The Greatest Showman #934 – Probability Event

Eight hundred and ninety-seven probability events have taken place, but Best Sound Editing went to Hugo, while Desperate Drive and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo lost out.

Best Sound Effects also went to Hugo, leaving War Horse and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo behind.

After the presentation of the two supporting role awards, the technical department announced the winners of two more categories. Hugo continued its momentum tonight, dominating in Best Costume Design and Best Soundtrack. Missing out on this award, Hugo still managed to claim five golden statuettes, leading the Best Film race.

However, the next major battle would officially kick off, marking the climax of the evening. The core, main awards were about to be revealed.

If the technical awards had showcased a showdown between Hugo and The Artist, with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and War Horse waiting for their turn, the core awards promised an entirely different dynamic: a full-on melee.

Every film had a chance to win in this competitive atmosphere, and every upset was possible. Gaining ground in the core categories could change the entire landscape of the Best Picture race.

The supporting actor category was pivotal. Moneyball and Extremely Loud, Very Close fell short in their attempts to break through, while The Help triumphed in the Best Supporting Actress category over The Artist.

Both awards were significant frontrunners in the season, signaling that the chaos would continue. The so-called frontrunners didn't manage to overcome their weaknesses, while the underdogs capitalized on their strengths. If this pattern held, the Best Picture winner could emerge unexpectedly.

Tina Fey and Steve Martin joined forces to present two awards in the script department. These renowned comedians, also talented screenwriters, made ideal presenters for the evening.

The first category was Best Adapted Screenplay. The nominees included The President's Killing Bureau, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Moneyball, and The Descendants. With the exception of The President's Killing Bureau, the other four were also nominated for Best Picture. For those films still hoping to claim the ultimate award, winning Best Adapted Screenplay was crucial, particularly for Moneyball, which had not succeeded in the Best Supporting Actor race. This award was its last chance to stay in contention.

The screenplay for Moneyball was written by two acclaimed screenwriters, Alan Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, making it a strong contender.

The main competitors were Hugo, written by John Logan, and The Descendants, penned by Alexander Payne. Both had significant pedigree in the industry, with multiple nominations and a past win between them.

Steve Martin announced the winner: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash for The Descendants.

The audience erupted in applause.

This victory for The Descendants signified that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Moneyball could no longer hope for Best Picture, and that The Descendants retained a powerful position for the upcoming categories. The suspense built as the ceremony continued.

Objectively, The Descendants was the most well-rounded work among the five nominees. It had the momentum in the awards season and stood out with a well-crafted script, making it a strong contender for Best Picture.

As expected, The Descendants took home the prize.

Much like The Help had to win Best Supporting Actress, Moneyball needed Best Adapted Screenplay or Best Supporting Actor to stay competitive for Best Picture. Tree of Life needed Best Cinematography to retain hope. The Help succeeded, while Moneyball and Tree of Life fell behind.

Midnight in Paris also needed to win Best Original Screenplay to remain in the Best Picture race, and it did.

Tina Fey announced that Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris won Best Original Screenplay, keeping it in the hunt for Best Picture.

The nominees in this category included Ultimatum, Bridesmaids, A Farewell, The Artist, and Midnight in Paris. Throughout the season, Midnight in Paris had a strong script, and even The Descendants couldn't quite compete in this area. Woody Allen's second potential Best Picture win after Annie Hall seemed likely.

Now, with Midnight in Paris maintaining competitiveness alongside The Descendants, the stage was set for an unpredictable finale.

As the ceremony drew closer to its conclusion, the remaining awards—Best Editing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture—would be pivotal in shaping the final outcome.

With five trophies already claimed by Hugo and The Artist in the technical categories, The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, and The Help had secured core awards. The next five categories would be crucial, and every winner could dramatically alter the competition.

In the Best Editing category, Moneyball, Hugo, The Artist, The Descendants, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo were all in the running. Whichever film won would gain a significant advantage, especially Hugo. If Hugo took the editing award after its Best Cinematography win, it would likely become the frontrunner for Best Picture.

But when the winner was announced, the audience was stunned: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo won Best Editing.

Not Hugo, The Artist, The Descendants, or even Moneyball—but The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a film not nominated for Best Picture, stole the prize.

David Fincher's editors, for the second consecutive year after The Social Network, had triumphed in this category, breaking the pattern of the season.

This upset meant that Hugo and The Artist had failed to expand their lead, while The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, and The Help were gaining momentum. The acting categories were shaping up to be pivotal, with George Clooney for The Descendants and Viola Davis for The Help emerging as favorites.

This was a true upset. The Best Editing award had kept the suspense alive, and the leading films hadn't managed to pull ahead. The Best Picture race was still anyone's game.

When Angelina Jolie announced the winners for Best Actor and Best Actress, the tension was palpable. The final acting categories would determine who could gain the advantage.

The Best Actress nominees were Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), Viola Davis (The Help), Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn), Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

Among the nominees, Rooney was a first-time contender, and while The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had performed well, it wasn't a frontrunner. Glenn Close, though highly regarded, had low-key support throughout the season.

Meryl, Viola, and Michelle were the main contenders, and all eyes were on them as the ceremony neared its final stretch.