Oscars 2012: top 10 Oscars moments

Ocars 2012: The 84th Academy Awards saw a silent film become an Oscar winer for the first time since the awards began 83 years ago. Here are the top 10 moments of this year's ceremony.

1) Host Billy Crystal’s comment that “nothing can take the sting out of economic problems like watching millionaires present gold statues to each other”.

2) Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter’s genuine surprise that they won for Best Editing for The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo. Hollywood thrives on violence in films. But they usually just make money, not win Oscars.

3) Two performers in their 80s were nominated for Oscars---both brilliant actors---Max Von Sydow and Christopher Plummer. Plummer, 82, became the oldest actor to win an Oscar---for Best Supporting Actor for Beginners.

4) One of the two winners of the Best Editing award thanked everyone who had “been born, reborn, or born again. If I’ve left you out, you probably know who you are”.

5) The gracious acceptance speech of Christopher Plummer for Best Supporting Actor for Beginners. Hollywood still has elements of class.

[Best actress Meryl Streep, left, for "The Iron Lady" and best actor Jean Dujardin for "The Artist" pose with their awards during the 84th Academy Awards Photo: AP]

6) Comedian Chris Rock, presenter for Best Animated film, is hilarious as he acts out how easy it is to earn a million dollars for “acting” in an animated movie.

7) Esperanza Spaulding and the Southern California’s Children Chorus’s dazzling performance of What A Wonderful World during the In Memoriam tribute.

8) Woody Allen winning Best Screenplay for Midnight in Paris but refusing yet again to show up to collect his award.

9) Jean Dujardin winning the Best Actor award for his portrayal of a silent film star in The Artist.

10) Meryl Streep, the most Oscar-nominated actor in history, thanks her husband Don before anyone else when accepting Best Actress award for The Iron Lady.