Meryl Streep and Jean Dujardin at The 2012 Academy Awards, photo by abigailtries on Tumblr

Martin Scorsese’s Hugo and silent movie The Artist topped the night with five wins apiece. The Artist brought silence back, being the first silent movie to win Best Picture since 1928. Jean Dujardin won Best actor in a leading role, and Michel Hazanivicius took home the statuette for Achievement in Directing.

Christopher Plummer at The 2012 Academy Awards, photo by whyilovetoronto on Tumblr

Meryl Streep won her third Oscar at the 2012 Academy Awards. This was her 17th nomination. Also, Christopher Plummer is Best actor in a supporting role, being the oldest actor to ever win an Oscar, at 82. You’re only two years older than me darling, where have you been all my life?, the talented actor asked the shiny statuette. Nice opener.

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash at the 2012 Academy Awards, photo by abigailtries on Tumblr

Octavia Spencer was extremely emotional at the 84th Annual Academy Awards – she won Best actress in a supporting role. In other news, Woody Allen, not present, as always, was awarded the Oscar for Best original screenplay, while Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash won Best adapted screenplay for The Descendants. The complete winners list below.

Best cinematography: Robert Richardson, Hugo
Best art direction: Hugo
Best costume design: The Artist
Best make up: The Iron Lady
Best foreign language film: A Separation
Best actress in a supporting role: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best film editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best sound editing: Hugo
Best sound mixing: Hugo
Best documentary feature: Undefeated
Best animated film: Rango
Best visual effects: Hugo
Best actor in a supporting role: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best original score: Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Best song: Man or Muppet, The Muppets
Best adapted screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash, The Descendants
Best original screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best live action short: The Shore
Best documentary short: Saving Face
Best animated short: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore
Best director: Michel Hazavanicius, The Artist
Best actor in a leading role: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best actress in a leading role: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best picture: The Artist

What do you think – were this year’s Oscars predictable or were you surprised by Academy voters choices? Sound off in the comments!