Date: 28th February 2011

The King's Speech reigns


King's Speech, The (2010) has been crowned best picture at the Oscars, with star Colin Firth named best actor.

Tom Hooper was named best director for the film, which also won for best original screenplay at the ceremony.

Its best picture rival, The Social Network, won for adapted screenplay, film editing and score. Natalie Portman won best actress for Black Swan.

Briton Christian Bale and Melissa Leo won supporting acting awards for boxing drama The Fighter.

Firth, who had been firm favourite to win for his portrayal of King George VI battling a stammer, joked: "I have a feeling my career's just peaked."

The success of The King's Speech denied director David Fincher and his film The Social Network, the story of the creation of Facebook that was considered its closest rival at the ceremony in Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre.

Paying tribute to his film's stars, Hooper said: "Thank you to my wonderful actors, the triangle of man-love which is Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and me. I'm only here because of you guys."

Screenwriter David Seidler thanked the Queen for "not putting me in the Tower of London" for the swearing that featured in his Oscar-winning script.

The King's Speech had led the nominations, competing in 12 categories, ahead of the 10 nominations for True Grit - from which the Coen brothers' Western won nothing.

There had been eight nominations each for Inception and The Social Network, the adapted screenplay for the latter winning an Oscar for The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin.

Portman had been the favourite for the best actress prize for her performance as a disturbed ballet dancer in Black Swan.

"This is insane, and I truly, sincerely wish that the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees - I'm so in awe of you," said the pregnant actress.

Among the women she beat to the Oscar was The Kids Are All Right actress Annette Bening, who has now been nominated four times without success.


Best Motion Picture of the Year


  WINNER : The King's Speech (2010): Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role


  WINNER : Colin Firth for The King's Speech (2010)


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role


  WINNER : Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010)


Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role


  WINNER : Christian Bale for The Fighter (2010)


Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role


  WINNER : Melissa Leo for The Fighter (2010)


Best Achievement in Directing


  WINNER : Tom Hooper for The King's Speech (2010)


Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen


  WINNER : The King's Speech (2010): David Seidler


Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published


  WINNER : The Social Network (2010): Aaron Sorkin


Best Animated Feature Film of the Year


  WINNER : Toy Story 3 (2010): Lee Unkrich


Best Foreign Language Film of the Year


  WINNER : Civilization (2010): Susanne Bier(Denmark)


Best Achievement in Cinematography


  WINNER : Inception (2010): Wally Pfister


Best Achievement in Editing


  WINNER : The Social Network (2010): Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall


Best Achievement in Art Direction


  WINNER : Alice in Wonderland (2010): Robert Stromberg, Karen O'Hara


Best Achievement in Costume Design


  WINNER : Alice in Wonderland (2010): Colleen Atwood


Best Achievement in Makeup


  WINNER : The Wolfman (2010): Rick Baker, Dave Elsey


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score


  WINNER : The Social Network (2010): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song


  WINNER : Toy Story 3 (2010): Randy Newman("We Belong Together")


Best Achievement in Sound Mixing


  WINNER : Inception (2010): Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick


Best Achievement in Sound Editing


  WINNER : Inception (2010): Richard King


Best Achievement in Visual Effects


  WINNER : Inception (2010): Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin


Best Documentary, Features


  WINNER : Inside Job (2010): Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs


Best Documentary, Short Subjects


  WINNER : Strangers No More (2010): Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon


Best Short Film, Animated


  WINNER : The Lost Thing (2010): Shaun Tan, Andrew Ruhemann


Best Short Film, Live Action


  WINNER : God of Love (2010): Luke Matheny

Source: Press Release


 

 

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