Academy Awards 2009: The Wrap Up Report

As predicted Slumdog Millionaire  swept the 81’st Oscars with 8 awards.  MILK also won several awards including Best Actor, upsetting Mickey Rourke’s winning streak.  The entire show had a new refreshing tone that was welcome and seriously needed.  

Hugh Jackman pulled off a bizarre yet comical performance as Oscar host, reminding me a little of Billy Crystal‘s past performances.  I loved the fact that the writers made fun of not nominating The Dark Knight for Best Picture.  At least they were able to joke about it, in an attempt to win-over TDK fans tuning in.  The overall look of the show was art-deco in style, yet new in overall pace and structure.  Instead of using simple set pieces and long winded dolly shots the producers used deep physical sets in an attempt to retro the look, and it paid off !!!  The show had a refreshing vibe, overall awkward in the beginning but then seemed to find its groove with the exception of the super lame “musical tribute”.  I also loved the way the show structure was set up to chronologically explain how films are assembled more or less ending with Best Picture.  Very cool aspect, I liked that idea!  Having the past actors introduce the nominees was a bit much, but I seemed to be able to deal with it after awhile.  I did feel Cuba Gooding’s remarks to Robert Downey Jr were pretty racist.  I’ve never liked Gooding, and his remarks about giving a black actor a chance felt outdated in today’s society.  

Steve Martin reminded us all why he’s a fricken legend.  Martin and Tiny Fey came out in style to present the “Best Screenplay” categories. They had some of the funniest lines in the show.  Steve Martin did his traditional, introducing himself again over Tiny Fey, and also delivered a hilarious line while Fey was staring at him. ” Don’t love me!”  How could a man so talented accept roles like “The “Pink Panther” remakes”. Ah I digress,,,  they also delivered a pointed remark at $scientology, I  really loved that !!!

One of the best comedy sketches of the ceremony was the Pineapple Express bit. James Franco and Seth Rogen pulled off a comical “from the couch” sketch that was pretty funny!  I loved the line, “Who’s a better actor Obama or Reagan?”.  Later on Rogen embarrassed himself by inappropriately laughing at Franco mispronouncing the winner of Best Foreign Language film.  Not to mention Rogen kept reassuring us that if it wasn’t for Apatow, he wouldn’t have a career. “Dude we all get that, are you kidding us, you talentless motard ?!?!” 

Couple of things I hated about the show, for starters the Red Carpet shows are just disgusting the way they cover the actors parading themselves like royalty down the blood red carpet of stardom.  Its fricken nauseating and unwatchable. It’s a best in fashion show for the TMZ zombies,,, aaaahhhrrhr !!!  And what’s with those mindless retards in the Red Carpet bleachers?  Also (Wtf) is Bill Marr, doing presenting the Best Documentary categories? He looked like a fricken retard in the headlights after he read the winners, and then the asshole shamelessly plugs his own documentary two times like a douche bag.   And of course the musical tribute had a heavy tune out factor,,,

Anyway,,, I thought overall the new look and style of the show worked. It was refreshing and fast paced, at the same time I felt the new Director gave the winners more time to give out there acceptance speeches.  There didn’t seem to be that automatic 2 min warning of the past, and it’s about time (no pun intended).  Also have to mention that I didn’t miss that canned music the Academy has been using for the past 50 years.  Good riddance!!!  Having Ledgers family accept his award was touching, however I was upset that Majel Roddenberry wasn’t in the memorial tribute.  Sean Penn’s acceptance speech was very positive and humorous.  I loved that he acknowledged Mickey Rourke as a brother.  Seeing the entire cast of Slumdog Millionaire up on stage was amazing ! I’m so glad the child actors made it to the show, which was so cool !!!  Overall best Oscars in years !!!

Ok, on to my predictions. They were almost identical in percentage factor to the Spirit Awards predictions. 
11, correct, 8 incorrect that’s a little over 50% accuracy.  Damn!!!  
Anyway here’s the Winners List:

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST SCORE
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Duchess

BEST SOUND MIXING
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST SOUND EDTING
The Dark Knight

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

BEST FILM EDITING
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST MAKE-UP
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

BEST ART DIRECTION
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

BEST ANIMATED
Wall•E.     

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Man on Wire 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST SCREENPLAY
Milk 

BEST ADAPTED SCREEN PLAY
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Penelope Cruz  

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Heath Ledger

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

BEST MALE
Sean Penn, Milk

BEST FEMALE
Kate Winslet, The Reader

BEST FILM
Slumdog Millionaire

We can all breathe a sigh of relief that is until the “Kids Choice”, “Teen Choice” and “Mtv Movie Awards” soon soil the essence of award shows with their lame-ass rip offs.  Until next year,  2008’s movies are officially history !!!   What a great year in film!!!