Billy Crystal to Host 2012 Oscars

Now that Eddie Murphy has vacated the spot, the Academy has gone back to basics in the form of Billy Crystal, who has hosted the Oscar ceremony eight times before.

Press release here.

Murphy and Ratner Bow Out of the 2012 Oscars

This just in: Eddie Murphy will not be hosting next year's Academy Awards after all. It was also announced yesterday that Brett Ratner - the show's producer - was leaving due to a wave of controversy regarding several comments he had made recently, including a homophobic slur and inappropriate sexual indiscretions about his relationships with Olivia Munn and Lindsay Lohan.

For more info, go here and here.

The Decades: 1950s

1950: Sunset Blvd.

Oscar winner: All About Eve
Was this film nominated?: Yes

1951: Ace in the Hole

Oscar winner: An American in Paris

Was this film nominated?: No

1952: Singin' in the Rain

Oscar winner: The Greatest Show on Earth
Was this film nominated?: No

1953: The Wages of Fear

Oscar winner: From Here to Eternity

Was this film nominated?: No

1954: Rear Window

Oscar winner: On the Waterfront
Was this film nominated?: No

1955: The Night of the Hunter

Oscar winner: Marty

Was this film nominated?: No

1956: Giant

Oscar winner: Around the World in Eighty Days
Was this film nominated?: Yes

1957: The Seventh Seal

Oscar winner: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Was this film nominated?: No

1958: Vertigo

Oscar winner: Gigi
Was this film nominated?: No

1959: Rio Bravo

Oscar winner: Ben-Hur
Was this film nominated?: No

Double Feature: Midnight Express (1978) and Breaking Away (1979)

Midnight Express:

In this true-story film directed by Alan Parker, Brad Davis stars as Billy Hayes, who was imprisoned in a Turkish prison from 1970 to 1975. Though their is controversy over the events portrayed in the film, it does remain an effective political thriller from a great decade in American cinema.

The film received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (John Hurt), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score. Oliver Stone won his first Oscar for the film's screenplay, and Giorgio Moroder's synthetic score was also honored with a win.

Breaking Away:

Peter Yates' 1979 film is another true-story film, chronicling the "cutters" (townies) of Bloomington, Indiana and their cycling victory at the Little 500. While it is light and comedic, the film does hold up as a great sports movie and a worthy Best Picture nominee.

The film received nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress (Barbara Barrie), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score. Aside from winning Best Original Screenplay, it is slightly disappointing that Paul Dooley didn't get a Best Supporting Actor nomination.

Happy Halloween

2000s: My Ballots

Due to time constraints, I am only doing ballots for the Academy's top eight categories. Until I get to the other decades, enjoy my ballots from 2000-2009 after the jump.

2009:

Best Picture:
The Hurt Locker
In the Loop
Lorna's Silence
A Prophet
Summer Hours (winner)

Best Director:
Olivier Assayas, Summer Hours (winner)
Jacques Audiard, A Prophet
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne, Lorna's Silence
Michael Haneke, The White Ribbon

The Decades: 1940s

1940: The Philadelphia Story

Oscar winner: Rebecca
Was this film nominated?: Yes

1941: The Maltese Falcon

Oscar winner: How Green Was My Valley
Was this film nominated?: Yes

1942: The Magnificent Ambersons

Oscar winner: Mrs. Miniver
Was this film nominated?: Yes

1943: Casablanca

Oscar winner: Casablanca

1944: Double Indemnity

Oscar winner: Going My Way
Was this film nominated?: Yes

1945: Brief Encounter

Oscar winner: The Lost Weekend

Was this film nominated?: No (wasn't eligible until 1946)

1946: Notorious

Oscar winner: The Best Years of Our Lives
Was this film nominated?: No

1947: Black Narcissus

Oscar winner: Gentleman's Agreement
Was this film nominated?: No

1948: The Red Shoes

Oscar winner: Hamlet
Was this film nominated?: Yes

1949: The Third Man

Oscar winner: All the King's Men
Was this film nominated?: No (wasn't eligible until 1950)