Oscars 2012: Academy Award winners

"The Artist" won the coveted Oscar for best picture, beating out eight other films, including "Hugo," "The Descendants" and "The Help." The award went to Thomas Langmann, the film's producer.

“The Artist” won the coveted Oscar for best picture, beating out eight other films, including “Hugo,” “The Descendants” and “The Help.” The award went to Thomas Langmann, the film’s producer, seen at far left in the left photo.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times; The Weinstein Co.)

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By Noelene Clark

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Jean Dujardin won the Academy Award for lead actor for his performance in "The Artist," beating out Demián Bichir for "A Better Life," George Clooney for "The Descendants," Brad Pitt for "Moneyball" and Gary Oldman for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

Jean Dujardin won the Academy Award for lead actor for his performance in “The Artist,” beating out Demián Bichir for “A Better Life,” George Clooney for “The Descendants,” Brad Pitt for “Moneyball” and Gary Oldman for “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.”  (The Weinstein Co.; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Meryl Streep won the leading actress Oscar for her performance in "The Iron Lady," beating out Viola Davis for "The Help," Rooney Mara for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," Glenn Close for "Albert Nobbs" and Michelle Williams for "My Week With Marilyn."

Meryl Streep won the leading actress Oscar for her performance in “The Iron Lady,” beating out Viola Davis for “The Help,” Rooney Mara for “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” Glenn Close for “Albert Nobbs” and Michelle Williams for “My Week With Marilyn.”  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times; The Weinstein Co.)

Michel Hazanavicius won an Academy Award for directing "The Artist." Other director nominees were Terrence Malick for "The Tree of Life," Woody Allen for "Midnight in Paris," Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and Martin Scorsese, who last month nabbed the Golden Globe for directing "Hugo."

Michel Hazanavicius won an Academy Award for directing “The Artist.” Other director nominees were Terrence Malick for “The Tree of Life,” Woody Allen for “Midnight in Paris,” Alexander Payne for “The Descendants” and Martin Scorsese, who last month nabbed the Golden Globe for directing “Hugo.”  (The Weinstein Co.; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Christopher Plummer won the supporting actor Academy Award for "Beginners." He beat out Kenneth Branagh for "My Week With Marilyn," Jonah Hill for "Moneyball," Nick Nolte for "Warrior" and Max von Sydow for "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close."

Christopher Plummer won the supporting actor Academy Award for “Beginners.” He beat out Kenneth Branagh for “My Week With Marilyn,” Jonah Hill for “Moneyball,” Nick Nolte for “Warrior” and Max von Sydow for “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.”  (Andrew Tepper / Focus Features; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Bridges won the costume design Oscar for "The Artist."

Mark Bridges won the costume design Oscar for “The Artist.”  (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

"The Artist" won the Academy Award for original score. The Oscar went to composer Ludovic Bource, right.

“The Artist” won the Academy Award for original score. The Oscar went to composer Ludovic Bource, right.  (The Weinstein Company; Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)