No one really knew what to expect out of Hugh Jackman as this year’s host of the Academy Awards. No one could live up to Jon Stewart, but how could an actor, a ‘pretty face,’ keep the millions of people who tune in for the Oscars every year entertained? With song and dance, of course. Beyoncé Knowles, Anne Hathaway and others teamed up with Jackman to make this year’s Oscars a musical extravaganza. His jokes were clean, his voice was spectacular and his movie, well, didn’t win. But never mind that, he commanded the audience as host and the seemingly odd choice turned out to be the right one.

Red Carpet highlights

Sarah Jessica Parker and Mathew Broderick showed up arm in arm, after rumors of their split. Mickey Rourke showed up doused in white – totally rock star style. Jack Black embarrassed a reporter by calling him out on his poor question choices and for getting distracted when Brad Pitt entered the room.

Downers

While most of the night was filled with fun musicals, light-hearted jokes and extravagant gowns, some moments were less than enthusing. Jessica Biel’s recap of previously distributed technical awards was a drag, an awkward and ungraceful speech that left viewers wanting to change the channel.

Zac Efron’s cameo in Hugh Jackman’s ‘Musicals are back!’ presentation slowed the pace of the show. Efron looked greasy and homeless – not in a Johnny Depp good way, either.

The hour-long coverage of Miley Cyrus’ fish-scale-looking gown was fashion coverage overkill, especially since every time she spoke viewers cringed at her over-the-top and exaggerated accent.

Best Actor:Sean Penn – ‘Milk’ In an arguably very close call, Sean Penn took the award for best actor in a leading role for his flawless portrayal as the late gay activist Harvey Milk. He didn’t expect it. Most of us didn’t. Rourke fans were disappointed, and Adrien Brody said Richard Jenkins wouldn’t get the credit he deserved. Frank Langella probably expected to get left out, and Brad Pitt was grateful just to be nominated. But Penn’s performance was worth the gold.

Best Actress:Kate Winslet – ‘The Reader’

Some of the biggest and best names in Hollywood gathered to present Kate Winslet the award for best actress in a leading role. She finally achieved her dream – golden man in hand. Trade in the shampoo bottle, Kate – you’re not 8 anymore.

Best Director:Danny Boyle – ‘Slumdog Millionaire’

No surprises here, Danny Boyle took home the nod for directing. While Gus Van Sant and David Fincher got the loudest roars from the audience as the nominees were read aloud, Boyle won the Oscar. Best Picture:’Slumdog Millionaire’

The biggest upset of the night wasn’t an upset at all – everyone knew it would happen, and like a bad car accident, we just sat and stared. ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ stole the award for best picture from much more deserving nominees ‘Milk,’ ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and ‘The Reader.’ Made in India and produced by United Kingdom staffers, the film should have been a nominee under best foreign film, but for rumored political reasons, the film snuck its way onto the big stage and ripped the award from those who truly deserved it.

Best Supporting Actor:Heath Ledger – ‘The Dark Knight’

The most anticipated award of the night, the Oscar for outstanding actor in a supporting role, went right where it should have – into the hands of Heath Ledger’s family. In a somber and moving acceptance speech, Ledger’s father, mother and sister shook tears from everyone in the audience, from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Anne Hathaway and Robert Downey Jr. Ledger’s creation, the chaos-causing maniac known only as The Joker, now takes its place in history as one of the most anticipated, appreciated and missed characters in film.

Other winners:

Best Animated Feature:Wall-E

Best Supporting Actress:Penelope Cruz

Best Original Screenplay:Milk

Best Adapted Screenplay:Slumdog Millionaire

Best Art Direction:The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Costume Design:The Duchess

Best Score:Slumdog Millionaire

Published on February 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm