The Oscars (live blog) a.k.a. 80th Annual Academy Awards

I am a little late (traffic) but I am live blogging the Oscar's... from LA! (We finally moved, I am very happy to be here)

I caught the tale end of George Clooney introducing a montage of Oscar moments (the clip of Charlie Chaplin thanking the academy for inviting him was sweet- I never saw him old, only young in costume).

Now, Anne Hathaway (wearing red, looks pretty) and Steve Carrell are introducing Best Animated Film. The first one is french, and I don't get it. Ratatouille is also nominated (a rat cooking my food? no thanks, lost my appetite). Surf's Up, by far the cutest should win...
Ratatouille wins it!

I like that they honor animated stuff, but it sucks for the people who do them- they get almost no recognition, except when they win, as in this instance, and then just one guy out of the entire team gets to go up and accept the award- but it's cool that they included animated films...

Katherine Heigl- stunning red dress... stunning! She looks like an old Hollywood movie star- marriage certainly agrees with her!
Achievement in Makeup- nominated, La Vie en Rose, Norbit (really? Norbit is nominated???), Pirates of the Caribbean (Hope it wins!!!)....
La Vie en Rose (never heard of it).

It always cracks me up when foreigners accept- they are so proper and their accents are so sweet and, well, foreign...

YAY!!! I am so excited for this song- Enchanted!!!! Amy Adams is going to sing Happy Working Song!!!! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!

I would also like to say that I have the biggest crush on Jon Stewart... he just has such a funny take on life. I am glad he was invited back to host this year...

Amy looks awesome- her dress is really pretty (length is a little long, needs to be 2 inches shorter) she seems to be struggling a little to sing the higher notes, but I love her, loved the movie (am obsessed with it actually) and am glad she is getting recognized for that....

Not sure why they have launched into a Michael Douglas/Catherine Zeta Jones montage, but its always fun to see past winners reactions...

I am taking this commercial break to ask- how does one become a member of the academy? I would love to have dvd's of all the nominated movies mailed to me for my viewing pleasure... and then get to vote on the best ones... if anyone knows where to sign up, let me know- I want in!

Dwayne Johnson (why was he introduced that way- he is, and always will be, The Rock). He is introducing Achievements in Visual Effects- The Golden Compass (never saw it, need to read the books first), Pirates of the Caribbean (hope it wins!), Transformers (great movie... now I'm torn).... oh well, Golden Compass wins it!

Ok, since I don't care what these guys are saying, I will interject- so far the Oscars seem kinda bland this year... I thought they were going all out? Just saying...

Cate Blanchett looks ok- she has looked much better this year, but she still looks okay. I missed the name of her category, and lost track of the nominated movies trying to find out- the winner is Sweeney Todd! (I love Johnny Depp, so I am glad).

Oy, why does he keep wearing those glasses? The camera flashed to Johnny and Vanessa Paradis in the audience- she always wears harsh red lipstick (it must be a foreign thing) and he won't give up those dark think glasses... oh well.

Yay- we're up to the acting awards!
(but first a montage of past winners...)
Jennifer Hudson is presenting (she looks very polished, no crazy about the dress- it's pretty but she looks chunky).

Best Supporting Actor... Casey Affleck, Javier Bardem, Phillip Seymor Hoffman, missed his name- older gentleman from Into the Wild, Tom Wilkinson... Javier Bardem will win...
Yah! I called it!!! He was the favorite to win this category, so no surprises yet...

K, don't get the binocular montage thing... really, don't get it. Give the time to someones acceptance speech!

Kerri Russell- her dress looks very beautiful (she needs a new hairdresser though, and maybe a tan). Introducing the song 'Raise It Up' (didn't catch what movie it is from). Wow- this little girl singing is really good. (Want to bet she records an album by the time she's 18?)
Hmmm, liked Amy Adams better (I am so prejudiced- I loved Enchanted that much!!!)

I love Jon Stewart, I do. He isn't that funny tonight- I wonder if he was edited?

Owen Wilson (glad to see him alive and healthy... he's had a rough year).
Best Live Action Short Film... (no idea) Le Mozart des Pickpockets (I will never see this movie, congrats though).

Yay- another french acceptance speech- so thankful to be a part, so happy to have gotten the award, sank you sank so verrry muchhh, merci au revoir....

And Jerry Seinfeld managed to get his dumb bee character some lines in the awards show... introducing more montage stuff (featuring, bees, naturally).
Outstanding Animated Short Film.... Peter and the Wolf

I like the lady's red dress (Susie Templeton)- oh, and she has an english accent (of course).

ANOTHER montage? Yeesh.

Alan Arkin is presenting (you know, the grandfather from Little Miss Sunshine)
Best Supporting Actress... Cate Blachett (favorite to win), Ruby Dee (American Gangster- great movie), the little girl from Atonement, Amy Ryan, Tilda Swinton (she is such a powerful actress)....

Tilda Swinton won it! (did not see that coming) She should have won for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe... and of course, she has an ENGLISH accent. I'm telling you, if you're foreign you win!
Her dress was interesting- kind of quirky, like her. She played an angel in Constantine with Keanu Reeves- she has that androgynous male/female look...

Jessica Alba... wearing a piece if Big Bird dyed purple... yuck. She's pregnant- she could have worn anything and looked hot- not this! And she is blabbering (reading the TelePrompter badly) about the scientific awards she presented a week ago...who cares?

Jon Stewart just made a funny crack (finally) he noted that Cate Blanchett and Jessica Alba are both pregnant, but went on to say "but the night is still early and Jack (Nicholson) is here... we'll take a re-tally at the end of the night." Of course, the camera showed Jack laughing...

Josh Brolin and James Macavoy are presenting...
Best Adapted Screenplay... Atonement, Away from Her, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, No Country for Old Men, There Will be Blood (the favorite)...
No Country for Old men wins it!!!

We're getting a little video tour of how the movies are chosen, nominated and voted on to win the awards...basically a ginormous PriceWaterhouseCooper commercial.

Miley Cyrus is presenting?!?
Wow, she looks great- gorgeous red dress- needs a new hairstylist, but she is introducing "That's How You Know" from Enchanted- sung by Kristen Chenowith!!!!
(for the record, Amy Adams did a way better job in the movie).
But I love Kristen's dress and she is awesome in Wicked.
They have brides and grooms dancing just like the movie... I have to go see it again... sigh

Love it. Such a cute song... way to go Enchanted!!!

Ha Ha- Jon just added Nicole Kidman to his list of pregnant chicks....

He introduced Judy Dench and Halle Berry- but then the guy from knocked up and the guy from the Kelsey Grammer show 'Back to You' (the heavy set guy- Josh?) walked out instead and are arguing about who is representing whom... then introduced
Best Sound Editing... The Bourne Ultimatum

Best Sound Mixing... The Bourne Ultimatum (again)

Forest Whitaker is presenting... sorry, spaced out- have no idea
Oh, Best Actress... what????? How the heck did she beat out Cate and Ellen Paige?
Blech,
sorry, Marion Cotilland won.
(p.s. she has an accent.) I don't love her dress, it's pretty but kinda been there done that pretty.

Actually, as she walked away, the back was very pretty, I apologize and take it back.

Colin Farrel (hello, has he done anything lately? I haven't seen him around at all) presenting the 4th nominated song- "Falling Slowly"
It's a pretty boring song-I'm checking my facebook as I sit here....

Jack Nicholson... he is so awesome.
He is presenting a montage going through all 79 movies that were awarded best picture...
which side point, Jack was in at least twice - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and last year's Departed.

Renee Zellweger is presenting...
Achievement in Film Editing... The Bourne Ultimatum

Nicole Kidman looking beautiful- gorgeous jewellery, nice (safe) black dress (5th pregnant lady, although Jon Stewart didn't mention it) is presenting...another random montage.

