2009 Academy Awards Best and Worst Recap
Filed under: Awards, Fandom, Oscar Watch
The 2009 Academy Awards are over and done with, and now it's time to talk trash about EVERYONE! Was it a good year? Did Hugh Jackman succeed as host? How did they make out on length -- did you fall asleep? What was up with those weird line-up presentations? And who got more camera time -- Angelina Jolie or Miley Cyrus? We break down the best and worst moments of this year's Oscar ceremony below -- then feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments.
Check out a complete list of this year's Oscar winners
Additional coverage over at Moviefone
The Best
- Slumdog Millionaire was ON FIRE!
- Danny Boyle is this year's Best Director ... and that's pretty damn awesome.
- Shocker of the Night: Sean Penn wins Best Actor for Milk. (And who said the Academy hated him?)
- The thirties-inspired set was fancy but intimate, and the recession-inspired opening song-and-dance number from Hugh Jackman was light, refreshing and entertaining.
- Hugh Jackman delivering his jokes like a bad Atlantic City lounge singer, but absolutely hysterical nonetheless.
- Penelope Cruz's ever-since-I-was-a-little-girl speech for her Best Supporting Actress win was just darling, whaddya say?
- Steve Martin and Tina Fey partnering to introduce Best Original Screenplay proved they need to do a movie together, like, yesterday.
- Most unique 'thank you' goes to Andrew Stanton for thanking his high school drama teacher for casting him in Hello Dolly.
The Worst
- The 'Thank You' montage(s) ... because we didn't hear enough of those two words in the three-plus hour telecast.
- The all-female line-ups introducing the nominees for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress went on way too long and felt a bit Vagina Monologue-ish ...
- So it would appear that "leaked" Oscar winners list was, indeed, false. Sorry Amy Adams ...
- Was Milk really the Best Original Screenplay?
- Robert Pattinson didn't take his shirt off while presenting a romance montage? What gives?
- Ben Stiller channeling Joaquin Phoenix in full beard with a touch of boredom was great if a little soooo last week.
- Jessica Biel lost a lot of people with the sci-tech speech, and those she didn't lose were probably wondering who Jessica Biel was.
Best (continued)
- Jack Black's Oscar bet: To do one Dreamworks animated film, then take all the money he made to the Oscars to bet on whatever Pixar has in the running. Best part was he says this right before Wall-E won the Best Animated Film Oscar.
- Jazz quietly playing in the background while folks presented nominees.
- The Judd Apatow short film would've been so much better if Seth Rogen and James Franco (in full Pineapple Express gear) were actually taking Phelps-inspired bong hits during the piece. That said, the Janusz Kaminksi cameo was classic.
- Hugh Jackman and Beyonce and Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens and Amanda Seyfried ... singing showtunes! I'd say that was the best part of the night.
- Holy crap -- Heath Ledger's father looks exactly like Alan Arkin ... and vice versa. That said, the Heath Ledger moment we all knew was coming turned out to be a sweet, somber speech from his Aussie family.
- The decision to have actual filmmakers direct a few short films (Judd Apatow, among others) and an outstanding musical number (Baz Luhrmann) definitely paid off.
- Wonders if those fan made YouTube end-of-year genre montages inspired the actual genre montages at this year's awards ceremony.
- Thank God for Kate Winslet giving us the night's only "this just took my breath away" speech for her Best Actress win. And her Dad whistled! He whistled! Awww ...
- Kinda dug Adrien Brody's "I just got out of the shower and threw on Serpico" look.
Oscars 2009 Nominees
Best Picture
'Slumdog Millionaire'
Fox Searchlight
Best Picture
'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
Paramount
Best Picture
'Frost/Nixon'
Universal
Best Picture
'Milk'
Focus Features
Best Picture
'The Reader'
Weinstein Co.
Best Actor
Brad Pitt, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
Paramount
Best Actor
Mickey Rourke, 'The Wrestler'
Fox Searchlight
Best Actor
Sean Penn, 'Milk'
Focus Features
Best Actor
Frank Langella, 'Frost/Nixon'
Universal
Best Actor
Richard Jenkins, 'The Visitor'
Overture Films
Worst (continued)
- Wait, was that line-up of past Best Supporting Actors a bit from boring Full Monty sequel or were they actually handing out an award? Why didn't Christopher Walken just present the whole thing.
