"THE ARTIST" SWEEPS THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS

Meryl Streep at the 84th Academy Awards

Winning the coveted Best Picture at the 84th Academy Awards as predicted, was Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist, which after sweeping many major precursor ceremonies leading up to the Oscars, was the favourite to win tonight. To date, the Film has grossed $76 million worldwide since its November 25, 2011 release and it will be interesting to see if it experiences a post-Oscar boost in coming weeks.  It also was victorious for Directing, Costume Design and Score.

Above this, the much-watched Actor in a Leading Role category went to a deserving Jean Dujardin for his unforgettable portrayal of Silent Film Actor, George Valentin in The Artist.  "Woh! I love your Country!", proclaimed the French Actor.

Winning Actress in a Leading Role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, was the legendary Meryl Streep in her third Oscar win ever. Although many believed that Viola Davis would win the Award following her Golden Globe victory for The Help, alas Streep's superb performance would prevail in the category. This Actor/Actress sweep for The Weinstein Co., also is a big score for Canadian Distributor Alliance Films which handled both The Iron Lady and The Artist in these parts.

At 82 years of age, Toronto-born Christopher Plummer would win his first ever Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role as a terminally-ill Gay Man in Beginners. Octavia Spencer like Plummer, repeated her feat of a Golden Globe/Oscar-double for her performance in The Help, winning Actress in a Supporting Role.

Hugo might not have been a massive Box Office success, nor did it win Best Picture, but the gorgeous Martin Scorcese Film but it sure gave The Artist a run for its glory tonight, winning five awards including: Cinematography, Visual Effects, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Art Direction.

For a complete list of Winners, click here.

To see some of the gorgeous Red Carpet Victresses tonight like Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Michelle Williams, Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich, visit Zimbio here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

ZOOEY DESCHANEL ON "SNL": JEAN DUJARDIN SURPRISE APPEARANCE

Zooey Deschanel & Jean Dujardin on SNL

What a surprise it was to see The Artist Star Jean Dujardin on last night's Saturday Night Live, hosted by Zooey Deschanel!  The Best Actor Frontrunner made an appearance on the Sketch, Les Jeunes de Paris - normally reserved best for Emma Stone - a subtle and appropriate bit of campaigning to nab that Oscar.

Deschanel was delightful, performing a cute song in a heart-patterned dress on her Ukulele about her Boyfriend forgetting Valentine's Day, which sounded similar to her viral version of What Are You Doing New Years' Eve?  Suffering a few fumbles with her dialogue, the New Girl Star's best Sketch teamed her with Kristen Wiig, both of them enticing a group of hungry Men at a restaurant called Crab Blast.  After teasing and teasing at great lengths, ultimately we learn there is no crab to be served!

Watch Deschanel on SNL in the US here and in Canada here.

(Photo credit: NBC)

JEAN DUJARDIN IN "FUNNY OR DIE: VILLAIN AUDITIONS" SKETCH

Jean Dujardin's Villain Auditions

Funny or Die has released this amazing Sketch of Best Actor Frontrunner Jean Dujardin being simply amazing.  Following in the footsteps of past Oscar Winners Javier Bardem and Christoph Waltz, who had successful careers in Europe before crossing-over into American Cinema as Villains, this pokes fun at that expectation with him auditioning for a series of ridiculous sequels to Hollywood hits. Love this. Love the accent. I even love the little mock Deadline Blog Post shown at the end. Completely ridiculous.

Dujardin.  Best Actor.

Watch and laugh below:

Jean Dujardin's Villain Auditions from Jean Dujardin

(Photo/video credit: Funny or Die)

JEAN DUJARDIN IN FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE OF "GQ"

Jean Dujardin in GQ

The Star of The Artist himself graces the February 2012 issue of GQ looking amaze.  Just Oscar- nominated for the category of Actor in a Leading Role, Dujardin looks supremely dapper in Suits by Prada, Armani, Isaia and more in photos by Carter Smith.

In the Piece by Mary Kay Schilling, we learn that the Actor got his start in France doing James Bond Spoofs, also by The Artist Director Michel Hazanavicius and before that, he did Stand-up Comedy.  In terms of Style, he reveals he's a huge Fan of Paul Newman.

Does Dujardin plan to move to Hollywood now that his Career stateside is flourishing? "Oh, no, I am too Parisian. And I think the French would be angry if I left. I hope they would be angry", he says.

