The 85th Academy Awards featured talking teddy bears, musical tributes and the first tie in more than 30 years.
The Oscars, hosted by Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy and Ted fame, gained attention on social media throughout the course of the evening.
The big winners of the evening were Anne Hathaway, Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables, Jennifer Lawrence, Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook, Daniel Day-Lewis, Best Actor for Lincoln and Argo for Best Picture, along with two other awards.
In addition to the buzz surrounding the big winners in the more popular categories, many were shocked when Mark Wahlberg announced the tie for Best Sound Editing. The honor went to both Paul N.J. Ottosson for Zero Dark Thirty and Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers for Skyfall.
This instance was only the fifth tie in the Oscars history. The last was in 1968, when Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand tied for Best Actress for their work in A Lion in Winter and Funny Girl, respectively.
Despite the excitement surrounding the awards, viewers also had criticism for MacFarlane, the length of the show and the jokes that aired.
“They lost me at the introduction,” said Dori Branch, a senior at Ohio University studying media management. “Seth MacFarlane's jokes were not well written at all. Instead of letting the winners give speeches, they gave more time to announcing celebrities to make awkward comments to each other. The director and academy didn't seem prepared at all. Overall, it was very slow, rather boring and was dragged out way too long.”
Others, including Brandon Fullenkamp, a graduate student studying orchestral conducting, faulted the format of the show and said it didn’t allow much room for improvisation.
“The show was somewhat lackluster, I think because the whole thing feels a bit forced,” Fullenkamp said. “Instead of actually celebrating the amazing achievements these people have attained, it feels as though this is just something that has to happen because of tradition, and they are just following a well-planned-out formula for the show.”
One thing that seemed to unite viewers in a more positive light was the high number of musical performances at the Oscars. The show included performances by Adele, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey and the cast of Les Misérables.
“The Oscars presented a stunning performance and wonderful series of winners,” said Rebekah Rittenberg, a junior studying education. “The dances and musical numbers showed the amazing talents of Hollywood — and Anne Hathaway was perfection.”
ks574510@ohiou.edu
