‘The King’s Speech’ takes Academy Awards’ big crown
The King’s Speech was the talk of Hollywood Sunday, winning Oscars for best picture, actor and other key categories at the 83rd Academy Awards.
“I have a feeling that my career’s just peaked,” quipped Colin Firth, the 50-year-old journeyman who starred in the inspirational story of British monarch King George VI, who overcame a severe stuttering affliction in pre-World War II Britain.
Tom Hooper, who won for best director, thanked his mother for suggesting the film, while David Seidler, whose stammering as a child served as his inspiration, won for best screenplay.
“My father always said to me I would be a late bloomer,” said Seidler, 73. “I accept on behalf of all the stutterers throughout the world. We have a voice. We have been heard.”
Natalie Portman won best actress for her portrayal of a tormented ballerina in Black Swan.
“So many people helped me prepare for this role … thank you so much,” said Portman, 29, who has been acting since she was 11.
It wasn’t a clean sweep for Speech, nominated in 12 categories. The Fighter, a gritty boxing movie about working-class fighters, earned best supporting actor and actress prizes for Christian Bale and Melissa Leo.
“I’m not going to drop the F-bomb like (Leo) did, I’ve done that plenty of times before,” said Bale, an actor known for his intensity and occasional on-set tirades.
Leo, who co-starred as the working-class mom of fighters played by Bale and Mark Wahlberg, had the evening’s first major acting award.
“Oh wow, really truly, wow,” said Leo, who had picked up a slew of honors already during awards season. “I’m just shaking in my boots here.” She also managed to utter the F-word ó dropped out in the broadcast ó in her unbridled enthusiasm at winning.
The Social Network had competed against Speech for top honors in most Oscar categories, but picked up just three. Aaron Sorkin won for best adapted screenplay, based on The Accidental Billionaires, Ben Mezrich’s book about Facebook. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won the film’s second prize, for best score. It received a third award for film editing.
Inside Job, Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs’ examination of the 2008 global financial crisis, won for best documentary.
Box office blockbuster Toy Story 3 won for best animated feature film and best original song for Randy Newman’s We Belong Together. It was Newman’s second win in 20 Oscar nominations.
Alice in Wonderland picked up Oscars for best art direction and costume design.
Inception won four awards: best cinematography, sound editing, sound mixing and visual effects.
Categories