By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Here we go again! Tinsel-town is blowing its horn again, and super-stars are all aglow again, sprinkled with Oscar gold. Our thirst for merriment, during such hard times, carries us on a magic carpet escapade to the make-believe world of Oscar. Hollywood's glamourati and gliterrati came out en masse, in a sea of dazzling flesh, beating in majestic style, swelling under liberally cut corsages. They came to gaze and gape at each other and to honour the most anticipated, most coveted, most treasured award in filmdom. The fashion at the 84th ceremonial party of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, (AMPAS), was a delicious serving of good taste and refinement. There was no daring Lopez, shocking Cher or crazy Bjorn; only patrician luxury and pretty little conceits. Angelina Jolie led the pack in her simple black Versace, split up to there, revealing a much-ogled bare leg. She wore almost no accessories, except for her god-given beauty, her bright red lips and her effortless sense of elegance. Gwyneth Paltrow was a close second in her Tom Ford regal, white, sleek costume and long cape, looking like Hollywood royalty. Both stars are also previous Oscar winners. The road to Oscar-ville is often strange and unpredictable. It can be short or long, straight or twisted, surprising or anticipated, deserved or undeserved. Nevertheless, it remains the gold standard in the film world. The big annual bash on Oscar night is as lustrous as the gold of the statuette. Although the Academy choices are not necessarily definitive indications of excellence, it does not diminish its status. More often than not the Academy has chosen to reward mediocrity over supremacy. One has to consider the members and their inclinations, as they swing and sway from season to season. The penchant of late has been to reward smaller dramas and snub the mega- productions and box-office blockbusters. A small period piece like "The King's Speech",(2011), and an even smaller Anglo-Indian melodrama, with a totally unknown Indian cast, "Slumdog Millionaire",(2009}, beat all the "Harry Potters", "Ironmen" and "Spidermen". This year was no exception. Again, a small French silent film, black- and-white to boot, won 5 out of 10 nominations, including 3 major categories of Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Dubbed as a love song to Hollywood's silent era, "The Artist" is the first French film to win such an honour, and actor Jean DuJardin the first French actor to take home Oscar gold. Director Michel Hazanavicius, beat directors Woody Allen, Alexander Payne, Terence Malick and Martin Scorsese to win Oscar's highest honour. Awards for Best Costumes and Best Musical Score round up "The Artist'S'' five statuettes. None of the 9 Best Picture nominees was among the top 10 releases at the box- office. "The Help", another small drama about black maids working for white families in the South, was the only film that had grossed $169 million before the nominations. Octavia Spencer won for Best Supporting Actress, thus sweeping all the year's awards. Her acceptance speech left everyone in tears. "The Artist" only grossed $12 million, but tomorrow will be another day Another light-hearted moment was 82 year-old Christopher Plummer's first win for Best Supporting Actor in "The Beginners", making him the oldest actor in Oscar history to win an award. He bent down to his trophy and queried:" Where have you been all my life?" Oscar is only 2 years older than the veteran actor who has to date appeared in 100 films. We wish him many more. Meryl Streep's 17th nomination ended with her 3rd win for her portrayal of Britain's former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, aka "The Iron Lady". She had previously won Best Supporting Actress for "Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979), and Best Actress trophy for "Sophie's Choice" (1982). Meryl Streep's skill is as unprecedented as her 17 nominations. Far from being an exciting speaker she seemed to read our thoughts, or even our lips when she said that most of us are complaining, "oh no, not her again"! She was right. Comedian Billy Crystal was a welcome host after an 8- year hiatus. He brought his usual scintillating brilliance and verve, and his notes rang clear and pure, as only Billy Crystal could. The Best Animated Film, now a permanent Oscar feature, was less than thrilling, with 'Rango" directed by Gore Verbinski, winning the category. Best Original Song went to our perennial favourites, "The Muppets", from "Man or Muppet", by Bret McKenzie. As for Best Foreign Language Film, it brought a sigh and a tear. The Oscar went to the Iranian film "A Separation" directed by Asghar Farhadi. Should this have not been a film from Egypt, after a century- old industry, which has seen many golden years throughout its history. Hundreds of millions of film fans worldwide, tuned in to indulge in a mixture of glamour and excellence, a welcome relief from the usual heart-breaking TV. fare. Oscar presenters, whose task was to open the envelopes and announce the winners, were even more stunning . They brought with them their stores of beauty, some wit and little wisdom. There were those moments of sad regrets for such missing icons as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly or Elizabeth Taylor, who brought so much more than beauty to the festivities. If those days are gone, we still retain fond memories of Oscar's past, and alas,so much of a splendid past is gone forevermore. "Gone -- glimmering through the dream of things that were". -- George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824)