Click here to read more.

(Photo credit: GQ/Carter Smith)

WHO PARTIED WHERE AFTER THE GOLDEN GLOBES?

Uggie at The Weinstein Company's 2012 Golden Globes After Party

The Weinstein Company's 2012 Golden Globes After Party was the place to be last night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel! Everyone showed up including Winners Meryl Streep (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama), Michelle Williams (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Musical/Comedy), Kelsey Grammer (Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama), Jean Dujardin (Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Musical/Comedy). Even adorable Jack Russell Terrier Uggie, Star of The Artist arrived in a little Bowtie! OMG.

Alexander Skarsgård, Paris Hilton, Nicki Hilton, Katherine Heigl, Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, Ewan McGregor, Jeremy Irons, Kathy Griffin, Diddy, Gerard Butler, Thomas Jane and many more. The former Actress and Playboy Model known as Lindsay Lohan might even have walked the Red Carpet too...

Our Girl Kathleen Robertson who stars in Golden Globe-nominated Boss, celebrated her Co-star Grammer's Victory looking amaze in white!  We just chatted with her the other day - check it out.

Click here to see the Red Carpet Photos!

That can't possibly be all right?  Tilda Swinton, Charlize Theron, Orlando Bloom, Melissa McCarthy, Miranda Kerr, Emma Stone, Sofia Vergara, Kate Beckinsale, Amy Poehler, Jeremy Irvine, Jon Hamm, Jessica Alba, Heidi Klum, Tina Fey, Matt Leblanc, Jessica Chastain, Zooey Deschanel, Connie Britton, Paul Giamatti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Viola Davis, Kim Kardashian and more were spotted at the glam InStyle and Warner Bros. 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards After Party.

FEW SURPRISES AT GOLDEN GLOBES: "THE ARTIST" & "THE DESCENDANTS" HEAD-TO-HEAD TO WIN OSCAR

Michelle Williams Backstage at 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards

The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards went down earlier this evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles and there were few surprises to be found with Oscars Frontrunner The Artist winning Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and its closest competitor The Descendants winning Best Motion Picture Drama.

The Artist also won for Best Original Motion Picture Score (Ludovic Bource) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical (Jean Dujardin), while The Descendants won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama (George Clooney). Clooney upon accepting his award told fellow Nominee Michael Fassbender, "Thanks for taking over the frontal nudity clause" - referring to that one's daring performance in Shame. "If you want to go play Golf with your hands behind your back, go right ahead!".

Michelle Williams won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical for her outstanding portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, while current Oscar favourite for Best Actress, the formidable Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama - her eighth Golden Globe. A humble Streep made note of some additional performances she felt were of note this year among her Peers, including Adepero Oduye's work in Pariah and Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre.  "In any other year they would be awarded", she told the audience.

Modern Family won Best Television Comedy or Musical for a third consecutive year, while Showtime's Homeland won two awards for Best Television Drama and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Drama (Clare Danes).

"THE ARTIST" SWEEPS CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS

Jean Dujardin, Star of The Artist

The Critics have spoken, indeed! The Broadcast Film Critics Association held their 17th annual Critics' Choice Awards earlier this evening and if you weren't convinced of The Artist's Oscar chances, you'd better think again. The Film by Michel Hazanavicius was awarded Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Score and also Best Picture.

The Ladies of The Help also were well-represented, winning Best Actress with Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress with Octavia Spencer and also, the Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

George Clooney walk award with Best Actor for The Descendants, while Acting Legend Christopher Plummer won for his work as Best Supporting Actor in The Beginners.  Note the irony in namesake: The Beginners... The Descendants... get it?

Although not yet updated, Photos and Winners will be posted on the Critics' Choice Awards Website.

See Photos from the Red Carpet over at Zimbio.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

"THE ARTIST" LIVE CHAT RECAP

Jean Dujardin at The Artist Live Chat

Kicking its Oscars Campaign into high gear now, The Weinstein Co. held a Live Chat with the Cast and Director of Best Picture Frontrunner, The Artist tonight.  Questions were fielded in-house from the Audience, Twitter and Facebook and we learned a few interesting things.

