The glitz and glamour of awards season came to a dazzling halt Sunday, Feb. 24, with the 85th annual Academy Awards. Held in Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater, Seth MacFarlane hosted the prestigious event. Using his wit and sarcasm as a springboard for many a joke, MacFarlane spared no one as he taunted some of Hollywood’s most famous actors and actresses. Even Tommy Lee Jones (“Lincoln,” “Men in Black”), who is often ridiculed for his expressionless demeanor, cracked a smile within the first five minutes.

And what is more important at the Academy Awards than the awards themselves? After nearly 30 minutes of song and dance introductory material, the ceremony finally began by announcing Christoph Waltz as Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Django Unchained.” From this, began a slow unveiling of award after award covering every aspect of film imaginable. “Lincoln,” which was nominated for 12 awards, only snagged two — best actor (Daniel Day Lewis) and production design.

“Life of Pi,” nominated for 11 awards, took home four golden Oscar statuettes — one for best director (Ang Lee), cinematography, original score (Mychael Danna), and visual effects. Other big winners of the night included “Les Misérables” and “Argo.” “Les Miz,” as anticipated, was recognized for best supporting actress (Anne Hathaway), sound mixing, and make-up/hairstyling. “Argo,” on the other hand, stole the spotlight for best picture, adapted screenplay, and film editing.

To break the monotony of the three and a half hour awards ceremony, performers such as Catherine Zeta-Jones (“Chicago”), Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”), and the cast of “Les Miz” performed a tribute to music in film. Also, much to the chagrin of the women in the audience, Channing Tatum, who was recently voted “Sexiest Man Alive,” (by whom?) danced with Charlize Theron to Seth MacFarlane’s interpretation of Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Another notable moment was Adele’s performance of her best-original-song-winning ballad “Skyfall,” written for the most recent James Bond movie. Prior to her performance was a tribute to 50 years of Bond, which paid homage to the 23 Bond movies and the eight men who have brought 007 to life.
Of course the awards and celebrity performances were not the only focal point this Oscar season. Starlets such as Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook”), Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”), and Amanda Seyfried (“Les Misérables”) were noted as some of the best dressed walking the red carpet that evening. Leading men, such as George Clooney and Jamie Foxx, also strutted their stuff in debonair tuxedos with beautiful women hanging on their arms.

So ends another awards season for Hollywood’s finest. Even Seth Macfarlane’s off-color jokes and the beautiful performances sprinkled throughout the ceremony were not enough to prevent a sigh of relief as the credits rolled after three and a half hours of awards. Now we wait with suspense, taking in films of all make and model, until next year’s judgment day.