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Oscar Winners from 79th Annual Academy Awards
The 79th Academy Awards will more than likely be remembered for Martin Scorsese finally accepting a Best Director Oscar for the film “The Departed” and while Scorsese had waited some 27 years since his first nomination there were a few others in attendance that had been waiting for their own Oscar gold.
Taking home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in “Little Miss Sunshine,” Alan Arkin put to rest nearly 40 years of waiting. Arkin had been nominated in 1969 for Best Actor in a Lead for “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” but Cliff Robertson nabbed the Oscar for “Charly.” Arkin was nominated for the same award in 1967 for his role in “The Russians are coming the Russians are coming.”
While Helen Mirren hadn’t been waiting as long as Scorsese or Arkin for Oscar gold, the London born actress had been hoping a third time would be the charm. Mirren had been nominated in 1995 for “The Madness of King George” and again in 2002 for “Gosford Park.” On Sunday night Mirren collected her first Oscar Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen.” Mirren’s Oscar for Best Actress in a Lead was about the closest thing to s sure bet the night had to offer.
Forest Whitaker picked up his first Oscar statue for Best Actor in a Lead for his portrayal of Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland.” It was Whitaker’s first nomination for an Academy Award an amazing accomplishment seeing that it was really his first film with a lead role. His past films had included “Good Morning Vietnam,” “The Color of Money,” “Panic Room,” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
Former American Idol contestant turned Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson proved life is bigger than reality television. Apparently not good enough for the small screen, Hudson conquered film in her first try. Hudson captured the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Dreamgirls.” It was the 25-year-old’s first nomination.
Graham King collected an Oscar for “The Departed” which took home Best Picture. King had been nominated in 2005 for “The Aviator” but lost to Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby.” Funny enough, King had his director from “The Aviator,” Scorsese, and his lead actor from “The Aviator,” Leonardo DiCaprio, back for “The Departed” and they were able to knock off a Clint Eastwood film, “Letters from Iwo Jima,” to win the Oscar.
But of course the night belonged to Martin Scorsese who finally had the opportunity to take the stage and accept his first Oscar. Considered America’s greatest living director, Scorsese had been nominated in 1980 for “Raging Bull,” 1989 for “The Last Temptation of Christ,” 1991 for “Goodfellas,” 2003 for “Gangs of New York,” and 2005 for “The Aviator.”
