And the winner is...

I LOVE the Academy Awards. For me, they’re as big as The World Series and The Super Bowl. This year’s ceremony gave us not one, but two hosts (Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin). Their chemistry was nice but after their opening things seemed to go downhill for them. I’m surprised since Martin and Baldwin can be so damn funny. It may have something to do with Neil Patrick Harris’ opening number. How do you follow that? I’m casting my vote for NPH as host next year.

I wasn’t at all surprised by Mo’Nique’s win for Best supporting Actress. The woman dominated all other awards shows this year. I was very put off by her speech in which she said she was happy that this year it was "about the acting and not the politics." Ego much? Personally I was pulling for Vera Farmiga. I know that typically when two actor’s from the same film are nominated in the same category they cancel each other out, but I was hoping. Farmiga is one of the best actresses working today. Her turn in “Down to the Bone” should have gotten her an Oscar and her roles in “The Departed” and “Orphan” helped elevate both those films.

Christoph Waltz getting the Oscar was no surprise and was well deserved. Most. Terrifying. Performance. Ever. "Inglorious Basterds" would not have worked without him. I really hope the man doesn't get pigeon-holed as a villain. Though I would totally be on board if he were a Bond baddie.

Roger Ross Williams was Taylor Swift and Elinor Burkett played Kanye West in what was the most uncomfortable moment of the night. Sure, she was a producer and she did win, but he was in the middle of his speech and was pushed aside by Burkett. At least let the man finish. The night's other uncomfortable moment was Farrah Fawcett being excluded from the “In Memoriam” list. Yes, she is primarily known from her television work but she did do film.

Having been one of the few that I know that didn’t drink the Avatar Kool-Aid, I’m happy that the film didn’t win many awards. Was it visually stunning? Yes. But the story was predictable, lame and way too long. I think that, unfortunately, Cameron peaked with T2. Overall this year’s Oscar’s were enjoyable with many moments that will be replayed in future telecasts (Barbara Streisand). I’m already waiting for next years show.

The full list of winners:

BEST PICTURE:
The Hurt Locker

DIRECTING:
Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Mo’Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, Geoffrey Fletcher

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
The Hurt Locker, Written by Mark Boal

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
El Secreto de sus Ojos, Argentina

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Up (Disney/Pixar)

ART DIRECTION:
Avatar, Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Avatar, Mauro Fiore

COSTUME DESIGN:
The Young Victoria, Sandy Powell

FILM EDITING:
The Hurt Locker, Bob Murawski and Chris Innis

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE):
The Cove, An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens

MAKEUP:
Star Trek, Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow

ORIGINAL SCORE:
Up, Michael Giacchino

ORIGINAL SONG:
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from Crazy Heart, Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

SOUND MIXING:
The Hurt Locker, Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett

SOUND EDITING:
The Hurt Locker, Paul N.J. Ottosson

VISUAL EFFECTS:
Avatar, Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Music by Prudence, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett

ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
Logorama (Autour de Minuit), Nicolas Schmerkin

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:
The New Tenants, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson