do think Ben is unfaithful and Garner puts up with it. He was messing with JLo when she was married to Chris.
Will no one comment on Joaquin Phoenix’ attitude about his own nomination?!
The way he acted in the audience, maybe he and Kristen Stewart should hook up. LOL
Lol was he eating or something, when they said his name? I’m sorry, but even though Sean Penn and Joaquin have both talked shit about the Oscars, I like Joaquin a lot more. Joaquin was amazing as Johnny Cash, and he was amazing in The Master. The auditing scene was incredible acting. And, he will always tug at my heart because of his brother River dying. There’s just something about Joaquin…I think he draws on a lot of personal pain to use in his acting.
Also, young Joaquin (back when he was calling himself Leaf Phoenix) in Parenthood (he played Dianne Weist’s son) was just SO good.
I’m totally with you on that one. It was really gross. One thing to be there sort of reluctantly, but to make a big production out of what an ARTIST you are, and how nobody gets it and uuuugh, he’s there for ART and not prize and he hates them all…
Dude, get over yourself and learn something from DDL! It’s possible to be a serious actor and not make everyone regret you ever showed up.
Well, he didn’t “want” it, the academy obliged him. It’s kinda funny, actually. When will actors learn that their job is to “act pretty and keep their mouths shut”? No one really cares about their opinion.
Pfffft, are you serious? Since when is “acting like a petulant child” considered an “opinion”? If this was such an inconvenience to him, he didn’t need to show up at all.
[Or am I reading too much into it and wrongly accusing you of sarcasm?]
He wouldn’t even look at the cameras! And he had a snarly expression when they first focused on him! RUDE.
(Of course, that could have been because he claimed the Oscars’ were BS, until he got nominated for one. He should have just stayed home.)
Yeah Ben Affleck!!! Congrats!
It’s such a shame that Argo won. Cause it’s really unsincere piece of crap
I agree. I can only laugh. The idea that Argo is a better film than Lincoln. HA!!! On what planet????! Stupid Oscars. Ever since Gwyneth Paltrow won hers a few years ago I began to see them for what they really are. I.e., not something to be taken seriously at all.
I admire the narrative of a comeback, and cliche as it is – it’s a very courageous thing to do, so my applause to Ben. And I kept thinking about another cliche – that behind every successful man is a woman, so Jen deserves her share of appreciation. Nice.
Life of Pi is a gorgeous movie but the ending is so anti-climatic. I mean I get it that it reflects mundane real life but it was just so meh…
I am glad Ang Lee won. However, AMOUR was the best film in that nominated list.
Thank you for saying it. For me, Amour and Life of PI (despite CGI effects) were really good movies followed by zero dark thirty, the impossible and Django. Then, Lincoln and finally Argo. I did enjoy Argo a lot and I think Ben is a great director, but best feature? Anyway, congrats to him!
Despite all the awards, I don’t ever want to see “Life of Pi.” Some tiger in a boat movie? Je ne comprends pas.
It’s an amazing movie and so, so beautiful to watch. The ending of the movie was just sublime in every way. Fantastic. A movie that captures your imagination and leaves a lasting impression. It’s one of those movies that stays with you and leads to deep thoughts.
Bravo, Ang!
Pi had some charm & great cgi but there was a major disconnect in continuity for me because there’s no way that 16 year old Pi could have evolved to look like middle-aged adult Pi. The facial structure was so vastly wrong that it was a major distraction. Also, the Western visitor was used as a very shallow & transparent device to allow adult Pi to tell his story & served no other purpose. I was very disappointed.
I think Lee got the award this year as make up for not getting it for “Brokeback Mountain”. “Crash” was a lousy movie with such a huge ensemble cast that the actors could vote for themselves & win by the sheer numbers of actors, their friends, etc. Is it a movie anyone ever wants to see again? Once was bad enough.
I’ve only watched the trailer but know the plot of the book, aren’t there supposed to be several animals in that boat with Pi? They only always show a tiger though.
Seeing the clips from the Oscars made me want to see the movie. It looks gorgeous!
Pi is a beautiful movie. Lincoln is bla except for DDL. Zero…was bla. Pi next to Silver Linings Playbook?? I’m so thru.
Having said all that, Ben’s speech was touching. I’m still not a fan but it was touching. Good luck to him.
Me too. And the tiger isn’t even real.
Everyone tells me it’s a fantastic movie.
It’s a beautiful film. I was not even keen to watch it but my husband wanted to and I was glad I watched it. It is the only time I have watched anything wih CGI and thought, yeah this looks amazing.
Mine was the opposite. I dragged my husband and kids along. None of them wanted to see it, but I refused to see another film. They came out saying it was one of the best movies they had ever seen. And the most beautiful
I thought the same thing, until I saw you. You really should watch it, it’s truly stunning, the most visually beautiful movie I can remember seeing. And the story is moving as well.
So glad Argo won! That movie is one o the best movies I’ve seen in a long time.
Life of Pi is more about a boy stuck on a boat with a tiger; everyone should give all these nominated movies at least a watch before saying anything about them. I saw Life of Pi and indeed, one of the most beautiful movies ever, it also makes you think, feel and wonder about life. The main actor deserved much more recognition than he got too.
