Editorials > The Oscar Results!

The 80th Annual Academy Awards went… pretty much as they always do. Heavy on the montage, light on the entertainment, fairly predictable on the ballot. Jon Stewart hosted for his second time and was once again, as he always is on The Daily Show, honest with the audience. When a bit goes badly (the rather bland Sid Ganis tour of "how voting for the Oscars work"), he's not ashamed to laugh derisively right along with you. And when you feel bad for 19-year-old Marketa Irglova for not getting to say her half of the thank yous after winning her Oscar for "Falling Slowly," Stewart feels bad enough to break precedent and bring her back out. Stewart makes for one of the best, if most unlikely, hosts because he is perpetually anti-establishment. Unfortunately, as a whole, the show was pretty humdrum.

The montages became a bit ungainly as they provided one for nearly every single major category. And, of course, the tribute to those we've lost ended with Heath Ledger and was tastefully followed by an advertisement for anti-depressants.

The awards themselves fell pretty heavily in the laps of the Coen Brothers for No Country for Old Men. Their neo-western based on Cormac McCarthy's novel won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem). Its fellow Best Picture nominees each managed to walk away with a few consolation prizes. There Will Be Blood earned the pre-guaranteed Best Actor Oscar for Daniel Day-Lewis as well as Best Cinematography for Robert Elswitt. Meanwhile, Juno took Original Screenplay for Diablo Cody, Michael Clayton won a surprise Best Supporting Actress for Tilda Swinton, and Atonement managed to grab Best Score for Dario Marianelli.

It was also a good year at the Oscars for non-Americans. All four of the acting awards went to foreign talent, as did several of the technical and short subjects. Expect The Colbert Report to have a segment about liberal Hollywood bestowing our highest honors to immigrants tomorrow night.

Here's a complete listing of the winners.

-David Morgan