ACADEMY AWARD 2012 WINNERS

Actress Meryl Streep arrives for the British Academy of Film and Arts (BAFTA) award ceremony in London 

 

Los Angeles - a prestigious event for the 84th Academy Awards just finished last. Here's a list of Academy Award-winning and Oscar-winning steal.

Veteran actress Meryl StreepMeryl Streep for best actress in a film 'The Iron Lady'. 62-year-old actress beat rivals such as Glenn CloseGlenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help), Rooney Mara (The Girl Wiht the Dragon Tattoo) and Michelle Williams (My Week Wiht Marilyn).

As for the Best Actor, the jury decided to choose Pracis actor, Jean Durjadin through the film 'The Artist' are eligible to receive an Oscar. Jean is able to beat the big names such as Hollywood, George Clooney (The Descendants), Demian Bichir (A Better Lif), Gary OldmanGary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Brad PittBrad Pitt (Moneyball).

In addition to winning awards for the actors, the film 'The Artist' also won the award for Best Film and Best Director. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius managed to beat rivals such as, Alexander PayneAlexander Payne (The Descendants), Martin Scorsese (Hugo), Woody AllenWoody Allen (Midnight in Paris) and Terrence MalickTerrence Malick (The Tree of Life).

Here's the full list of Academy Award-winning awards in 2012:

Best Film: The Artist

Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress Companion: Octavia Spencer, 'The Help'

Best Actor Companion: Christopher PlummerChristopher Plummer, 'Beginners'

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, 'The Artist'

Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris, the author by Woody Allen

Best Adapted script: The Descendants, author of the manuscript: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Best Animated Film: Rango

Best Animated Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Best Short Film Game: The Shore

Best Directing: Hugo

Best Cinematography: Hugo

Best Costume: The Artist

Best Makeup: The Iron Lady

Best Documentary: Undefeated

Best Documentary Short Film: Saving Face

Best Film Editing: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Original composition: Hugo

Best Original Song: 'Man or Muppet', The Muppets; music and lyrics: Bret McKenzie

Best Sound Editor: Hugo

Best Visuail effect: Hugo

Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation (Iran)

CISSY HOUSTON SEEKING 'CLOSURE' BY REVISITING WHITNEY'S HOTEL ROOM

Whitney Houston's mother Cissy has unfinished business to attend to -- sources tell TMZ she's planning a pilgrimage BACK to the Beverly Hills hotel room where her daughter died ... all in an attempt to get some closure.

According to sources close to Cissy, she wants to go back to room 434 at the Beverly Hilton hotel and reestablish a spiritual connection with her daughter ... in order to come to terms with her sudden death.

We're told Cissy plans to pray while she's there -- and just spend quiet, contemplative time in the space.

As one source put it -- Cissy "won’t be at peace until she gets closure."

It's unclear when Cissy plans to return to the hotel room -- but we're told the visit will be soon ... she's currently planning out the logistics.

SEAN YOUNG ARRESTED FOR OSCAR PARTY FIGHT

And the handcuffs go to ... Sean Young -- who was busted by police at the official Oscar after party for allegedly getting physical with a security guard ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us ... Young was attending the Governor's Ball -- the annual schmancy Oscar party thrown by the Academy itself -- when she allegedly got into a dispute with a security guard and made contact.

We're told the "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" star was placed under citizens' arrest by security -- until LAPD arrived to take her into custody. Young was booked for her misdemeanor battery.


Update:
1:45AM  We just spotted Sean Young leaving the police station. She claims she was waiting with friends to enter the Governor's Ball when an Oscar official suggested security make a citizen's arrest. She did not say why the official made that suggestion ... or mention any physical encounter with the security guard.

9 INTRIGUING WHITNEY HOUSTON TRIBUTE ITEMS FOR SALE

It’s been nearly a week since Whitney Houston’s burial following her untimely death on the eve of the Grammys, and already the magazines (blogs too, *wink*) have been shamelessly exploiting her name.

Her music sales have boomed. The Bodyguard is slated for a re-release with bells and whistles, and a higher price tag.

But we must have more.

That’s where some enterprising online merchants come in. A sweep of sites like Etsy and eBay yield some quizzical tribute products being shilled to cash in while she’s still in the headlines.

So let’s take a look at the nine most ridiculous intriguing Whitney Houston tribute items for sale.

NICKI MINAJ LIVENS UP THE 2012 NBA ALL-STAR GAME

 Bringing her energy to the annual sports spectacle, Nicki Minaj helped open up the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, Florida on Sunday (February 26).

The 29-year-old took to a makeshift stage at the Amway center while delving into a medley of songs including "Moment 4 Life” and fan favorite “Super Bass.”

The appearance comes shortly after Miss Minaj made headlines thanks to a controversial Catholic-themed exorcism performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Responding to the critics, Nicki told Entertainment Weekly, “I don’t know, what is the big issue? You know how people write plays and movies? That’s what I did. I wrote that and I gave the world a tiny little preview of what’s to come. And I have to perform it on the set in which the movie would be, right?”

JAY-Z KANYE WEST TO AUCTION OFF 'OTIS' MAYBACH

Hip hop heavyweights and joint collaborators on the ‘Watch The Throne‘ album, Jay Z and Kanye West are set to auction off the ‘re-modelled’ Maybach car used in their breath-taking 2011 ‘Otis‘ music video.

The $350,000 luxury vehicle which was famously de-constructed in the Spike Jonze-directed video is expected to be sold off at Phillips de Pury auction house on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

Proceeds from the sale are expected to go towards funding a Save the Children charity foundation. Auctioneers hope to fetch about a hundred thousand dollars from the sale.

Simon de Pury, chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company, states ‘Jay-Z and Kanye West are towering figures in contemporary culture … Their video for ‘Otis’ became an instant classic. The Maybach they have transformed for it has the starring role.‘

Carolyn Miles, President and CEO of Save the Children went on to state that money brought in from the auction will benefit families in East Africa.

‘The funds raised from auctioning off the ‘Otis’ car are greatly needed to help sustain families over the next several months. We are grateful to Jay-Z and Kanye West for offering up pop culture history to do good for children in Africa.‘

Funds from the sale of the car are estimated to feed more than 4,300 children in the ‘Horn of Africa’.

IAN SOMERHALDER: 2012 SPIRIT AWARDS FAN FAVORITE

He's a favorite with the ladies, and Ian Somerhalder showed up as expected at the 2012 Film Independent's Spirit Awards on Saturday (February 25).

Taking to the Santa Monica locale, the "Vampire Diaries" actor looked suave in a suit as he mingled his way down the purple carpet ahead of the annual beachfront event.

Drawing plenty of star power, the 2012 Film Independent's Spirit Awards will see big names such as Jessica Chastain, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elizabeth Banks and Ewan McGregor take the stage as presenters.

Meanwhile, the show will air at 10:00 ET on IFC with Seth Rogen handling the hosting duties.

BANKY W FOR COCA COLA

Banky W is the face of a new campaign by Coca-Cola Nigeria. Big boys chopping big money...:-)

NELSON MANDELA IN STABLE CONDITION AFTER SURGERY

Former president of the republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela is reportedly in stable condition after undergoing a surgery on the night of February 24, 2012.

Mr Mandela was rushed to hospital after initial complaints of long-standing abdominal pains, which needed ‘proper specialist medical attention’.

A government spokesman said the former leader was ‘in good spirits and well’.

I can assure you that the former president is in good spirits and well,’ said Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for South Africa president, Jacob Zuma.

He revealed that further information would be released once Mr Zuma and the Mandela family received a full medical report from doctors, but that the former president’s life was not in danger.

‘This was a long-standing complaint – nothing that cropped up suddenly and needed emergency attention‘, said Mr Maharaj, who was in prison in Robben Island with Mr Mandela.

‘But it is an issue that the doctors treating him felt needed specialist attention, and so arrangements were made accordingly‘.

The 93-year-old statesman and anti-apartheid icon has suffered declining health in recent years.

In a statement, President Jacob Zuma’s office said the ‘love and good wishes of all South Africans and people throughout the world’ were with Mr Mandela, and asked for his family to be given privacy

Mandela recently returned to Johannesburg from his rural home in the Eastern Cape and in January last year, he received treatment in the city’s Milpark Hospital for a serious chest infection.

The ‘Madiba’, as he is fondly called by South Africans, retired from public life eight years ago – his last public appearance was at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

WHITNEY HOUSTON'S CLOTHING AND JEWELRY STAGED FOR THE AUCTION BLOCK!

Whitney Houston fans, the late songstress’s clothing and jewelry are already being staged for the auction block next month! But people are asking why are they on sale so soon?

Per reports, at least these three items will be up for auction, the pearl-drop earrings and vest that Whitney wore in the Warner Brothers 1992 film, The Bodyguard, also starring Kevin CostnerKevin Costner, who played the bodyguard, as well as a black evening gown from her personal wardrobe.

The faux pearl earrings are being listed with an opening bid of $600, along with a brown brocade vest listed for $400 and her own black velvet gown, valued at $1,000 but like to sell for far more.

These items are going to be part of the “Hollywood Legends” auction, which is scheduled to run on Saturday March 31, 2012 through Sunday April 1st at the Julien’s Auctions gallery in Beverly Hills, California. Whitney Houston’s fans and investors can bid online, by phone or in person.

Lots will be on view during a free public exhibition that begins on March 19 at the Julien's Auctions gallery in Beverly Hills, only blocks away from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Whitney Houston died in room 434 at age 48 on February 11, just one day short of the Grammy Awards.

But why are her personal effects being auctioned off so soon, you may ask? Well, according to celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien, these pieces and other items from Houston’s estate “became available” after the singer's unexpected death and are to be included in a “long-planned” sale of Hollywood memorabilia such as those belonging to other legends, including Clark GableClark Gable's jacket from "Gone With the Wind," a cane that belonged to Charlie Chaplin, and Charlton Heston's staff from “The Ten Commandments.”

As Mr Julien so eloquently put it, Ms Houston is “someone who's going to maintain a collectability.” For Whitney Houston’s fans who never got to meet her or see her in person or at a concert, this is one chance to own something that was very much a part of her life and the auction is a celebration of her life!