The picks are up below and I'm ready to see who wins what. I was going to live-blog but frankly, I just want to watch tonight. I might step in with some thoughts as it goes along, but look more for a wrap up tomorrow. I will say the red carpet is pretty boring so far, which is nothing new. I don't really care what the folks wear. But you never know when you get a prime moment like Gary Busey. We'll see if anything happens. Right now, I'm off to fix dinner and settle in for a long night. Back later.
6:37 - OK...Phoebe Cates sighting. That can't be bad. She's still hot all these years later. That Kevin Kline is a lucky man.
8:38 - Opening song by Hugh Jackman...not bad. A little cheesy, but he can pull it off. Nice shout out to Wolverine at the end.
8:43 - Now that's some Hollywood royalty right there presenting the Best Supporting Actress. Nice to see Angelica Huston.
8:48 - Cruz wins. One for one. This may be a good night. And I liked how they did that. It's going to make the show a long night but it really helped showcase each of the nominees.
8:56 - Screenplay time - I really want to see In Bruges. It looks great. Milk wins making me 2 for 2 on the night.
9:01 - Slumdog wins the first one tonight. And I'm 3 for 3 so far.
9:07 - Wall-E takes animated feature. Make that 4 for 4. Looking good.
9:09 - My first wrong pick. Animated short goes to La Maison en Petits Cubes. Off course, it's in the crap shoot. Damn. But good for the winner. One of these days, I'll get the chance to watch these. Still, it was not considered a front runner. I guess Pixar doesn't always win.
9:16 - Art Direction goes to Button. 5 for 6. Shout out to David Fincher. A great director.
9:20 - Costume Design goes to The Duchess. 6 for 7. Still doing well.
9:24 - Make Up goes to...I've picked Benjamin Button, but this could go any way. It goes to Button. 7 for 8. Just reading off names. Boring, dude.
9:29 - These look backs on the year are just going to make the show longer. I'd like to say it is fun, but it goes so fast, it really doesn't do much for me. The show has moved pretty quickly though. They just got three awards out in less than 10 minutes so...not bad. Still don't think we'll be done before midnight.
9:31 - Ben Stiller in total Joaquim Phoenix mode - pretty funny. Cinematography goes to Slumdog. It picks up another and so do I.
9:37 - By the way, put me down as someone who thinks Joaquim is totally doing a performance art thing with this new persona. If so, it is amazing. I read someone recently compare his latest bit on Letterman to Andy Kaufman. If so, he's doing it brilliantly. And I still miss his brother. I say it every chance I get and won't ever stop.
9:40 - I love this "if delivery people" in school commercial. Good one. And this from someone who hates commercials.
9:42 - Another year wrap up? Come on. The Apatow directed bit was pretty good though.
9:45 - Janusz Kaminski...that's great! OK, I'll take that bit. Inspired comedy.
9:46 - Short Live Action goes to Spielzuegland (Toyland)! I got one of the crapshoot right. Can I mention that I am now 9 for 10 now? Sweet. And always bank on the Holocaust film.
9:53 - They can't allow the nominated songs do full numbers but they can put this musical interlude in here? Just to get Beyonce in there? It cost them Peter Gabriel performing and I now I really don't blame him his choice not to perform. Jeez.
9:57 - Oy vey. I really could have done without that. Did I say this show wouldn't be over by midnight? I think that's a definite now. Still have 5 tech awards, Best Foreign Film and the big 4 to go, not to mention the In Memorian, the special award to Jerry Lewis and Supporting Actor to Ledger. Oh, and both documentary awards.
10:02 Best Supporting Actor and we get Chris Walken, Kevin Kline, Alan Arkin, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Joel Grey. Where is Javier Bardem? The award goes to...as we all know...Heath Ledger. His family accepts, Mom, Dad and Sis.
10:10 - This still hurts. Ledger was a great actor.
10:11 - While I dry my eyes after that, let's look at the documentaries. I'd love to see Werner Herzog take this documentary feature award (though I picked against it.) He's awesome. And it has to be Bill Maher presenting? Ugh. Still, bring on the awards. Winner of documentary feature is Man on Wire. I picked right. And documentary short is Smile Pinki. Got that one wrong. Went 2 for 4 in the crapshoot. Not bad. I'm still 11 for 13 on the night.
10:23 - You know, I just realized Jack Nicholson ain't in the front row this year. What's up with that? It ain't the Oscars without Jack.
10:25 - Effects awards. And Will Smith does it. Cool. Visual Effects goes to Benjamin Button. Another correct pick.
10:28 - Sound Editing. This could go either way. I picked Wall-E. The Dark Knight wins it. Cool. I'm glad to be wrong.
10:31 - And Sound Mixing...I picked Slumdog here but after The Dark Knight just won, I might be out again. Winner is Slumdog. 13 for 16 baby!
10:34 - Film Editing is next. They're working quickly now, so maybe I'm wrong. Might be over before midnight. I picked Slumdog and I was right. The sweep truly begins.
10:40 - Guess I decided to live-blog after all. Well, what the hell. It's been a pretty good show so far. Now bring on the Jerry Lewis!
10:41 - And Eddie Murphy presents it. Nice.
10:46 - Jerry looks better than he has but it's clear he's still suffering from illness. I love this guy and no man has worked harder over the years for a cause as he has. This was truly why they have the Hersholt award. I wished we'd gotten a bit of a blue speech (I do so love to see Jerry work blue) but it wasn't the right time. Nice to see him recognized!
10:53 - Score goes to Slumdog. Another correct pick. And Rahman says God is great. Take that Bill Maher!
10:58 - They are going through the songs now and I think I picked this wrong. I'd love to see Peter Gabriel pick up an Oscar but the Indian sounds from Slumdog just seem much stronger songs.
11:01 - Best Song goes to "Jai Ho" from Slumdog. Yep. Picked wrong on that one. 15 for 19 now. I'd better do well on the last five awards.
11:06 - Foreign Language film goes to Departures. Another one wrong! But I'm kind of glad about this. I have not seen Waltzing with Bashir, but I understand the subject matter would irritate me. I'll take the wrong pick. Good for Japan too.
11:10 - It's In Memoriam time. Queen Latifa will sing, which I'm not sure about but OK. Roy Scheider. Stan Winston. Charlton Heston. Sydney Pollack. And Newman. Always Paul Newman. Rest in peace, Lequisto.
11:19 - It's Best Director time and while I love Reese Witherspoon, I'd prefer last year's winner to present. I'm guessing Boyle. And the winner is...Boyle.
11:22 - I just have to say...Danny Bolye has an Oscar. Really cool. I've loved this man's work for so long. It's really awesome to see him have this day.
11:24 - I should also mention that makes me 16 for 21.
11:26 - Best Actress time - I picked Winslet. We get presenters, Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, the truly beautiful Marion Cotillard, Shirley fricken MacLain and Sophia fricken Loren!
11:33 - The winner is...Kate Winslet. And it's about bloody time!
11:35 - Best Actor...the presenters are Robert De Niro, Ben Kingsley, Anthony Hopkins, Adrien Brody and Mike Douglas. Wow. Outside of Brody, that is a heady line up. Too bad Daniel Day Lewis couldn't be there. I picked Mickey. Come on, Mickey!
11:43 - It goes to Sean.
11:46 - And of course, he's political. Oy. At least there's a shout out to Mickey.
11:47 - Spielberg gives out Best Picture. Thanks for that, Academy. It should be Slumdog.
11:53 - Winner is Slumdog. 18 for 24 on the night. My best showing since 2006.
11:55 - And the show is over. They got it done by midnight. It was close, but they got it done.
That is all.
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