- Who else thought it was hilarious that Will Smith makes a whole action speech following an action montage and Ben Button (a non action film) won for Best Visual Effects.
- Um, Will Smith -- the word is 'OUTSTANDING'!
- Enjoyed the presentation of the Best Score award, but if you were about to fall asleep before, those soothing tunes did you in.
- Not hearing Bruce Springsteen's song from The Wrestler among the nominees for Best Song.
- It was embarrassing that Peter Gabriel wasn't there to sing his song -- not on Gabriel's part (because he didn't show on purpose), but on the Academy for not letting the guy sing his song. And then on top of all that -- he didn't win. Hmmm ... snubbed on purpose?
- Strangest line of the night -- from the Best Foreign Language acceptance speech: "I am here ... for films!"
- Reese Witherpoon's awkward blue dress looked like an 80s prom decoration.
- Sophia Loren delivered her speech introducing Meryl Streep as if she were selling laundry detergent on the Home Shopping Channel at three in the morning.
- So Mickey Rourke not winning Best Actor means he's not getting Best Actor money for Iron Man 2.
- Oy, why does it feel like Spielberg gives out the Best Picture award every year?
- Finally, the first looks at 2009 films during the credits was cool, but should've been promoted more throughout.
Okay, your turn: Favorite and least favorite moments ...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
2-23-2009 @ 12:11AM
stuntman-james said...
Overall, very happy for all the winners. Thought Hugh Jackman was better than I thought, but seemed a little cheesy.
Only complaint was the Micky Rourke snub. The nom was deserved and should of walked away with the statue. However, no complaint for Penn. He was marvelous as Milk.
Very touching moment for Heath Ledger, but I was kind of puzzled with the moment when we recognize those we have lost over the year. Where was Heath? Was also amazed how many greats we have lost last year?
nuff said
Reply
2-23-2009 @ 12:23AM
Jamie said...
Heath died in '07, he was recognized in the '08 Oscars
2-23-2009 @ 12:25AM
Jeff said...
Stuntman,
Heath was honored in last year's "in memoriam" tribute...in fact, I believe he was the final image shown before they faded to black. He died in January 2008, about a month before the ceremony, so he was included in that one.
2-23-2009 @ 6:55PM
mirra said...
Very sad for Rourke...Hope his career blooms...Bad camera work - impossible to read credits of anything. Too much time spent on less important categories, and Best Picture - just few seconds! And what about poor Nixon - You think it was funny? Ben Stiller, Time to retire.And, Sofia Loren, you are still the best, did you see that body?
2-23-2009 @ 12:13AM
Dan said...
I was a pretty big fan of the Ben Stiller bit, I thought that was hilarious. And Hugh Jackman did a pretty terrific job as host, I thought. I really dug his opening act. In Bruges was the best original screenplay, and you and I know that Erik, but is that enough? I think not! Glad to see Slumdog and Danny Boyle getting their well deserved due, and I'm glad that Benjamin Button got shut-out like it deserved as well...for being a big waste of time! Jack Black's Pixar comments were HILARIOUS, and Steve Martin + Tina Fey was absolutely classic. Who knew Steve Martin was still funny? Judd's short was great, I really got a kick out of how people kept taking shots at the reader all night LOL! Springsteen's not being there was a bummer, but what really disappointed me the most was Rourke not winning Best Actor. Any other year, and I'd have given it to Sean Penn, but man, The Wrestler was THE performance this year for me.
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2-23-2009 @ 12:13AM
JackGonzo said...
Did anyone else notice that George Carlin was snubbed during the memoriam?
My wife and I are all for Steve Martin and Tina Fey hosting the Oscars next year.
Reply
2-23-2009 @ 1:28PM
ML said...
Perhaps because his association with motion pictures was peripheral at best? He is best known for live performance/TV.