Robert Boyle is onstage...the announcer said he is an honorary Oscar recipient. (what does that mean exactly- does he get one to put on his mantle or doesn't he?)

Why is Harrison Ford tearing up during Robert Boyle's speech?
Anyone?

Jon Stewart is cracking up... something obviously happened during the break...
Penelope Cruz is walking out- her dress is pretty but I am tired of her always wearing navy...
presenting Best Foreign Language Film...The Counterfeiters

Patrick Dempsey... (silent cheering- he is so cute) presenting the final song from Enchanted- "So Close" (also a really great song).

Just so you know- I have the soundtrack and play these three songs over and over in my car, plus Carrie Underwood's Ever Ever After... if you have not gone to see the movie- GO SEE IT!

The guy singing it is also a cutie- hope he gets more famous from this- he has a gret voice and has the right look to make it in the industry as a singer.

Ouch- he missed the one high note... but did a great job otherwise.

John Travolta... just came out dancing the ladies from the previous song...
his hair looks weird. Shoulda gotten the hair cut 3 days ago so it would look good today...
presenting the best song-I want 'That's How You Know' to win...
yuck.
It was nominated three times in the same category and Enchanted lost?????
'Falling Slowly' won. Oh well.

Go watch Enchanted and buy the soundtrack to make up for it.

Jon Stewart "To the owner of the Boeing 707 parked on La Brea, your landing lights are on"
John Travolta comes running across the stage... Funny!

Jon Stewart just called out the lady who didn't get the chance to say her thank you speech for 'Falling Slowly' - and she is talking- A LOT
Whew.
Jon is such a gentleman.

Cameron Diaz- pretty pink dress, stumbling over the teleprompter, but recovering well... her lips look weird. Presenting...
Best Cinematography... There Will be Blood.

( I was looking at pics of Renee Zellweger on the red carpet- her dress is fabulous- did not come across as pretty on TV, but the photos are phenomenal).

Hilary Swank, bad hair, decent dress- boring safe black though... presenting...
(My favorite part, unfortunately)
In Memoriam.

I always cry... I was actually okay until they showed Heath Ledger... that got me this year.
(Deborah Kerr, Jack Valenti, got me a little, but Heath, still breaks my heart, such a senseless loss).

Amy Adams is back- in a different dress- gorgeous hunter green (goes incredibly with her hair)...
Original Score... Atonement, The Kite Runner, Michael Clayton, Ratatouille, 3:10 to Yuma...
Atonement wins it!

Tom Hanks... introduces the troops stationed in Baghdad... soldiers are saying hello and thanking the Academy for including them- presenting the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject to some random women- sorry, can't read the small type... the lady is kinda cry-screaming her thank you speech... pretty silver dress though.

Tom Hanks presents Best Documentary... Taxi to the Dark Side

Sorry if I missed anything- I stepped out for a moment.

Helen Mirren (looking wonderful in a red stunner with silver sleeves -she always covers her upper arms...) presenting
Best Actor... George Clooney (who I think will win), Daniel Day Lewis (who deserves to win), Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones, Viggo Mortensen....
and the winner is...

Best Actor... Daniel Day Lewis!!!!!!!
Good for him!!!!
He was robbed last time!!!!
Wow, I am so happy for him!

He accepts his statue from Helen Mirren and says "That's the closest I'll ever come to being anointed..."

Sorry- earlier I missed Juno winning for Best Screenplay.
"This ain't no etch-a-sketch baby!"

Martin Scorsece (who FINALLY won last year for Departed) is presenting
Best Director... the Cohen brothers take it! No Country for Old Men...

Denzel Washington is presenting... Best Motion Picture...
Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood....
(I say There Will be Blood)
Wow- No Country for Old Men takes it!!!!

That's it for this year- hopefully the writer's won't screw up award season next year!