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The Aviator soars to early Oscar victories
The Aviator soared through early honors at the Oscars, winning five awards in categories including best supporting actress for Australian Cate Blanchett.
The Aviator, an epic tale of the eccentric life of billionaire Howard Hughes, soared through early honors at the Oscars on Sunday, winning five awards in categories including best supporting actress for Australian Cate Blanchett.
Aviator, directed by Martin Scorsese and the most nominated film in 11 categories, also earned Oscars for art direction, costume design, film editing and cinematography.
Yet to come were the night's top honors where the film's star Leonardo DiCaprio is nominated for best actor, Scorsese is nominated for best director and the film is up for best motion picture.
Blanchett, wearig a a pale gold Valentino couture gown, accepted her award for playing onetime Hughes love Katharine Hepburn with the grace that Hepburn might have exhibited, while backstage she used the same salty language as the great star.
She smiled broadly and held her Oscar in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other. She said she was still shocked at winning and when asked by a fellow Australian whether Oscar would change her life, she quipped, "Absolutely, you asshole."
She carried one of Hepburn's gloves with her to the Oscars for good luck. It apparently worked.
Veteran actor Morgan Freeman won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in Million Dollar Baby and critical hit The Incredibles was named best animated feature, beating rival Shrek 2, 2004's No. 1 box office movie.
Writer-director Alexander Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor of comedy Sideways, which is competing for best motion picture against Million Dollar Baby and The Aviator, won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
