By LOU LUMENICK Post Movie Critic
February 26, 2007
Big Apple favorite Martin Scorsese yesterday departed from his role as perennial runner-up and scored a huge double win - snagging Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.
"Could you double-check the envelope," joked the bushy-eyebrowed director after his mob flick "The Departed" won the top prize for director.
The Queens native, who had been nominated five times before without a victory, said, "Thank you. I mean it. I'm overwhelmed."
The director award was given to Scorsese by fellow filmmaking legends Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
"So many people over the years have been wishing this for me. Strangers, I go into doctors' offices, people say, 'I wish you'd win this,' " Scorsese said.
"The Departed," a complex thriller about an undercover cop infiltrating the Irish mob, gave Scorsese the ultimate Hollywood honor that "Raging Bull" (1980), "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), "GoodFellas" (1990), "Gangs of New York" (2002) and "The Aviator" (2004) couldn't deliver.
The "Departed" award for Best Picture was presented by Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson, who sported a Britney look -- a clean-shaved dome.
"Departed" star Leonardo DiCaprio, nominated for "Blood Diamond," fell short in his bid for Best Actor, which went to Forest Whitaker, for his chilling portrayal of bloodthirsty dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland."
Veteran actor Peter O'Toole ("Venus") was the sentimental favorite. But he, DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling ("Half Nelson") and Will Smith ("The Pursuit of Happyness") could only sit and applaud for Whitaker, who reflected on his childhood in east Texas and South Central Los Angeles.
"When I was a kid, the only way I saw movies was from the back seat of my family's car at the drive-in," he said. "It wasn't my reality to think I would be acting in movies."
The Best Actress nod went to Helen Mirren for "The Queen," about the royals' reaction to the death of Princess Diana.
Mirren bested Penelope Cruz ("Volver"), Judi Dench ("Notes on a Scandal"), Meryl Streep ("The Devil Wears Prada") and Kate Winslet ("Little Children").
Hollywood newcomer Jennifer Hudson completed her rags-to-riches story, capturing the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
The singer-turned-actress fell just short of winning "American Idol" three years ago, but took home the entertainment world's biggest prize for her work in "Dreamgirls."
"I just have to take this moment in," a crying Hudson said. "I can't believe this. I didn't think I was going to win, but wow!"