Did anyone see the JGL and Sally Field adorableness?
Glad Ang Lee won.Also congratulations Jennifer Garner(& kids).
on a sad note, R+H, the company that makes most of the VFX and animation for Life of Pi has declared bankruptcy. 🙁
the timing is really bad. they are too late to capitalize on the oscar’s win.
Congrats Ang Lee. We forgive you for “Hulk”, Life of Pi is truly beautiful.
Team Affleck all the way!
Total pity win for affleck! he milked the getting left out of best director for all it was worth it and it worked! while argo is a great film it does not deserve the award!
Thank you for saying that! As I said above, the idea that Argo is a better film than Lincoln is insane, absurd, laughable, and just plain impossible!!
Exactly! Every award ceremony he went to he had to mention he was not nominated for an Oscar. Then when Argo won everything he still kept going on and on saying they were the underdogs. Made me wanna puke
I would say the best thing that happened to Argo and Ben Affleck was Affleck NOT getting nominated for best director. The outrage over it gave the movie (and him) so much more press than anyone could have concocted. That being said, no one worked harder campaigning than Ben and his family, Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawerence. It paid off for all of them.
I was surprised at how absent Spielberg was in campaigning for Lincoln. And I completely forgot that Denzel Washington was even nominated. Was he even at the Oscars?
I do look forward to see what Ben directs next, I think he is a MUCH better director then actor. I do wish Anne Hathaway would take a very LONG break.
I’ve yet to see Argo, but I’m happy for Ben. I think he makes very good films, and it’s nice to see someone turn their career around and do good work.
Very happy for Ang and the other Life of Pi awards. That movie was just gorgeous, and heartbreaking and moving. Excellent job.
I am happy for Ben! Argo kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. And I liked the way he said 15 years ago he didn’t get what he just won. Today he does. I think it was a great speech and yes for many (not all) marriage is hard work. I also loved the “don’t hold grudges” and “it’s not that you get knocked down but how you get back up”. Great speech in my opinion.
10 Xmas’s?
i just saw life of pi and i absolutely luved it. omg that movie is so beautiful and it made me cry. everyone should go see it. that directors oscar is well deserved.
Argo was just a moderate decent movie. I’m baffled at how people are praising it. Oscar contender for best movie? No way! There was nothing that stood out about the movie. The directing was okay and there were no stand out performances. The script is the only interesting piece to the movie. As usual, the Oscar’s get it wrong. Ugh
I was touched by Ben’s speech at the end about how it’s not how you fall, but how you get up. Yes, I know someone else has said it before, but I feel for him. People can be so cruel and forget you when the going gets tough. I’m glad he was able to pull through and make it to the top again. So many in Hollywood don’t and end up dead young or forgotten.
Life of Pi is one of the most beautiful movie I’ve ever watched. The story, the narration, and the actors are perfect. I have watched it 3 times and will watch it again. It wasn’t just about a boy and a tiger in a boat. It was about a man’s journey through life to find God. Ang Lee is the most deserving to win the oscar.
Yes, it is beautiful indeed and the acting…I know Irrfan Khan from HBO’s In Treatment and Slumdog. He’s effortless!! It’s a shame that this movie has to be associated with so many mediocre movies. It’s a crime. I saw almost all of the movies and this one sticks with me.
+1
everytime you watch it, you find something new and deep.I just love it.
Congrats to both, those were two of the greatest movies.
Sorry may be in the minority here but Ben’s speech made me laugh. The whole being knocked down and how you get back up? Really Ben. You are the one who made the crappy choices in movies, you are the one who was in relationship with JLO. If anything you are the architect of your misery. He should own up to his mistakes and not make it seem like he is the victim.
I just watched Argo the other night. It didn’t blow me away. Granted,I am a 20 year old college student so I am not its target audience, but still. It was decent, and entertaining. Got better towards the end. The trailer blew me away and I was really excited to see it but I found it kind of slow. I wish Life of Pi or Zero Dark Thirty had won.
Yay for Life of Pi and Ang Lee ! Argo is overated.
I saw life of Pi this weekend 2 times..and cant wait to have the dvd at home ,its magical,im glad Lee won on this one.
I thought the way Ben Affleck thanked his wife was so awkward. He thanked her for “working on their marriage” because “marriage is work.” The rest of the speech was fine and heartfelt but he didn’t seem to know what to do with Jennifer! Er, trouble in paradise?
For those of you who “don’t get” Life of Pi, I highly suggest you read the book. I read the book years ago and that really helped me when I saw the movie. I never thought the movie could be adapted to the screen because the story is very complicated and so unusual–there’s a lot to of work to make it watchable on screen. Ang Lee did a fantastic job and the Oscar was well deserved. The movie is very faithful to the book. The way the movie ends is the way the book ends, and the main character IS telling the story to another writer when the book starts.
The book really makes you think about your own humanity and what you would do if you had to survive in such extreme circumstances (shipwrecked at sea by yourself). Maybe that was lost on some viewers?