The 2009 Academy Awards

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getting late, CST

BEST DIRECTOR

The award for Best Director is presented by Reese Witherspoon. She’s wearing a dark blue dress, which sets nicely against her blonde hair. Her speech is articulated well. She attempts a joke, but it feels flat. I’ve heard she can be a type-A perfectionist on set. I wonder if she ever has any fun.

Danny Boyle, Slumdog MIllionaire * WINNER

Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon

David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Stephen Daldry, The Reader

Gus Van Sant, Milk

Danny Boyle expresses gratitude and humility. He even compliments the Academy Awards event planners for creating a lovely ceremony. Which it is, I have to agree. The Kodak Theater looks spectacular. Great presentation, well done designers.

• Benjamin Button – 3, Slumdog – 7. My picks for the top four awards are now 1-1.

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getting later, CST

BEST ACTRESS

Five former Best Actress winners – Shirley MacLaine, Marion Cotillard, Halle Berry, Sophia Loren, and Nicole Kidman – emerge from behind curtains to present the Oscar for Best Actress. They each announce a name and summarize the reasons for the nominations, but they do so in a very personal way. They speak directly to the actresses, making eye contact from the stage, and express heartfelt admiration.

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Kate Winslet, The Reader * WINNER *

Melissa Leo, The Frozen River

Meryl Streep, Doubt

Angelina Jolie, Changeling

Kate Winslet survived the Titanic to win an Oscar for Best Actress in The Reader. Kate is gorgeous, truly elegant. Her hair is classic, her dress stunning… I think the win was a gimme, but not because of her excellent performance in this film or even because of any lack of competition. I think it had a whole lot to do with the TWO great performances she gave this year, in The Reader and Revolutionary Road. Maybe we can call it a win for The Revolutionary Reader? I am now 2-2. Alright! I should totally start a psychic detective agency.

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thank god for DVR, CST

BEST ACTOR

Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Adrien Brody, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Ben Kingsley present the award for Best Actor.

Bobby De Niro makes a few cracks about Sean Penn. Cut to Sean Penn in the audience, laughing. I notice Robin Wright Penn is next to him and makes me wonder how far behind the gossip I’ve fallen. Last I heard, they were having some unpleasant marital issues, rumors of a separation. And then, what is this! Adrien Brody, Google??? What the heck man? How unprofessional are you!? You make out with Halle Berry onstage during your Oscars, you have no idea who Richard Jenkins is during these Oscars. I’m offended. And I’m embarrassed for you.

Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn, Milk * WINNER

Richard Jenkins, The Visitor

Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Well, unfortunately, I am now 2-3 on Oscar predictions. But, hey, Sean Penn was my second choice for winner. Sean apologizes for how hard he makes it for people to appreciate him. He also makes a very political statement on the issue of gay rights. I love you Sean Penn. I don’t think I’d ever want to hang with you because you kind of seem like a jerk. But I think you’re great.

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It’s late and I’ve run out of synonyms for beautiful and presents, CST

BEST FILM

Steven Spielberg appears onstage. I think he’s saying something. He’s here to present the Best Film of the year. I like how they intertwine clips from the nominated films with clips from classic films.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire * WINNER

Hooray!!! This is great. The entire cast and crew from Slumdog Millionaire crowds onstage. You can tell how much the film meant to everyone who worked on it. An international collaboration, a classic love story. That’s how cinema should be. Not just money-making endeavors. But a creation that means something. Even a simple story can mean something great. I’m not sure The Love Guru meant much to anyone.

• Final Tally: Benjamin Button – 3, Slumdog – 8. My Oscar Picks – 3 of 4.

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Image Credits:

ABC/Adam Larkey

© 2009 A.M.P.A.S. – Michael Yada, Photographer