Los Angeles Times | February 24, 2013 | 8:55 PM
"Argo," the juggernaut of this awards season, won the best picture Oscar at Sunday's 85th Academy Awards. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film about the rescue of six Americans during the Iranian revolution took the honor as widely predicted over eight other contenders, including Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," an early favorite for the top prize." --- The win by “Argo” demonstrates the difference — when it comes to predicting Oscar winners — between earning critical acclaim and earning an Academy Award.
“Zero Dark Thirty” may have won more plaudits from critics, but critics don’t vote in the Oscar balloting.
“Argo,” as FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver wrote, “won the top awards given out by Hollywood directors, producers, actors, writers and editors.” All those groups also vote for the Oscars.
In the Academy Awards, as in political elections, who votes, matters.---" /NEW YORK TIMES