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The Artist Awards

February 27, 2012 by · Comments Off on The Artist Awards 

The Artist Awards, “The Artist” was expected to win a number of the major Academy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles, and the French, mostly silent, mostly black-and-white film did just that. It claimed the golden statuettes for best picture, best director, best actor and even best costume design and best score.

Jean Dujardin, acclaimed in his native France but little-known in America, won the best actor honor for his role as a silent-film actor who can’t adjust to talkies. “I love your country!” he exclaimed upon reaching the stage.

“Artist” director Michel Hazanavicius claimed the best director award. His wife, Berenice Bejo, stars in the film and was nominated for best supporting actress, but lost to Octavia Spencer in “The Help.”

“I am the happiest director in the world right now. Thank you for that,” Hazanavicius said.

The early awards were handed out mostly as many had predicted, with Dujardin, Spencer and Christopher Plummer claiming acting awards.

But then came the best actress category, one many expected to go to Viola Davis for her role in “The Help.” Instead, Meryl Streep’s name was called for her role as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.”

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