I stayed up for about half of the show last night and was pleasantly surprised. It was much more entertaining than in years past. There were winners and losers on the red carpet too.
Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner at the 81st annual Academy Awards last night, scooping up many of the ceremony's top honors, including best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay and best cinematography. Winning eight awards in all, the rags-to-riches love story was the clear front-runner of the star-studded event, held at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. Slumdog, which had 10 nominations, also scored best original song, best score, best film editing and best sound mixing.
Leading nominee The Curious Case of Benjamin Button entered the evening with 13 nominations. It picked up a three technical awards, including best makeup, best art direction and best visual effects.
The most heartbreaking moment of the night came when the late Heath Ledger was announced as the best supporting actor winner for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Many of the audience members -- some of whom knew Ledger personally -- got emotional when his family walked up to the stage to accept the honor on behalf of Ledger's little girl, Matilda.
And as expected, Kate Winslet took home her first-ever Oscar for her role as a former Nazi camp guard in The Reader. Looks like the sixth time was a charm for the British actress. She beat out record-breaking 15-time nominee Meryl Streep, who has won two Oscars throughout her own career.
Sean Penn won the best actor trophy for his starring role in Milk. He faced some competition from Mickey Rourke, who won last month's Golden Globes for his role in The Wrestler.
Penelope Cruz won the best supporting actress prize for her part in Woody Allen's comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Host Hugh Jackman turned the evening into a musical affair by performing several song and dance numbers.
Leading nominee The Curious Case of Benjamin Button entered the evening with 13 nominations. It picked up a three technical awards, including best makeup, best art direction and best visual effects.
The most heartbreaking moment of the night came when the late Heath Ledger was announced as the best supporting actor winner for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Many of the audience members -- some of whom knew Ledger personally -- got emotional when his family walked up to the stage to accept the honor on behalf of Ledger's little girl, Matilda.
And as expected, Kate Winslet took home her first-ever Oscar for her role as a former Nazi camp guard in The Reader. Looks like the sixth time was a charm for the British actress. She beat out record-breaking 15-time nominee Meryl Streep, who has won two Oscars throughout her own career.
Sean Penn won the best actor trophy for his starring role in Milk. He faced some competition from Mickey Rourke, who won last month's Golden Globes for his role in The Wrestler.
Penelope Cruz won the best supporting actress prize for her part in Woody Allen's comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Host Hugh Jackman turned the evening into a musical affair by performing several song and dance numbers.
BEST DRESSED
Marisa Tomei: The best of the best. The one-strapped, white, pleated gown was divine. While we took in many of the beautiful dresses, said wow, and moved on, we wanted to look at Tomei all night. The many intricate pleats looked like they were pieced together just to compliment her frame, which they did to perfection. She's 44-years-old??
Freida Pinto: Pinto's single sheer-sleeved, beaded, blue gown stood out on the red carpet and seemed reminiscent of her Indian heritage. Although we were expecting something a little more dramatic (i.e. bigger and puffier), the unique, form-fitting ensemble could only have flattered the most beautiful of women, which Pinto proved she is.
Miley Cyrus: Minus the belt, Miley's princess-style petaled and beaded gown was striking. It is every girl's fantasy dress. Love it or hate it, there's probably not a female in the world who would pass up the opportunity to try it on and gaze at herself in the mirror.
Jennifer Aniston: The actress wisely saved her best look of the year for her first post-divorce event with Brangelina. A cute braid and subtly waved hair accentuated an unusually soft look for the actress, who has had a habit of making her solid, toned body the stand-out feature of her red carpet looks. Coincidence or not, the flowing hair and strapless, beaded white gown immediately reminded us of her 2004 Emmy appearance, which she made on the arm of ex-husband Brad Pitt.
Natalie Portman: She wasn't the only star dressed in pink (Alicia Keys wisely chose the color as well), but she did it best. The corset-like bodice and simple, flowing skirt were mere accessories to her striking beauty, which needed no dramatic jewelry or hairstyle to shine.
Halle Berry: The surprise presenter looked amazing. She could not have looked any more stunning if she'd tried. It's only a shame we couldn't have admired her for longer on the red carpet.
WORST DRESSED:
Whoopi Goldberg: Leopard print. Blousey, ill-fitting leopard print. No. No. No.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Her "barely mint" gown looked like a cheap wedding dress. And belts don't go with wedding dresses. Not to mention, mousy brown locks do not suit the Sex and the City star -- and the flat top, puffed bottom 'do didn't help salvage the complete look, which failed.
Sophia Loren: The 74-year-old looked like a crazy old grandmother who picked out her ruffled, yellow frock from a costume trunk. She appeared to have applied her heavy makeup -- and bronzer -- with the same disillusioned hand.
Heidi Klum: Red carpet hosts described the model's gown as evoking origami, and we agree that it did indeed look like someone folded material, albeit aimlessly, and molded it around her body. Her harshly-parted hair looked greasy and her subtle makeup ended up making her look tired and washed out. A rare miss for one of fashion's finest.
Marisa Tomei: The best of the best. The one-strapped, white, pleated gown was divine. While we took in many of the beautiful dresses, said wow, and moved on, we wanted to look at Tomei all night. The many intricate pleats looked like they were pieced together just to compliment her frame, which they did to perfection. She's 44-years-old??
Freida Pinto: Pinto's single sheer-sleeved, beaded, blue gown stood out on the red carpet and seemed reminiscent of her Indian heritage. Although we were expecting something a little more dramatic (i.e. bigger and puffier), the unique, form-fitting ensemble could only have flattered the most beautiful of women, which Pinto proved she is.
Miley Cyrus: Minus the belt, Miley's princess-style petaled and beaded gown was striking. It is every girl's fantasy dress. Love it or hate it, there's probably not a female in the world who would pass up the opportunity to try it on and gaze at herself in the mirror.
Jennifer Aniston: The actress wisely saved her best look of the year for her first post-divorce event with Brangelina. A cute braid and subtly waved hair accentuated an unusually soft look for the actress, who has had a habit of making her solid, toned body the stand-out feature of her red carpet looks. Coincidence or not, the flowing hair and strapless, beaded white gown immediately reminded us of her 2004 Emmy appearance, which she made on the arm of ex-husband Brad Pitt.
Natalie Portman: She wasn't the only star dressed in pink (Alicia Keys wisely chose the color as well), but she did it best. The corset-like bodice and simple, flowing skirt were mere accessories to her striking beauty, which needed no dramatic jewelry or hairstyle to shine.
Halle Berry: The surprise presenter looked amazing. She could not have looked any more stunning if she'd tried. It's only a shame we couldn't have admired her for longer on the red carpet.
WORST DRESSED:
Whoopi Goldberg: Leopard print. Blousey, ill-fitting leopard print. No. No. No.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Her "barely mint" gown looked like a cheap wedding dress. And belts don't go with wedding dresses. Not to mention, mousy brown locks do not suit the Sex and the City star -- and the flat top, puffed bottom 'do didn't help salvage the complete look, which failed.
Sophia Loren: The 74-year-old looked like a crazy old grandmother who picked out her ruffled, yellow frock from a costume trunk. She appeared to have applied her heavy makeup -- and bronzer -- with the same disillusioned hand.
Heidi Klum: Red carpet hosts described the model's gown as evoking origami, and we agree that it did indeed look like someone folded material, albeit aimlessly, and molded it around her body. Her harshly-parted hair looked greasy and her subtle makeup ended up making her look tired and washed out. A rare miss for one of fashion's finest.
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