News briefs: White House grant helped pay for New York Police Dept. spying on Muslims

Nostalgia rules as ‘The Artist,’ ‘Hugo’ dominate safe, predictable Academy Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nostalgia ruled at the Oscars, with the classic film homages “The Artist” and “Hugo” dominating with five awards each, Meryl Streep winning her first best-actress prize in nearly three decades and longtime favorite Billy Crystal returning as host.

It was a rather safe, predictable affair all around, with the winners who’ve heard their names throughout awards season being called up on stage one last time Sunday night. “The Artist,” a black-and-white love letter to silent film, won best picture, best director for France’s Michel Hazanavicius and best actor for Jean Dujardin as an actor who finds his career in danger with the arrival of the talkies. It also earned prizes for costume design and original score.

“Hugo,” Martin Scorsese’s 3-D mixture of family adventure and plea for film preservation, collected its prizes in the technical categories: cinematography, art direction, sound mixing, sound editing and visual effects.

Streep, the most celebrated actress of our generation, found herself in the unusual position of playing the sentimental, underdog favorite. Many (including AP’s film writers) had chosen Viola Davis as the likely favorite to win best actress for her formidable portrayal of a maid in the 1960s South in “The Help.” But Streep, who’s been nominated more than any other actor in Oscar history — 17 times — hadn’t won since 1982’s “Sophie’s Choice.”

The glittering crowd in the theater (and journalists in the press room alike) erupted in gasps and cheers when Streep’s name was called for her uncanny performance as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” Streep was quick to thank her longtime makeup artist J. Roy Helland, who was also a winner Sunday night, for transforming her for the past 37 years.

 

List of 84th annual Academy Award winners

List of the 84th Annual Academy Award winners announced Sunday:

1. Best Picture: “The Artist.”

2. Actor: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist.”

3. Actress: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady.”

4. Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners.”

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Afghan official: 4 insurgents killed in failed attempt to attack base with rocket

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An Afghan official says four insurgents were killed by a rocket that they were trying to fire into an Afghan-run military base in the east of the country.

Nazian district administrator Mohammad Issa says the insurgents clashed with Afghan soldiers outside the base on Monday.

He says they were killed when the rocket they were trying to shoot into the base instead exploded among them.

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AP Exclusive: White House grant money paid for NYPD blanket surveillance of Muslims, mosques