A year ago no one knew anything about a French film called “The Artist” made in Los Angeles by French people for $15 million. No American knew the names of Jean DuJardin and Michel Hazanavicius or Berenice Bejo. Then in May, producer Thomas Langmann showed Harvey Weinstein this silent black and white movie about the end of the silent film era. And the rest is history.
Now DuJardin, a French TV star, told me at 4am Pacific, “I am shocked.” At a late late after party around the pool at the Chateau Marmont, cast and crew celebrated. Some jumped in the pool fully clothed. Almost everyone spoke French. DuJardin gripped his gold Oscar statue with a death grip. “Have you met my new friend?” he asked people as he showed off his prize. “I still cannot believe it.” His wife said that her emails from France were overwhelming. “They are so proud at home.”
Move up Move down “The Artist” and the Medium-Agnostic Appeal of Old Tech Allen St. John Contributor The Most Controversial Dress At Oscars 2012 Jane Lee Forbes Staff A little later, the cast and crew moved over to the Four Seasons Hotel for a live interview with Ann Curry on The Today Show. Harvey Weinstein accompanied them. Altogether he picked up 9 of the 16 Oscars for which his company was nominated including getting Meryl Streep her first Oscar in 29 years, and another for the documentary, “Undefeated.” For Weinstein, it was his second Best Picture in a row. Last year it was “The King’s Speech. ” Add these to “ Chicago,” “The English Patient,” and “Shakespeare in Love” — all Best Picture winners, plus dozens and dozens of nominees from “Pulp Fiction” to “The Cider House Rules” to “The Aviator”–Weinstein is the single most winning studio head in history.
Streep’s win is particularly poignant. She has two Oscars, from 1979 and 1982, yet with 17 nominations, the public perceived her as having many more statues. She’s come close with “Doubt,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Music of My Heart,” “Bridges of Madison County”–and so many more. Winning at last after 29 years meant beating her friend Viola Davis. But Streep is human and can only stand so much. The Academy obviously agreed.
More later this afternoon from my visits to the Elton John and Vanity Fair parties, all star studded…
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