2012 Oscars 84th Academy Awards
- The 84th Academy Awards announced its winners on February 24, 2012.
- The venue was the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles.
- Billy Crystal took on the hosting duties for the ninth time in his career.
- Films released during the 2011 calendar year were eligible for the awards.
- Noteworthy Moments:
- The Artist took home the Best Picture, making it the first silent feature to win the award since Wings in 1929.
- Meryl Streep won her third Oscar for The Iron Lady, her first win in 29 years.
- Christopher Plummer became the oldest actor to win an Oscar at the age of 82 for his supporting role in Beginners.
- Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help, receiving a standing ovation.
- Trivia:
- Billy Crystal’s hosting stint was last-minute; he replaced Eddie Murphy, who withdrew after Brett Ratner resigned as the ceremony’s producer.
- The Artist‘s Uggie became the first dog to be invited to leave his paw prints outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
- Sacha Baron Cohen, invited for Hugo, came dressed as his character from The Dictator and spilled “ashes” on Ryan Seacrest.
- A tribute to the James Bond franchise was notably absent, despite 2012 being its 50th anniversary.
- The awards ceremony ran for 3 hours and 14 minutes, making it one of the shorter Oscars broadcasts in recent years.
2012 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture:
The Artist – Thomas Langmann, producer (WINNER)
The Descendants – Jim Burke, Jim Taylor, and Alexander Payne, producers
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – Scott Rudin, producer
The Help – Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, and Michael Barnathan, producers
Hugo – Graham King and Martin Scorsese, producers
Midnight in Paris – Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, producers
Moneyball – Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz, and Brad Pitt, producers
The Tree of Life – Dede Gardner, Sarah Green, Grant Hill, and Bill Pohlad, producers
War Horse – Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, producers
The Artist – Thomas Langmann, producer (WINNER)
The Descendants – Jim Burke, Jim Taylor, and Alexander Payne, producers
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – Scott Rudin, producer
The Help – Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, and Michael Barnathan, producers
Hugo – Graham King and Martin Scorsese, producers
Midnight in Paris – Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, producers
Moneyball – Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz, and Brad Pitt, producers
The Tree of Life – Dede Gardner, Sarah Green, Grant Hill, and Bill Pohlad, producers
War Horse – Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, producers
Best Director:
Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist (WINNER)
Alexander Payne – The Descendants
Martin Scorsese – Hugo
Woody Allen – Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life
Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist (WINNER)
Alexander Payne – The Descendants
Martin Scorsese – Hugo
Woody Allen – Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life
Best Actor:
Jean Dujardin – The Artist as George Valentin (WINNER)
Demián Bichir – A Better Life as Carlos Galindo
George Clooney – The Descendants as Matthew “Matt” King
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as George Smiley
Brad Pitt – Moneyball as Billy Beane
Jean Dujardin – The Artist as George Valentin (WINNER)
Demián Bichir – A Better Life as Carlos Galindo
George Clooney – The Descendants as Matthew “Matt” King
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as George Smiley
Brad Pitt – Moneyball as Billy Beane
Best Actress:
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady as Margaret Thatcher (WINNER)
Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs as Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis – The Help as Aibileen Clark
Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as Lisbeth Salander
Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn as Marilyn Monroe
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady as Margaret Thatcher (WINNER)
Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs as Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis – The Help as Aibileen Clark
Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as Lisbeth Salander
Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn as Marilyn Monroe
Best Supporting Actor:
Christopher Plummer – Beginners as Hal Fields (WINNER)
Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn as Laurence Olivier
Jonah Hill – Moneyball as Peter Brand
Nick Nolte – Warrior as Paddy Conlon
Max von Sydow – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as The Renter
Christopher Plummer – Beginners as Hal Fields (WINNER)
Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn as Laurence Olivier
Jonah Hill – Moneyball as Peter Brand
Nick Nolte – Warrior as Paddy Conlon
Max von Sydow – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as The Renter
Best Supporting Actress:
Octavia Spencer – The Help as Minny Jackson (WINNER)
Bérénice Bejo – The Artist as Peppy Miller
Jessica Chastain – The Help as Celia Foote
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids as Megan Price
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs as Hubert Page
Octavia Spencer – The Help as Minny Jackson (WINNER)
Bérénice Bejo – The Artist as Peppy Miller
Jessica Chastain – The Help as Celia Foote
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids as Megan Price
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs as Hubert Page
Best Original Screenplay:
Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen (WINNER)
The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids – Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo
Margin Call – J. C. Chandor
A Separation – Asghar Farhadi
Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen (WINNER)
The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids – Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo
Margin Call – J. C. Chandor
A Separation – Asghar Farhadi
Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Descendants – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings (WINNER)
Hugo – John Logan based on the book entitled The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
The Ides of March – George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon based on the play Farragut North by Beau Willimon
Moneyball – Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin based on the book by Michael Lewis
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Bridget O’Connor (posthumous nomination) and Peter Straughan based on the novel by John le Carré
The Descendants – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings (WINNER)
Hugo – John Logan based on the book entitled The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
The Ides of March – George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon based on the play Farragut North by Beau Willimon
Moneyball – Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin based on the book by Michael Lewis
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Bridget O’Connor (posthumous nomination) and Peter Straughan based on the novel by John le Carré
Best Animated Feature Film:
Rango – Directed by Gore Verbinski (WINNER)
A Cat in Paris – Directed by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
Chico and Rita – Directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
Kung Fu Panda 2 – Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Puss in Boots – Directed by Chris Miller
Rango – Directed by Gore Verbinski (WINNER)
A Cat in Paris – Directed by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
Chico and Rita – Directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
Kung Fu Panda 2 – Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Puss in Boots – Directed by Chris Miller
Best Foreign Language Film:
A Separation (Iran) in Persian – Directed by Asghar Farhadi (WINNER)
Bullhead (Belgium) in Dutch and French – Directed by Michaël R. Roskam
Footnote (Israel) in Hebrew – Directed by Joseph Cedar
In Darkness (Poland) in Polish – Directed by Agnieszka Holland
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada) in French – Directed by Philippe Falardeau
A Separation (Iran) in Persian – Directed by Asghar Farhadi (WINNER)
Bullhead (Belgium) in Dutch and French – Directed by Michaël R. Roskam
Footnote (Israel) in Hebrew – Directed by Joseph Cedar
In Darkness (Poland) in Polish – Directed by Agnieszka Holland
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada) in French – Directed by Philippe Falardeau
Best Documentary – Feature:
Undefeated – T. J. Martin, Daniel Lindsay, and Rich Middlemas (WINNER)
Hell and Back Again – Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front – Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory – Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
Pina – Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
Undefeated – T. J. Martin, Daniel Lindsay, and Rich Middlemas (WINNER)
Hell and Back Again – Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front – Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory – Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
Pina – Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
Best Documentary – Short Subject:
Saving Face – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daniel Junge (WINNER)
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement – Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin (posthumous nomination)
God Is the Beggir Elvis – Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
Incident in New Baghdad – James Spione
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom – Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen
Saving Face – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daniel Junge (WINNER)
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement – Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin (posthumous nomination)
God Is the Beggir Elvis – Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
Incident in New Baghdad – James Spione
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom – Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen
Best Live Action Short Film:
The Shore – Terry George and Oorlagh George (WINNER)
Pentecost – Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
Raju – Max Zahle and Stefan Gieren
Time Freak – Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
Tuba Atlantic – Hallvar Witzø (nomination revoked)
The Shore – Terry George and Oorlagh George (WINNER)
Pentecost – Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
Raju – Max Zahle and Stefan Gieren
Time Freak – Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
Tuba Atlantic – Hallvar Witzø (nomination revoked)
Best Animated Short Film:
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore – William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg (WINNER)
Dimanche – Patrick Doyon
La Luna – Enrico Casarosa
A Morning Stroll – Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
Wild Life – Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore – William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg (WINNER)
Dimanche – Patrick Doyon
La Luna – Enrico Casarosa
