77th Academy Awards
Comedian Chris Rock hit the stage at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday for his first stint as host of the Academy Awards ceremony. Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" was the night's big winner, nabbing statues for best picture, best director, best actress (Hilary Swank) and best supporting actor (Morgan Freeman). (WireImage.com photo)
 Ceremony review
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Modesty wins big
The four major Academy Awards for "Million Dollar Baby," which took home best picture, actress, supporting actor and director on Sunday, reveal a yearning for a Hollywood that is swiftly vanishing, ANNE THOMPSON writes.
'Baby' KO's Oscars
Although "The Aviator" lifted off early in the evening, by the time the 77th Annual Academy Awards reached its final round, Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" was declared the champ.
Backstage notes
"We're taking over, the AARP and me," Clint Eastwood joked backstage about the strong showing of the 65-plus crowd Sunday. Hilary Swank, Jamie Foxx, Morgan Freeman and all the other Academy Award winners also talked about their victories.
Full circle for Ruddy
Thirty-two years ago at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Clint Eastwood ambled onstage to open the winning Oscar envelope. Eastwood surprised the crowd by revealing that the winning picture was "The Godfather." With that, a young producer by the name of Albert S. Ruddy came to the stage to pick up the award.
Scorsese can relate
Irony hung heavy in the air for veteran auteur Martin Scorsese on Oscar night. This was the year the Academy chose to honor New York-based director Sidney Lumet, who was nominated five times but never won an Oscar. And ultimately, Scorsese, who didn't win the Oscar 20 years ago for "Raging Bull," lost this time around to a film about an underdog boxer.
More millions
"Million Dollar Baby's" four Academy Award wins -- most importantly for best picture -- surely will add money to Warner Bros. Pictures' coffers. The film, which already has earned $64 million in its 11 weeks at the boxoffice, should benefit greatly from the additional publicity.
Cates criticism
Producer Gil Cates' attempt to streamline Oscar tradition -- by having some nominees march out onstage before the winner was announced and asking other nominees to accept their awards from roving presenters in the audience -- was met with mixed approval.
Previous features
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2005 Academy Awards
Nominees and winners
Past nominees and winners:
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
2000 | 1999
Latest news
Cates faces critics (02/16)
ADG honors (02/14)
'Aviator' soars (02/14)
Sci-Tech Oscars (02/14)
Scorsese scores (02/10)
"A Very Long Engagement"
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75 Years of the Oscars
