Bardem wins supporting actor; Swinton wins supporting actress at Oscars
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February 24, 2008 - 6:45 pm
By: Lee-Anne Goodman, THE CANADIAN PRESS
British actress Tilda Swinton, winner for an Oscar for best actress in a supporting role for her work in "Michael Clayton," Sunday in Los Angeles. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Kevork Djansezian
LOS ANGELES - Javier Bardem won best supporting actor for his portrayal of a soulless and determined serial killer in "No Country for Old Men," while Tilda Swinton took best supporting actress for playing an icy executive in "Michael Clayton" at the Academy Awards on Sunday night.
"This is pretty amazing and I want to thank the Coens for being crazy enough to think that I could do that and put one of the most horrible haircuts in history on my head," Bardem told the cheering crowd, referring to directors Ethan and Joel Coens' decision to fashion his character with an incongruous page boy.
"Ratatouille," the blockbuster animated flick about a rat, won best animated feature, "The Golden Compass" won for best visual effects and "Sweeney Todd" took home the prize for art direction.
But it was "No Country for Old Men" that was considered the film to beat.
Critics were almost unanimous in predicting "No Country" would take home the best picture Oscar and that the Coens would nab the directing prize.
Since their 1984 debut, "Blood Simple," the brothers have produced a quirky and acclaimed body of work. They have tasted Oscar glory once before, winning an original screenplay statue for 1996's "Fargo."
Sunday's televised show, watched by an estimated billion people worldwide, got underway with a special effects extravaganza showing film characters lining Hollywood Boulevard before host Jon Stewart got down to his opening monologue.
A chilly drizzle fell throughout much of the day, and celebs showed off their award-show finery on a red carpet draped by a tarp. Despite the showers, shrieking fans packed the streets around the Kodak Theatre.
The nominated Canadians were out in full force, taking in the sights and sounds.
"I don't have a speech ready; I'm probably not going to win tonight," said Montreal-born Jason Reitman, who was up for best director for his sophomore film "Juno," itself nominated for best picture.
The teen pregnancy comedy won best picture at the Spirit Awards honouring independent film on Saturday night, while the film's lead actress, Ellen Page, won the best actress Spirit Award and Diablo Cody took home the prize for best first screenplay.
"There's a certain joy in knowing you're not going to win in that you can have a really good time," Reitman said on the Oscar red carpet.
He also paid tribute to his parents, longtime Hollywood filmmaker Ivan and his wife, Genevieve, as they beamed with pride beside him.
"Everything I am is due to my mother and my father," he said.
Page, dressed in a loose-fitting, black spaghetti-strapped gown, tried to explain the enduring appeal of "Juno" outside the Kodak Theatre.
"It's been really amazing," she said. "It is unique and it's funny and it's all of those things, but mainly it's really sincere and honest and genuine and has a sense of optimism mixed with truth that we don't always see. And I think that's a refreshing thing."
"Juno" has wowed Hollywood since its release in mid-December, becoming not only a critical but commercial smash - easily the most successful film among the five best picture nominees.
Even Stewart made reference to the film's popularity in his opening remarks Sunday night.
After joking that Hollywood needed a hug for turning out so many dark and bloody films in 2007, he added: "All I can say is, thank God for teen pregnancy. I think the country agrees."
"Juno" is the lone comedy in a best picture field that is rounded out by the wartime romance "Atonement," the oil-boom epic "There Will Be Blood" and the legal thriller "Michael Clayton."
Daniel Day-Lewis was considered a best actor shoo-in for his flamboyant portrayal of a greedy tycoon in "There Will Be Blood." It would be his second win of the top acting prize, having taken it for 1989's "My Left Foot."
Page has shot to international acclaim since scoring an Oscar nod for her irresistible portrayal of pregnant teen Juno MacGuff.
At the Oscars, she faces formidable competition in the best actress category from Cate Blanchett, Marion Cotillard, Laura Linney and Julie Christie.
The reclusive Christie - an Oscar winner for the 1965 film "Darling" - is considered a front-runner for her moving portrayal of a woman suffering the ravages of Alzheimer's disease in "Away From Her," directed by Toronto's Sarah Polley.
Polley herself is up for a best adapted screenplay nomination.
Canadians were nominated in the animated short category but lost out to "Peter and the Wolf."
The hype surrounding Hollywood's biggest night has been somewhat muted this year due to the protracted strike by the Writers Guild of America.
The dispute was resolved last week, but it has meant little prep time for Oscar host Stewart and his team of writers.
Stewart helmed the show two years ago.
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Congratulations Tilda Swinton, I love you!!!!!
this woman is awesome and i loved her for so long!!!
im so glad Javier won too; he one hot piece of spanish ass!
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