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The King's Speech Takes Top Honors

The heartwarming film wins the day at Academy Awards

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 27, 2011 7:53 PM CST | Updated Feb 27, 2011 10:37 PM CST

(Newser) – And they're off! After an opening montage involving all of the best picture nominees—and, uh, Back to the Future—the Oscars are in full swing. The montage was "enjoyably silly," writes David Edelstein in New York, featuring a trip inside the mind of Alec Baldwin, Inception-style. As for the material for hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway? Lame—but at least, Edelstein notes, "Lame material is better done by people you want to sleep with." Next up:

  • Best supporting actress goes to Melissa Leo, who swears (and who also looks much more beautiful now than she did in The Fighter, according to presenter Kirk Douglas).
  • Presenter Justin Timberlake's first words on stage: "I'm Banksy." He and Mila Kunis award best animated feature film to Toy Story 3.
  • First award of many for The Social Network? It wins for best adapted screenplay.
  • Or maybe this is the first award of many for The King's Speech; it wins for best original screenplay.
  • Hathaway sings—pretty well, in fact!—and Franco shows up in drag (and notes, "I just got a text message from Charlie Sheen.")
  • Reese Witherspoon and her '60s hair present the best supporting actor award to Christian Bale for The Fighter. (Notable: He either forgot his wife's name, or was just too choked up when he tried to say it...)
  • Lots of, shall we say, less interesting awards. And then: Oprah! The queen of talk, sadly, can't give out Oscars to everyone in the audience, but she does award best documentary to Inside Job.
  • Gwyneth Paltrow sings her Country Strong song, but no win for her movie: Randy Newman wins best original song for Toy Story 3.
  • We're getting to the big stuff: Best director goes to Tom Hooper for The King's Speech.
  • No huge surprise here: Natalie Portman snags the best actress Oscar for Black Swan.
  • Sandra Bullock gets laughs as she presents the award for best actor, addressing each nominee directly (Javier Bardem gets an "hola"; Jeff Bridges gets called "dude."). The winner? A very unsurprising Colin Firth for The King's Speech.
  • And yet another not-exactly-surprising moment ends the night: The King's Speech wins best picture.
Click for: the complete list of winners, the best and worst red carpet looks, and of course, video of Melissa Leo's F-bomb and other fun moments from the evening.

Hosts James Franco, left, and Anne Hathaway are seen onstage during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Hosts James Franco, left, and Anne Hathaway are seen onstage during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Melissa Leo reacts as actor Kirk Douglas presents her with the trophy for Best Supporting Actress at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on Feb. 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.
Melissa Leo reacts as actor Kirk Douglas presents her with the trophy for Best Supporting Actress at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on Feb. 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.   (Getty Images)
Christian Bale accepts the award for best male actor in a supporting role for The Fighter at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles.
Christian Bale accepts the award for best male actor in a supporting role for "The Fighter" at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Presenters Russell Brand and Helen Mirren present onstage during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.
Presenters Russell Brand and Helen Mirren present onstage during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.   (Getty Images)
Actors Josh Brolin, left, and Javier Bardem kiss during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Actors Josh Brolin, left, and Javier Bardem kiss during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oprah Winfrey presents the award for best documentary feature during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Oprah Winfrey presents the award for best documentary feature during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow performs 'Coming Home' from the motion picture 'Country Strong' during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow performs 'Coming Home' from the motion picture 'Country Strong' during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.   (Getty Images)
Show hosts Anne Hathaway, left, and James Franco are seen during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Show hosts Anne Hathaway, left, and James Franco are seen during the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Actress Natalie Portman reacts as she arrives for the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Actress Natalie Portman reacts as she arrives for the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Actor Colin Firth arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Actor Colin Firth arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 8 comments
Calvert
Feb 28, 2011 4:23 AM CST
There sure a lot of Brits on the show both as presenters and receivers. Wondered who was left in England. Could even undersand some of them. Also wonder who counts the votes a second time to be sure the first one ws accutate. The King's Speech may be good but why would anyone want to watch a movie about King George. Sounds dull. Think I will save my money and watch paint dry. May catch part of it when it is on Turner Classic Movies.
cornelison
Feb 27, 2011 8:22 PM CST
If Glenn Beck had been invited he would have worn his favorite white sheet.
 

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