85th Academy Awards

85th Academy Awards honored the best films of 2012 and were held on February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The ceremony was produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, directed by Don Mischer, and hosted for the first time by Seth MacFarlane. The historical thriller Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, won three awards including Best Picture, while Ang Lee's ''Life of Pi'' won the most awards with four, including Best Director.

Ceremony

The ceremony was broadcast live on the ABC television network from the Dolby Theatre, with Seth MacFarlane serving as host. The production, overseen by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, featured a theme celebrating music in American cinema, incorporating numerous musical performances. A notable segment was the opening "We Saw Your Boobs" monologue by MacFarlane, which generated significant controversy for its tone. The show also included a tribute to fifty years of the James Bond film franchise, featuring a performance by Shirley Bassey of the theme from Goldfinger and a montage introduced by former 007 actors.

Winners and nominees

The nominees were announced on January 10, 2013, by Emma Stone and then-Academy president Tom Sherak at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Steven Spielberg's ''Lincoln'' led the field with twelve nominations, followed by ''Life of Pi'' with eleven and ''Les Misérables'' with eight. Major winners included Argo for Best Picture, Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln, and Jennifer Lawrence for Best Actress for her role in Silver Linings Playbook. Ang Lee won Best Director for Life of Pi, and Anne Hathaway won Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables.

Presenters and performers

The ceremony featured a wide array of presenters from across the film industry, including Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Sandra Bullock, John Travolta, Kristen Stewart, and Robert Downey Jr.. Musical performances were central to the broadcast, with Adele performing the winning song "Skyfall" from the James Bond film Skyfall. Other performers included Norah Jones, who sang "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from Ted, and the cast of Les Misérables, including Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, who performed a medley from the film. Barbra Streisand made a rare awards show appearance to sing "The Way We Were" during the In Memoriam segment.

In Memoriam

The traditional In Memoriam tribute, accompanied by Barbra Streisand's performance of "The Way We Were," honored members of the film community who died in 2012. Among those remembered were director Tony Scott, actor Ernest Borgnine, cinematographer Harris Savides, and producer Richard D. Zanuck. The segment also paid tribute to iconic singer Whitney Houston, who had a notable film career with roles in pictures like The Bodyguard. The omission of several individuals, including actor Andy Griffith and publicist Max Bercutt, was noted by some media outlets following the ceremony.

Critical reception and ratings

Critical reception to the broadcast was mixed, with praise for the musical performances and production design but significant criticism aimed at host Seth MacFarlane for jokes deemed sexist and offensive. Reviews from publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety highlighted the divisive nature of the hosting. Despite the controversy, the telecast on ABC garnered strong ratings, attracting an average of 40.3 million viewers in the United States, a significant increase from the previous year and the ceremony's largest audience since the 78th Academy Awards in 2006. The show also performed well in the key adults 18-49 demographic.

Category:Academy Awards ceremonies Category:2013 film awards