84TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

Oscars 2012 live update

From the red carpet to the last statue, Globe film critic Wesley Morris blogs the 84th Academy Awards.

Composer Ludovic Bource, actress Penelope Ann Miller, producer Thomas Langmann, director Michel Hazanavicius, and actress Bérénice Bejo accept the best picture Oscar for

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Composer Ludovic Bource, actress Penelope Ann Miller, producer Thomas Langmann, director Michel Hazanavicius, and actress Bérénice Bejo accept the best picture Oscar for "The Artist."

Meryl Streep accepted the best actress award for her work in

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Meryl Streep accepted the best actress award for her work in "The Iron Lady."

Jean Dujardin of

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Jean Dujardin of "The Artist" was congratulated by co-star Berenice Bejo before accepting the Oscar for best actor in a leading role.

Director Michel Hazanavicius accepted the best director Oscar for

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Director Michel Hazanavicius accepted the best director Oscar for "The Artist."

Christopher Plummer accepted the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in

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Christopher Plummer accepted the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in "Beginners."

Octavia Spencer accepts the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Octavia Spencer accepted the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in "The Help."

Members of the cast of

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Members of the cast of "Bridesmaids," from left to right, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy. They presented the award for best live action short.

Presenters Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy took a drink before announcing the award for best documentary short.

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Presenters Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy took a drink before announcing the award for best documentary short.

Angelina Jolie presented the best adapted screenplay award to Alexander Payne for

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Angelina Jolie presented the best adapted screenplay award to Alexander Payne for "The Descendants."

Nat Faxon and Jim Rash accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for

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Nat Faxon and Jim Rashalso also accepted the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for "The Descendants."

Penelope Cruz and Owen Wilson presented the award for best original score.

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Penelope Cruz and Owen Wilson presented the award for best original score.

Ludovic Bource accepted the Oscar for best original score for this work on

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Ludovic Bource accepted the best original score award for this work on "The Artist."

Bret McKenzie accepted the Oscar for best original song for

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Bret McKenzie accepted the Oscar for best original song for "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets."

Gwyneth Paltrow grabs the jacket of Robert Downey Jr. before they presented the Oscar for best documentary feature.

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Gwyneth Paltrow grabbed the jacket of Robert Downey Jr. before they presented the Oscar for best documentary feature.

Director TJ Martin (c), Dan Lindsay (r) and Rich Middlemas accept their Oscars for best documentary feature film for

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Director TJ Martin (c), Dan Lindsay (r) and Rich Middlemas accepted their Oscars for best documentary feature film for "Undefeated."

Presenter Chris Rock joked with the audience.

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Presenter Chris Rock joked with the audience.

Members of the audience looked on as Cirque du Soleil performed.

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Members of the audience looked on as Cirque du Soleil performed.

Asghar Farhadi, director of Iranian film

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Asghar Farhadi, director of Iranian film "A Separation," accepted the award for best foreign language film.

Presenters Tina Fey and Bradley Cooper laughed together onstage.

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Presenters Tina Fey and Bradley Cooper laughed together onstage.

Sandra Bullock presented the Oscar for best foreign language film.

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Sandra Bullock presented the Oscar for best foreign language film.

Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall accept the Oscar for best film editing for

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall accepted the Oscar for best film editing for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

Host Billy Crystal performed a dance during his show kick-off.

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Host Billy Crystal performed a dance during his show kick-off.

Hanks handed over the award for best art direction to Dante Feretti and Francesca lo Schiavo for

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Hanks handed over the award for best art direction to Dante Feretti and Francesca lo Schiavo for "Hugo."

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/02/27/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/OSC119_OSCARS-_0227_11-1416--90x90.jpg ‘The Artist,’ ‘Hugo’ win big at Oscars

Martin Scorsese’s Paris adventure film took five awards, while the “The Artist” won for best picture.

Movie Review

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2011/12/22/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/18artistaresize.jpg ‘The Artist’ is close to perfection

The silent film isn’t perfect, but it’s close enough to make just about anyone who sees it ridiculously happy.

Actress Penelope Cruz was one of the night’s presenters.

Penelope Cruz, Rooney Mara stun with style

Seasoned style stars were joined by many new fashion faces for tonight’s 84th Academy Awards.

Patrick Kennedy says Brown misstates father’s views

The son of Edward M. Kennedy asked Scott Brown to stop citing the late senator in radio advertisements.

Romney again defends his wealth

Mitt Romney said in a television interview today that he had been “extraordinarily successful” and that he sees himself as an underdog in the Michigan primary Tuesday.

Jacoby Ellsbury talks about lineup, free agency

The Red Sox center fielder spoke about his hitting preference and the chances that he’ll stay in Boston beyond 2013.

MGH researchers discover stem cell that makes eggs

The researchers said they have discovered a stem cell in women’s ovaries that might be used to make eggs, a claim already generating debate among scientists.

“Unfortunately, too many people in this country, also in academe, feel that a place or a space to discourse and debate race and democracy is passé.”

James Jennings,  a Tufts professor of urban environmental policy

Globe Insiders

Globe Insider Event | March 5, 5:30 p.m.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/02/17/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/508746086[1]--90x90.jpg ‘The Real Romney’

Globe editorial page editor Peter S. Canellos moderates a discussion with Globe writers Scott Helman, Scot Lehigh, and Frank Phillips on the Republican presidential candidate.

Inside The Boston Globe

Heavy rain soaked Daytona International Speedway today in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Rain forces postponement of Daytona 500

Living longer, living better

Can surgery help you stay in the game?

Your Taxes

Romneys’ 1040s offer tips for filing

Product Reviews

Doing your mortgage homework

Coupling

Proposing on February 29

video

Bobby Valentine: No more beer

Perspective

High school and its discontents
The Death Star, from “Star Wars.”

Brainiac

The Death Star? That’ll run you at least $8.52 quadrillion
Baratunde Thurston

Q&A

Baratunde Thurston’s guide to being black

Ideas

Where American criminal justice went wrong
Christian Bale (left), who won last year’s best supporting actor Oscar, and Mark Wahlberg made ‘‘The Fighter’’ in Massachusetts.

Bay State a bit out of focus

Does winning an Oscar open doors for black actors?

Metro

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A view of the Starbucks in Beverly where a Hamilton police sergeant allegedly shot a Beverly police officer late Friday afternoon.

Beverly officer shot by Hamilton sergeant is recovering

The Beverly police officer who was shot and seriously injured by a Hamilton police sergeant Friday is recovering at a local hospital, his department said today.

Business

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ON THE JOB

Modifications can keep seniors at home

Roy Carreiro, 34, is part of a team that installs home modifications so those with physical limitations can continue to live safely.

Columnists

Red Sox owner John Henry didn’t address the full team yesterday, but he and Kevin Youkilis shared a moment.

Dan Shaughnessy

Chatter from Sox owner John Henry was minimal

Yvonne Abraham

Making Magic at North Bennet Street School
Participants happily get on the move with multi-sport activities in Somerville.

DERRICK Z. JACKSON | Generation fitness

In Arlington, a model for nation

LOVE LETTERS

He’s a workaholic
Rihanna and Chris Brown perform in NewYork in 2008, the year before he attacked her.

Joan Vennochi

Domestic abuse, without the fame and glamour

Dan Shaughnessy

David Ortiz identifies critical error

Christopher L. Gasper

Widely known that they need a receiver

Lawrence Harmon

The weak-kneed BU Law School

Boston Capital

Clean Harbors Inc. cleans up financially

EDWARD L. GLAESER

Excitement deserves a tax break
New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (center, in shorts) has the attention of his players (mostly pitchers) as he addresses them before a workout yesterday in Fort Myers, Fla.

Dan Shaughnessy

Pedroia still smarting from failures of 2011

Scot Lehigh

Santorum’s faith is too extreme

Nation & World

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A Syrian woman cast her ballot at a polling station in Damascus, Syria, today.

West calls Syrian vote a ‘farce’

The US and its allies dismissed the Syrian regime’s referendum on a new constitution as a ‘‘farce’’ meant to justify the bloody crackdown on dissent.

Sports

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Paul Pierce’s focus on a title run

While management must decide on the Celtics’ transition to the next era, Paul Pierce is consumed with making the best of a difficult season.

Living Longer, Living Better

Special Section

Guide to health, wealth, and happiness

Advice on how to get the most out of your retirement.

Arts

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critic’s notebook

Laura Latreille and Barlow Adamson in Lyric Stage Company of Boston's production of

On local stages, female leads challenge male assumptions

Four productions have arrived in Boston-area theaters at a political moment when traditional male authority seems to be looking for opportunities to reassert itself.

Travel

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Sox park puts new spring into a Florida visit

This year, there is even more excitement in the warm Fort Myers air: the Sox have a new, $78 million spring training facility, JetBlue Park.

Books

BOOK REVIEW

“The End of Money” by David Wolman

‘The End of Money’ by David Wolman

Wolman examines the current state of the physical cash system worldwide, why we might be better off without it, and what the future might hold.

Magazine

The cover for the February 26 2012 issue

24 hours in Kendall Square
The cover for the February 19 2012 issue

Renovated Newport firehouse is calm, cool, and collected
The cover for the February 12 2012 issue

Boston wedding venue guide
The cover for the February 5 2012 issue

What if the lights go out?

Opinion

“It may be harder to imagine Rihanna as a victim, given her fame, fortune, and projection of strength ... but that is also part of society’s stereotypical thinking about who is an obvious victim and why.”

Joan Vennochi 

Ideas

“As criminal justice became a clash of mandates and bureaucratic rules, it became untethered from what was once its basic function: separating the guilty from the innocent and delivering fair punishment.”

Leon Neyfakh, on “The Collapse of American Criminal Justice”