The 84th Annual Academy Awards

Billy Crystal rides from start to finish with wit and wisdom, the comic performances remain surprisingly balanced, and the tributes are reliably moving for the audience. The eighty-fourth edition was definitely the best of those I've seen, and thanks to the optimistic atmosphere in the audience and onstage, I was wishing success to the passionate creators of The Artist, even though they weren't among my clear favorites. It ultimately misses the highest rating mainly due to the absence of a breathtaking number such as Hugh Jackman's dancing, which was a long time coming. Nonetheless, out of the various different awards shows, this one is undoubtedly at the top. (2012.02.28)