A Morning Stroll – Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
Wild Life – Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby
Best Original Score:
The Artist – Ludovic Bource (WINNER)
The Adventures of Tintin – John Williams
Hugo – Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Alberto Iglesias
War Horse – John Williams
The Artist – Ludovic Bource (WINNER)
The Adventures of Tintin – John Williams
Hugo – Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Alberto Iglesias
War Horse – John Williams
Best Original Song:
“Man or Muppet” from The Muppets – Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie (WINNER)
“Real in Rio” from Rio – Music by Sérgio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown; Lyrics by Siedah Garrett
“Man or Muppet” from The Muppets – Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie (WINNER)
“Real in Rio” from Rio – Music by Sérgio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown; Lyrics by Siedah Garrett
Best Sound Editing:
Hugo – Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty (WINNER)
Drive – Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Ren Klyce
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
War Horse – Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
Hugo – Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty (WINNER)
Drive – Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Ren Klyce
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
War Horse – Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
Best Sound Mixing:
Hugo – Tom Fleischman and John Midgley (WINNER)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
Moneyball – Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, David Giammarco, and Ed Novick
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush, and Peter J. Devlin
War Horse – Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson, and Stuart Wilson
Hugo – Tom Fleischman and John Midgley (WINNER)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
Moneyball – Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, David Giammarco, and Ed Novick
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush, and Peter J. Devlin
War Horse – Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson, and Stuart Wilson
Best Art Direction:
Hugo – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo (WINNER)
The Artist – Art Direction: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Art Direction: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Midnight in Paris – Art Direction: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse – Art Direction: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
Hugo – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo (WINNER)
The Artist – Art Direction: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Art Direction: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Midnight in Paris – Art Direction: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse – Art Direction: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
Best Cinematography:
Hugo – Robert Richardson (WINNER)
The Artist – Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Jeff Cronenweth
The Tree of Life – Emmanuel Lubezki
War Horse – Janusz Kaminski
Hugo – Robert Richardson (WINNER)
The Artist – Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Jeff Cronenweth
The Tree of Life – Emmanuel Lubezki
War Horse – Janusz Kaminski
Best Makeup:
The Iron Lady – Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland (WINNER)
Albert Nobbs – Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnson, and Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight, and Lisa Tomblin
The Iron Lady – Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland (WINNER)
Albert Nobbs – Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnson, and Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight, and Lisa Tomblin
Best Costume Design:
The Artist – Mark Bridges (WINNER)
Anonymous – Lisy Christl
Hugo – Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre – Michael O’Connor
W.E. – Arianne Phillips
The Artist – Mark Bridges (WINNER)
Anonymous – Lisy Christl
Hugo – Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre – Michael O’Connor
W.E. – Arianne Phillips
Best Film Editing:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter (WINNER)
The Artist – Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants – Kevin Tent
Hugo – Thelma Schoonmaker
Moneyball – Christopher Tellefsen
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter (WINNER)
The Artist – Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants – Kevin Tent
Hugo – Thelma Schoonmaker
Moneyball – Christopher Tellefsen
Best Visual Effects:
Hugo – Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann, and Alex Henning (WINNER)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler, and John Richardson
Real Steel – Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor, and Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes – Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White, and Daniel Barrett
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew E. Butler, and John Frazier
Hugo – Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann, and Alex Henning (WINNER)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler, and John Richardson
Real Steel – Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor, and Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes – Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White, and Daniel Barrett
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew E. Butler, and John Frazier
Academy Honorary Award:
James Earl Jones.
Dick Smith
James Earl Jones.
Dick Smith
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey