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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The Junior Oscars

I read the above term on Empire Magazine’s website and thought it was such a perfect way to describe the Golden Globes, I decided to borrow it. And yes, the Golden Globes are underway right this second in the US. No results are known yet but be sure to keep checking this site for a comprehensive list of winners in the warm-up event to the Oscars. Will Slumdog Millionaire succeed as hot favourite to take out best picture? Will Sean Penn conquer Mickey Rourke for best actor? And the question on everyone’s lips, will Heath Ledger will the posthumorous Globe he clearly deserves for best supporting actor? Only time will tell . . .

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Got milk?

Hot damn, I wish I did! And no, I don’t mean the kind that comes out of a cows teat. I’m talking about the new film from super-awesome Gus Van Sant titled Milk which is getting all sorts of praise for great acting and superb direction. A true story, Milk is based on California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone. Not only is this directed by one of my top six favourite directors (Sant) it stars one of my favourite actors (Sean Penn) in the title role. Penn is backed up by a superb supporting cast with Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch and James Franco in another strong career move. I’ve seen the trailer no less than six times at the movies and it blows my mind every view. The link below will take you to said trailer of brilliance -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW0lQrWn5VI
I’d heard a little bit about this story thanks to the copious amount of gay friends I have and the movie looks absolutely brilliant from the 2 minutes and 35 seconds I’ve seen. From those who have seen Milk they’re tipping it to take out all five major categories at the coming Oscars including; best picture, best director, best actor in a lead role, best supporting actor and best original screenplay. Win or loose I’m pumped to see this asap. Milk is released January 2009 in Australia, probably at selected cinemas so keep your eyes peeled.

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