MTV Movie Awards 2012: Something For Everyone

This year’s 21st MMA’s were billed as an award show upgrade. A classier, broader scoped version of the usual frantic fun, in a show generally regarded as pop-goes-to-the-movies.

But, aside from a few new award categories and the dropping of others, this was a ‘something for everyone’ event – intent on ‘spreading the love’ among the contenders and preventing the near monopolization of awards wins by The Twilight Saga.

From MTV’s perspective, the business of doing ‘business’ with huge studios, agents and the movie industry as a whole, means everyone wants a shake of ‘prize tree.’ And in a year packed with strong releases MTV were clearly keen to level the playing field.

Hence the introduction of its industry “voting academy” to decide the choices in the categories, in particular, this year’s “Breakthrough Performance” award could only be voted on by that “academy.”

Of course, these changes did not result in sudden appearance of arty, left-field winners on Sunday. The not-at-all-obvious shut-out of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 as a possible choice in a number of categories – meant films such as The Hunger Games, Bridemaids, and Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part 2 had a much stronger shot at winning.

Aired live from the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal City, a total of 15 awards (with some not televised) were handed out in between emceeing by Brit comedian and actor Russell Brand, new footage from the forthcoming The Dark Knight Rises introduced by Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and some cute prize-giving pair-ups – notably Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender, Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum and Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

Highlights:

The Hunger Games: Nominated for eight, it came away with four. “Best Female” and “Best Male” for Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson respectively. The film also picked up “Best On-Screen Transformation” for Elizabeth Banks as “Effie Trinket.” “Best Fight” was won by Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson for their rumble with Alexander Ludwig.

Bridesmaids: Also nominated for four, came away with two wins. “Best Comedic performance” and “Best Gut Wrenching Performance.”

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1: Proving it remains a unbeatable juggernaut, BD1 took the top prize winning “Movie of the Year.” And for the fourth year in a row Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart won the award for “Best Kiss” for the wedding scene in BD Part 1.

As Pattinson is currently in Toronto promoting Cosmopolis, Stewart accepted the award on her own saying, “God, Rob’s not here, you guys. I don’t – I don’t really know what to do”, before attempting a solo ‘make out.’

The “Breakthrough Performance” award went to Shailene Woodley for The Descendants.

The “MTV Generation Award” was given to Johnny Depp who quipped that it was the “get-out-of-the-business award” after rocking out on stage with The Black Keys.

A new “Trailblazing” Award was given to Emma Stone star of The Amazing Spider-Man and Crazy, Stupid Love.

It was quite a night. One question though: How many awards would The Twilight Saga have won had it been shortlisted for more categories?

The Twilight Saga cast accepting the award for “Best Movie”

Kristen Stewart accepting the award for “Best Kiss”

Johnny Depp and The Black Keys

Full list of winners.