Spielberg leaves Oscars empty-handed, again
US: Hollywood veteran Steven Spielberg left the Oscars empty-handed
for the second year running, despite his film having the most
nominations for Tinseltown's top awards show.
Presidential drama "Lincoln" entered the race with 12 nominations,
but Ben Affleck's hostage drama "Argo" won virtually every top award
over the last month or two, culminating in Sunday's best picture Oscar.
As expected Daniel Day-Lewis won best actor for his role as the 16th
US president, but the only other award "Lincoln" won was for the
technical category of best production design, not one requiring
Spielberg on stage.
Last year Spielberg's epic "War Horse" fared even worse: it had six
nominations but failed to win in a single category.
The 66-year-old "E.T." and "Jurassic Park" filmmaker last won an
Oscar in 1999 for "Saving Private Ryan," as director. In 1994 he won
best picture and best director for "Schindler's List."
Affleck -- the first person to win best picture without being
nominated as director since "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1990 -- paid tribute
to Spielberg in his acceptance speech at the end of the 85th Academy
Awards.
"Steven Spielberg, I want to acknowledge, I feel is a genius and a
towering talent among us," said Affleck, who was not nominated for best
director or best actor at the Oscars, in a perceived snub.
Spielberg had been widely expected to win best director, but that
award went, to the surprise of some, to Taiwan-born filmmaker Ang Lee
for his 3D spectacular "Life of Pi." Last year's "War Horse" experience
recalled the 2005 Oscars, when Spielberg's "Munich" won not a single
award, despite five nominations including for best film and director.
AFP
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