Old guard reigns at Oscars bash

THESE were supposed to be the younger, hipper Academy Awards, the ones that shook up the ceremony’s conventions with popular, great-looking masters of ceremonies in actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway, who were unlike the middle-aged comedians and TV talk-show hosts of years past.

But the results couldn’t have been more traditional, with The King’s Speech — a prestigious, impeccably made historical film that cries out “Oscar” with every fibre in its being — winning best picture and three other prizes over more daring, contemporary contenders like The Social Network and Black Swan.

They also couldn’t have been more predictable. Front-runners in other major categories throughout this long and repetitive awards season also took home trophies from Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre on Sunday night: Best Actor, Colin Firth for The King’s Speech, Best Actress Natalie Portman for Black Swan, and Supporting Actors Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, both for The Fighter.

Despite multiple attempts to make the Oscars seem current — including an opening montage that inserted Franco and Hathaway in the best-picture nominees, Inception-style, and an auto-tune Harry Potter spoof — some of the biggest applause and longest standing ovations were for a couple of Academy Awards stalwarts.

Kirk Douglas delighted the crowd as he jokingly tormented the supporting actress nominees before announcing Leo as the winner. Later, upon the appearance of Billy Crystal — who hosted the ceremony several times in the 1990s — the audience erupted as one, as if willing him to take over immediately.

But the night belonged to The King’s Speech — crowned Best Picture — with Colin Firth threatening to dance with joy after winning the award for Best Actor.

The British film also picked up Best Director for Tom Hooper and Best Original Screenplay by David Seidler.

Firth told the audience at the 83rd Academy Awards: “I have a feeling my career has just peaked. My deepest thanks to the Academy.

“I’m afraid I have to warn you that I’m experiencing stirrings somewhere in the upper abdominals which are threatening to form themselves into dance moves which, joyous as they may be for me, it would be extremely problematic if they make it to my legs before I get off stage.”

Firth thanked his British fans, paying tribute to “all the people who have been rooting for me back home” and thanked his Italian wife, whom he said had put up with his “fleeting delusions of royalty”.

Speaking afterwards, he said he never expected the film to have such broad appeal.

“What has struck me is that the emotional response to this has been quite personal and diverse.

“It’s very powerful to be on the receiving end of that kind of feedback.”

Hooper thanked his mother, who first told him about the play which formed the basis of the film.

Addressing her, he said: “With this tonight I honour you and the moral of the story is ‘Listen to your mother’.”

London-born Seidler dedicated his win to “all the stutterers throughout the world”.

Co-host James Franco said the film, which had been nominated for 12 awards, had entered “Oscar history”.

But there was disappointment for two of its stars — Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush, who lost out on the Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor roles respectively.

Speaking afterwards, Bonham Carter said: “I have a little dip but then you get over it.”

Last year’s Best Actor winner, Jeff Bridges, presented the award for Best Actress to Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan.

Christopher Nolan saw his film, Inception, miss out on the big prizes but it still picked up four Oscars — one more than The Social Network.