VOA标准英语2012--'The Artist' Grabs Key Honors at Academy Awards

'The Artist' Grabs Key Honors at Academy Awards

French filmmaker Michel Hazavanicius earned the Oscar for directing The Artist, while Jean Dujardin, who plays a fading silent film star, earned the award for best actor. The film is almost entirely¹ silent and the star said that if his character could speak, he would react this way to the Oscar:
“Merci beaucoup, I love you,” said Dujardin.
The film also was honored for its costume design and original score.
It was the first silent film since 1929 to earn an Oscar as best picture.
Meryl Streep was named best actress for her role as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher² in The Iron Lady. The film also won an Oscar for makeup³. This was Streep's 17th Oscar nomination⁴ and her third win. The last was in 1983 for Sophie's Choice.
Backstage, the 62-year-old actress described her emotions at winning the Oscar in a competitive year, against younger actresses.
“It was just thrilling. It was like I was a kid again. I mean, I was a kid when I won this, like 30 years ago. Two of the nominees⁵ were not even conceived,” she said.
Christopher Plummer was named best supporting actor in Beginners for his role as an aging father who announces after the death of his wife that he is gay. Plummer, at 82, is the oldest performer ever to earn an Oscar. He noted⁶ backstage that he's just two years younger than the famous Oscar statuette, which was first awarded in 1929.
“Where have you been all my life? I have a confession⁷ to make," he said. "When I first emerged from my mother's womb, I was already rehearsing my Academy 'thank you' speech.”
Octavia Spencer was named best supporting actress for her role in The Help as an African-American maid in the southern United States of the 1960s. Backstage, Spencer said she hopes her win will open doors for other actresses of color.
“And, by color, I don't mean just African American. I mean Indian, Native American, Latin American, Asian-American. I hope that in some way that I can be some sort of beacon⁸ of hope,” she said.
Martin Scorsese's fantasy Hugo earned five Oscars - all in technical categories - for its cinematography, art direction, sound editing, sound mixing, and special effects.
The Iranian film A Separation was named best foreign film. Backstage, filmmaker Asghar Farhadi said that when his family drama was first nominated, some in the Iranian government were pleased, while others were silent and some were unhappy.
He said that what matters to him is that the people of Iran are happy with his Oscar win.
The Oscar for best short documentary went to Saving Face, a film about efforts to help women in Pakistan who have been disfigured in acid attacks. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who produced the documentary with Daniel Junge, dedicated⁹ the award to the surgeon and women it profiles.
“And to all the women in Pakistan who are working for change, don't give up on your dreams. This is for you,” said Obaid-Chinoy.
Woody Allen's romantic fantasy Midnight in Paris won the Oscar for best original screenplay, and The Descendants, a family drama set in Hawaii, earned the award for best adapted screenplay.
Comedian¹⁰ Billy Crystal hosted the Oscar presentation for the ninth time.

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

2 thatcher   

n.茅屋匠

参考例句：

• Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. 汤姆 - 索亚和撒切尔法官同乘一条小艇。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. 撒切尔夫人几乎神经失常，还有波莉姨妈也是。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

3 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

8 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。

9 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

10 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。