Oscar nominees George Clooney, Christopher Plummer and Viola Davis waved to fans on the red carpet ahead of the 84th annual Academy Awards. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 26, 2012) (AMPAS POOL/REUTERS) - Actors George Clooney, Christopher Plummer and an array of stars walked the red carpet just prior to the 84th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California on Sunday (February 26). The excitement could be felt worldwide, as Matthias Schoenaerts, actor of Belgium film "Bullhead," said fans in Belgium were ecstatic. "It's like a mass psychosis or something," the actor said. "Everybody is so concerned, it's like playing the World Cup final, the way it feels. I think the people in Belgium are going crazy over it." "The Artist" actor James Cromwell said that the silent, black and white movie spoke to people because it presented an intellectual aspect to film. "I think audiences are not used to being engaged the way 'The Artist' engages them," Cromwell said. "They're spoonfed almost everything. They're directed by the camera as to what to see. Everything is done in close-up. You have a soundtrack that is phenomenal, and overwhelming you. You have 3-D, special effects. All they really do is sit there and watch this thing and it rolls over them. As soon as the lights come up, their only concern is where they parked their car. This one you have to work at it." Joseph Cedar, director of Israeli film "Footnote," was looking forward to winding down at the end of Oscars night. "Well it's the end of the process," Cedar said. "Hopefully there's closure in this whole last part of the run. In Cannes the film just begins its run. You don't know how to react to it. At this point we know pretty much how audiences will respond. And hopefully at the end of the ceremony we can say goodbye to this film and move on in our life." The 84th annual Academy Awards airs on February 26. |
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