I for one, had no idea the Film's Director Michel Hazanavicius, actually is married the the Film's Supporting Actress Bérénice Bejo.  A jet-lagged Bejo, who just flew in from Paris to Los Angeles for the Chat, admits that at first she had some struggles working together with her Husband, but after getting a bit of advice from Friends, she finally was able to relax in taking direction from him.  She also explained that the final dance sequence seen in The Artist actually was quite a challenge since neither her nor her Co-star Jean Dujardin are actually Dancers.  The Sequence which is shot continuously took about 17 takes to get right.

Dujardin with the help of a Translator, explained that he never prior had visited Los Angeles for other than leisure.  He lived in the area for approximately three months and really connected to George Valentin as an Outsider in the 35 days of filming.  He also was flattered by all the comparisons to Gene Kelly he is receiving.

One thing which many people forget about this Film is that the Actors did work with Dialogue and were really speaking during Filming.  Actor James Cromwell however, clarifies simply that the sound is not recorded and captured in depicting this as a Silent Film.

Michel Hazanavicius sums-up the messsage of The Artist nicely stating, "We live in a world that changes very, very fast and it is our job to adapt. I think this is what makes the Film really Human". 

Following the Chat, the Cast and Director went into the Audience, signing Autographs and taking Photos with lucky Fans in-attendance!  Jealous!

See some Photos from the Chat below:

THE ARTIST - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Artist

Few Films touched me as deeply as Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist in 2011 and to be honest it may have helped that I had few expectations walking into it. All I knew about it prior was that it is about Silent Film Star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and how the end of that Era halted his flourishing Career abruptly.  Staying true to the Era it pays homage to, the Film only is stylized as a Silent Film and shot in a unique Aspect Ratio of 1.37 :1.

With changing paradigms in Film coming with the introduction of Dialogue-based Films known as the Talkies, we see a young Woman named Peppy Miller's (Bérénice Bejo) stock rise as a bona fide Movie Star.  Although it is the changing tastes of Moviegoers and Studio Executives which lead to Valentin's professional demise, it also is his stubborn Pride which he falls victim to ultimately, refusing to accept help including that of his biggest Admirer, Peppy.

Jean Dujardin's brilliant performance as Valentin is the stuff of Oscars and remarkably he does it saying only two words the entire Film.  He stretches himself to the limit emotionally completely with just physical gestures and facial emoting. Argentinian/French Talent Bejo is a true revelation here as the beautiful and effervescent Peppy and one cannot help but fall in love with her Character's genuine pure spirit.  And how about that adorable little Jack Russell named Uggie as Valentin's Sidekick incessantly tugging at our heartstrings?

Alliance Films' The Artist is now in theatres and don't be shocked if it were to take it all  - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress and of course Best Actor - at the 84th Academy Awards.  Isn't it about time you saw something truly uplifting? 

"THE ARTIST" SWEEPS AWARDS IN NEW YORK, BOSTON AND LOS ANGELES

Still from The Artist

In case there was any doubt about it, The Artist is now one of your early favourites to take it all at the Oscars.  The French Production about Actor George Valentin at the end of the Silent Film Era, stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.

Earlier today The Film swept the New York Film Critics Online, Boston and Los Angeles Film Critics Associations' Best Picture Awards. It also doesn't hurt that The Weinstein Co., which won the Academy Award for Best Picture with The King's Speech also is responsible for campaigning The Artist.

The American Film Institute also announced its Top Ten of 2011 but as The Artist is not a U.S.-produced Title, it is deemed ineligible. Also, both Dujardin and Bejo failed to win at any of the three Awards ceremonies today.

The Artist is now in theatres in Canada via Alliance Films.

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)

ENTER TO WIN AN ADVANCE PASS TO SEE "THE ARTIST" IN TORONTO

Official Artwork for The Artist

One of the Movies getting the most Oscar buzz right now is The Artist, which premiered at TIFF in September. The Film is set in Hollywood 1927, based on the life of Silent Film Actor George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and his rise to Fame in the era of Silent Film.  It also documents his fall into oblivion after the end of the Era.

Dujardin won Best Actor at Cannes earlier this year and would appear to be a Frontrunner in the same category come Awards season.

Alliance Films & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven want you to see the Silent Movie everyone's talking about!  Enter to win an Advance Pass for Two to see The Artist on Thursday, December 8, 2011 in Toronto at Varsity Cinemas.  To enter, simply click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook.  Your deadline is December 4, 2011.

Watch the Trailer in full below: