Preview of the 2012 Academy Awards | The Milton Measure

by The Milton Measure on Friday, February 24th, 2012

The annual presentation of the Academy Awards is one of the most widely viewed awards ceremonies in the world, as well as the oldest ceremony recognizing excellence in media. The 2012 Academy Awards, which will be televised in more than 100 countries around the globe, will be held on February 26th. The tight competition, hosted by Oscars veteran Billy Crystal,? promises a fun-filled night for all fans of film, fashion, and pop culture.

Oscar winners are determined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a national organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating the art of film in America. Members of the society are organized into different branches, each of which focuses on a specific area of film production, awarding the film which best displays excellence in that area. Categories to be awarded include Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Other awards celebrate acting, such as the awards for Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role.

This year?s Academy Awards Ceremony will kick off with ABC?s ?Good Morning America,? broadcasting live reports outside of the Kodak Theater. Following the news report, ABC?s Rachel Smith and Chris Balish will host ?On the Red Carpet,? a behind-the-scenes preview of the nights events, followed by ?On the Red Carpet at the Oscars,? in which Smith and Balish, live, welcome nominees into the theater. Only after the pre-show buzz has subsided will the 84th Academy Awards officially commence.

As in previous years, the host of the Awards will make or break the show. This year?s Oscars will be hosted by actor, screenwriter, and television host Billy Crystal, who has hosted the Academy Awards eight times in addition to starring in movies such as Saturday Night Fever and Monsters Inc. Crystal has also hosted Saturday Night Live, and written, directed, and starred in the movies Mr. Saturday Night and Forget Paris. Due to Crystal?s history as an excellent performer and entertainer, critics have high expectations for the 2012 Awards Ceremony.

Of the many awards to be presented, the award for Best Picture consistently attracts the most attention. This year?s best picture nominees are The Artist, The Descendents, The Help, Moneyball, Midnight in Paris, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, War Horse, Hugo, and The Tree of Life. While a number of excellent movies have entered theaters this year, these nine films distinguish themselves by addressing modern day issues in a relatable manner.

While all awards nominees are worthy of recognition, each category may celebrate only one winner, and critics have set their sights on The Help to take the prize for Best Picture. Based on a novel, The Help addresses the racial boundaries between blacks and whites in the American South during the Civil Rights Era. The Help?s Viola Davis, who plays Aibileen, a black nanny, is a favorite for Best Actress, and Octavia Spencer, also cast in The Help, is favored to win the award Best Supporting Actress. Critics expect Best Actor to go to Jean Dujardin, star of The Artist, a black-and-white silent tribute to pre-code Hollywood. Michael Hazanavicious, who directed The Artist, is also in the running for Best Director.

Film is one of the most celebrated art forms in America, and 2012 has proved an excellent year for film. I encourage all moviegoers to watch Hollywood?s most anticipated ceremony.

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