That's a wrap people!

The quote the 1969 song by The Dells, oh what a night. Once I got over my bitter disappointment at The Dark Knight being shunned in both the best picture and best director categories, I made a list of all my dream Oscar winners (see post titled `Looking in to my crystal ball’). Well, pretty much my entire dream list came true and I couldn’t be happier. Despite Gus Van Sant missing out for best director, everything else turned out peachy. Particularly Penelope Cruz’s win and beautiful speech, Sean Penn’s well deserved win, Dustin Lance Black’s amazingly memorable speech and of course, Heath’s posthumous victory. I thought Hugh did a great job of hosting but the best moment of the night (by far) was when James Franco and Seth Rogen presented the award for Best Live Action Short. When Franco read out the winner's name he couldn't say it properly and totally made up the pronunciation of Spielzeugland while Rogen's baboonish laugh could be heard in the background. Comedy gold, you can't script that shiz.
Here’s a complete list of the winners:

Best Motion Picture
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire"
Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role
WINNER: Sean Penn in "Milk"
Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role
WINNER: Kate Winslet in "The Reader"
Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role
WINNER: Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight"
Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role
WINNER: Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Achievement In Directing
WINNER: Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire
Adapted Screenplay
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," by Simon Beaufoy
Original Screenplay
WINNER: "Milk," by Dustin Lance Black
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song)
WINNER: "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire" Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar
Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score)
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman
Achievement In Cinematography
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire"
Achievement In Film Editing
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," Chris Dickens
Achievement In Costume Design
WINNER: "The Duchess"
Achievement In Art Direction
WINNER: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Best Animated Feature Film
WINNER: "WALL-E"
Best Animated Short Film
WINNER: "La Maison en Petits Cubes"
Best Live Action Short Film
WINNER: "Spielzeugland (Toyland)"
Best Documentary Feature
WINNER: "Man on Wire"
Best Documentary Short Subject
WINNER: "Smile Pinki"
Best Foreign Language Film
WINNER: "Departures" - Japan
Achievement In Visual Effects
WINNER: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Achievement In Makeup
WINNER: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Greg Cannom
Achievement In Sound Editing
WINNER: "The Dark Knight"
Achievement In Sound Mixing
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Also, if you get a chance check out this fabuloush piece put together by the team at Empire Magazine on the biggest Oscar snubs. A worthy read.

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Oscarlicious excitement

Today is the day! Yes, the day I look forward to more than Christmas but not more than Halloween. It’s Oscars day folks. Forget the frocks, for me it’s all about who will be taking home the shiny, naked, gold man. You’re probably sick of all my Academy Award musings, coverage and predictions so thankfully (for you) after today you won’t have to hear another word about it . . .until next year. For me personally this has to be one of the most exciting Oscar races to date and not just because of the nominees. After last years lowest rated and least watch Academy Awards ceremony ever, the pressure is on our very own Hugh Jackman to jazz up the awards and regain viewership. For the first time ever the names of award presenters have been kept firmly under wraps and word has it a huge musical number starring Jackman, Beyonce, Anne Hathaway and High School Musical star Zac Efron will open the show. In another first for the Oscars, journalists and media cameras have been kept away from rehearsals. Therefore, whatever show producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon (of Dreamgirls fame) have in store will truly be a surprise for all. Most importantly for Australians the Academy Awards are being broadcast live for the first time ever in HD direct from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The who’s who of Hollywood are due to walk the red carpet any minute now so I’m off, enjoy the show and stay posted for updates on the winners.

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