The Agency's Posts

Online dating secrets, as revealed by math majors: Ladies, it's OK to show a little cleavage. Guys, flexing muscles may not hurt, if you're still....
Read More>

Movie review: 'Hugo': A slapstick element mars Martin Scorsese's 3-D adaptation of Brian Selznick's children's novel 'Th
Read More>

Readers to NBC: Quit Killing Our Shows: After writing a piece in defense of “Prime Suspect,” which NBC recently pulled....
Read More>

Album review: Adele's 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall': The release date for Adele’s “Live at the Royal Albert Hall” CD (which also....
Read More>

Christian Bale: 'Dark Knight Rises' is the end of his Batman era: Christian Bale may be retiring his Batmobile: The actor says he's done with "that Batman....
Read More>

'The Artist,' 'Marilyn' have old-school charm at box office: Old Hollywood was back in fashion this weekend as "The Artist" and "My Week....
Read More>

Seven Little Known Tips for Getting in Shape: For an unathletic, self-professed geek, I’ve made a fair amount of improvements in my....
Read More>

Retailers See a Split in Behavior of Shoppers: AtWal-Mart, shoppers cut back on staples like milk and meat that had price increases of a few....
Read More>

'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' takes on Facebook with National Unfriend Day: Jimmy Kimmel uses his show to urge people to 'whittle' their Facebook friends lists by promoting....
Read More>

Word of Mouth: Three films vie for family audience: The Muppets,' 'Hugo' and 'Arthur Christmas' are coming out next week, so studios are targeting....
Read More>

The Rolling Stones' ageless rock: The band celebrates 50 years together next year. Next week, the group rereleases 'Some Girls'....
Read More>
'Artist' win is a tribute to Harvey Weinstein's tenacity, vision
Posted on: 02/27/12
Share/Save/Bookmark
 

"The Artist"has won the Oscar for best picture and I'm speechless.

It's not lack of passion for the film that has robbed me of the power of words; it's that I felt so strongly that my thoughts were geared to how I would react should the worst happen, but like the flabbergasted editors from "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," victory was something I didn't expect.

I knew, of course, that "The Artist" was considered the favorite, but I wasn't so sure. As someone who first heard about this project while it was quietly filming on the streets and back lots of Hollywood, I was intensely aware of how enormous a leap it would be for what is basically a French silent picture that didn't even think it would get American distribution to walk off with what the ABC telecast called "the most coveted award in motion pictures."

The favorites in previous years, from"The King's Speech"to the seemingly outside-the-box"Slumdog Millionaire,"were less of a longshot than the film that turned out to be the first silent winner since 1929. I feared that the members would be irked at having their choice taken for granted and vote for something else in a kind of institutional protest. Believe me, things like that can happen.

It won, I believe, because the final reaction of the academy members was identical to the initial reaction of viewers at Cannes, and to viewers everywhere the film has played. This is a film that people are both suspicious of going into and delighted with once they experience it.

While "The Artist" was cleaning up at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, the Weinstein Co. team, from the leader on down, looked more concerned than celebratory. They sensed this race was tighter than the pundits were saying.

The way the awards were structured Sunday night didn't exactly calm anyone down."Hugo,"which along with"War Horse"was the closest this year had to a traditional Oscar-type film, came out of the box like gangbusters, winning the first two awards announced, including one, cinematography, that was widely expected to go to "The Tree of Life's" Emmanuel Lubezki.

Things got worse before they got better. "Hugo" picked up two sound awards and at the midpoint of the program was leading "The Artist" four Oscars to one, though that one, for costumes, was a head-to-head victory over Martin Scorsese's film.

But like that celebrated come-from-behind racehorse, the great Seabiscuit, "The Artist" finished impressively strong, taking all three of the top-tier awards it was nominated for, including lead actor for Jean Dujardin, best director for Michel Hazanavicius and, of course, best picture.

To borrow a line from Sally Field's celebrated acceptance speech for"Norma Rae," the voters liked it, they really liked it, it's just that simple, and no amount of sophistry or carping about how the film wasn't this or wasn't that kept them from their appointed voting rounds.

The film also had the support of Harvey Weinstein, and that is no small thing. When Tom Cruise announced the final award, the TV cameras showed Weinstein with a look of unmistakable satisfaction on his face, giving a high five to producer Thomas Langmann, the man who had first agreed to put money into this highly unlikely production.

For whatever else is said about the man — and there probably isn't anything that hasn't been said about him, both good and bad — Weinstein is someone who is passionate about film. Only someone who felt that way would embrace "The Artist" and see the potential for this kind of acclaim for it, let alone do the kind of heavy lifting that made success possible.

 
COMMENTS
Be the first to post a comment!


Post A Comment:




  • It's 2020! Start booking roles in commercials, fashion, films, theater and more with The Agency Online!

  • NEW WORKSHOP with Barbara Barna & Sean De Simone!

    Hi Everyone and Happy Summer! Sean at Sean De Simone casting and Barbara Barna are teaming up for a super informative and fun Hosting for Home Shopping workshop. A great opportunity for established or experienced TV Hosts and Experts interested in learning how to get noticed and how to get in....
  • MASTERCLASS W. Robin Carus & David John Madore

    A Special Offer for the Agency Community, from one of our favorite NYC Casting Directors! EMAIL FacetheMusicWithUs@gmail.com Or Eventbrite To Sign Up! Class Size is Limited.
  • Don't Fall Into The Comparison Trap

    Hi Everyone! As the second installment in an ongoing series of features by the Agency's amazing community, here's some sage advice from our own Regina Rockensies; a humble (& awesome)veteran we've had the pleasure of working with for a long time. Have an excellent week! : ) - The Agency....
  • One Model's Agreement

    Hi Everyone! As the first piece in an ongoing series of original articles by the Agency community, here's a short reflection on some of the values of professional acting & modeling that we can all keep in mind for our next casting. Good luck on your castings &shoots this week! : ) -....




 
home       castings&news       privacy policy       terms and conditions      contact us      browser tips
Official PayPal Seal