The Greatest Showman #942 - The Ceremony Ends

The ceremony had come to an end.

The five nominees for Best Director—along with all the analysis, statistics, and predictions—suddenly felt irrelevant in this moment.

Everyone knew that "artist" Michelle Hazanavicius had emerged as the dark horse of the awards season, honoring the academy, the film industry, and the golden age. Yet, Martin Scorsese of Hugo, Alexander Payne of The Descendants, and Woody Allen of Midnight in Paris were also formidable contenders. Each had a strong Hollywood influence, making their threat to the prize just as significant.

Then there was Terrence Malick of The Tree of Life, the true dark horse, similar to Gary Oldman for Best Actor and Rooney Mara for Best Actress. Despite their exceptional talent, they lacked the momentum needed for victory, likely only there to round out the competition.

However, after a night full of surprises and tense moments, it was clear that the earlier predictions and analyses could be tossed aside. The best course of action now was to simply wait for the results.

Michael Douglas didn't keep the audience waiting long. He opened the envelope, scanned the card, widened his eyes, and paused for a moment. The brief look on his face drew the audience's attention, and then, with a dramatic pause, he announced, "The winner of the 84th Academy Award for Best Director is... Martin Scorsese for Hugo."

The sound of hearts pounding could be felt in the silence before the crowd erupted. Applause, like a flood, poured out from every corner of the room. Every audience member stood in shock, then cheered in amazement.

Martin Scorsese had done it! The favorite, Michelle Hazanavicius, had fallen short, and the veteran director won his second Oscar, cementing his place as one of the greats.

Scorsese, a director whose films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas are legends in American cinema, had been a dominant force for decades. Despite this, he'd never earned an Oscar until The Departed in 2006, a win that was partly seen as a recognition of his long career, bolstered by sympathy votes. It was clear that The Departed wasn't his finest work—but after years of perseverance, the Oscar finally came his way.

After winning, Scorsese moved away from his usual gritty, violent style, embracing a more whimsical, childlike approach in Hugo. The film's artistry, from camera work to the pacing and performances, displayed a new side of Scorsese, one that revealed a master director free from past constraints.

As Billy Crystal had joked during the opening of the night, "That violent, bloody, dark, foul-mouthed Martin, if there's ever a sequel to Hugo, please come back, okay?" But the truth was, Scorsese's foray into a more tender film proved that he was capable of anything.

The audience's standing ovation continued for minutes, louder than any applause for previous winners. Even Harvey Weinstein, who had kept his emotions tightly controlled throughout the night, couldn't suppress his frustration at the unexpected outcome. His quiet anger was evident, but he quickly regained his composure. The night's results had left him seething, but he forced a polite smile as he clapped for Scorsese.

Harvey's mind raced. He'd anticipated a coronation for The Artist, and Hugo had been in the lead throughout the night, racking up several technical awards and the Best Director trophy. Yet, when Tom Cruise announced The Artist as the Best Picture winner, it was a shock. Not Hugo, but The Artist—the nostalgic, silent film homage that had captured the Academy's heart.

Weinstein's campaign had paid off once again. The "artist" had triumphed, and the world saw The Artist rise to the top of the awards race, defying expectations in the process.

The crowd gasped, both in awe and disbelief. Those watching from home could hear the crunch of breaking snacks and the sharp intake of breath from the stunned audience. It was an upset, but an Oscar upset was nothing new. In 2005, Brokeback Mountain had lost to Crash, an outcome still considered one of the most controversial in Oscar history.

In the end, The Artist captured three statuettes, including Best Picture, while Hugo won six, including Best Director for Martin Scorsese. Meryl Streep won her third Oscar, solidifying her place in history, and Christopher Plummer became the oldest acting award winner in Oscar history.

The 84th Academy Awards had come to an unforgettable conclusion, and the night would be remembered as one of the most surprising in recent memory.