2-23-2009 @ 8:41PM
Daniel said...
Starring in 16 major motion pictures cannot be considered "peripheral" ML! And to think a few of those actors who came up during the memoriam only starred in a handful of movies.
George Carlin got snubbed, plain and simple.. and that is astounding. The "Academy" should be heartily ashamed and disgraced for such an oversight.
2-23-2009 @ 12:22AM
Lee said...
Heath was in last years roll call, and I too forgot how many giants we lost.
Reply
2-23-2009 @ 12:21AM
AndyIII said...
This Oscars I felt a lot of what was missing:
Bruce Springsteen
Sally Hawkins
The Wrestler in the Best Picture
and in a good way...
It was nice to see Jack Nicholoson NOT holding court in the front row like some kind of jolly old king. I guess it shows why he was the king, he knew when to bow out. Impressive.
Oh, one more worst:
The 'who we lost this year montage' that had cameras zipping and lunging all over the place to the point where I couldn't read the names. Not EVERYONE has a 60 inch HD TV.
Reply
2-23-2009 @ 1:53AM
JOHN M. SR said...
You are correct about Rourke nailing the part and best pic was the Wrestler. The selections for the best pictures this year were great. I sometimes question how the decesions are made. I realize a lot of politicing goes on, however, I think the selection process should be spread out a little more on the voting side to more than just the hollywood scene. I did like the format with the exception of having 5 actors come out to greet the oscar potentials.
2-23-2009 @ 9:07AM
G said...
Completely agree about the weird camera work on the memorial section. If you could read the name on the main screen, you still couldn't see their "category" underneath - and the clips were impossible to see on the other screens they had scattered around it. Queen singing over it was distracting enough, but to try and focus on those damn screens was super frustrating. And when they were anouncing the nominees, they had video clips running all around them as well but they were the same every time - if I had to see KF Panda jump for a dumpling one more time....
It seemed like they were just trying way to hard to be edgy and different this year. It was almost as bad as last year's "in-the-round" crap - too many distractions, too many presenters, too many "thank you's" - too much of a good thing is still too much. Wonder if they'll win the emmy this year for this crap.
2-23-2009 @ 9:43AM
AndyIII said...
The Kung Fu Panda clip was constantly catching my eye too! It's funny that you mention that.
2-23-2009 @ 12:21AM
mike green said...
felt bad for rourke, Penn was great on MIlk but he over acted some scenes, Rourke was pitch perfect
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2-23-2009 @ 12:24AM
Lee said...
Oh and I have to agree with AndyIII.
Whoever thought that idea up should be shot....the old format was MUCH better.
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2-23-2009 @ 12:28AM
Elizabeth said...
I enjoyed Queen Latifah singing while they showed the Hollywood folks who passed this year. She has a beautiful voice.
I just think that if we are sticking around watching this show then the presenters need to not sound so forced. I mean this is the Oscars right?
Those are my best and worst thoughts.
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2-23-2009 @ 12:27AM
Dell Millican said...
As much as I enjoyed this Oscar program, I prefer the showing of clips of the various performances. It doesn't seem like Oscars without it. Plus, it motivates me to see the films that I have missed! For the people who have not seen ALL of the nominated films, seeing these clips help make sense as to why a nominee won! I felt that it was a big mistake to leave this out.
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2-23-2009 @ 10:14AM
Melinda Dodge said...
I agree. I miss not seeing the clips, especially for the movies I didn't see. It seems that showing clips would promote the movies.
2-23-2009 @ 12:28AM
stevenh said...
worst oscars in a long while. basically the academy just proved all the typical almost comedic stereotypes about them are true, and exposed themselves for the trend hopping assholes they tend to be. kate winslet in the reader and sean penn in milk are not the two top acting performances of the year, and slumdog is sickeningly overrated, not even a top 5 film of the year. and the musical numbers? seriously? i was just bored out of my mind and couldn't pay attention.
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2-23-2009 @ 1:35AM
Adam said...
I totally agree about Slumdog, it was so overrated I just got sick of watching it win EVERYTHING. Terrible. I'll take Button anyday.