Yes, I am a Oscar maniac, as well as a SAG (Screen Actors Guild) maniac! Every year for the past 20 yrs. or so, I’ve been keeping a record of Oscar winners, either by writing it out or filling out the ballot I get online. This year I added a new venue, I joined in on the Oscar Prediction Challenge game at www.Oscar.com. It was SO fun! I found as it got closer to the biggies, I got better in my predictions. I got 7 out of 24 predictions correct. Of the top 6 (Picture, Lead Actor/Actress, Supporting Actor/Actress and Director) I got all but one correct, that of Lead Actor. I was so surprised when Sean Penn of ‘Milk’ won. I predicted Mickey Rourke ‘The Wrestler’, he won the SAG for lead actor and it’s been that whoever won at the SAG’s, won at the Oscar, usually. Not this time, I guess. Gorgeous Hugh Jackman was the fantastic host! I did not know he sang! Wow can he sing!!  Where he lacked in comedy, he made up in looks and singing! Hugh is not a comedian! Sorry, Hugh!                       

Hugh Jackman (picture courtesy of celebuzz.com)

Below is the full recap of the Winners of Oscar 2009.

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn, Milk

Actress in a Leading Role:  Kate Winslet, The Reader

Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Actress in a Supporting Role: Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk

Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Animated Feature Film: WALL-E

Foreign Language Film: Departures (Japan)

Original Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

Original Song: “Jai Ho,” A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; Slumdog Millionaire

Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire

Costume Design: The Duchess

Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire

Documentary Feature: Man on Wire

Documentary Short Subject: Smile Pinki

Animated Short Film: La Maison en Petits Cubes

Live Action Short Film: Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Sound Editing: The Dark Knight

Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire

Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jerry Lewis    (LONG over due)

I also keep a tally of the movies/awards. 

• ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ got 8 awards.
• ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ got 3 awards.
• ‘The Dark Knight’ got 2 awards.
• ‘Milk’ got 2 awards.  

Here are Kate Winslet(lead- Actress), Sean Penn (Lead Actor) and                                                                                                         Penelope Cruz (Supporting Actress).

Supporting Actor Heath Ledger (passed away). (Picture courtesy of AccessHollywood.com)

 Now, I gotta go see these wonderful movies! Meryl Streep has been nominated 15 times, this makes 16, with only two wins.

As for me personally, I have had the last 4 days off from work. I’m hoping to gain more hours these next few weeks. There are some things I’d like to get not to mention SAVE some! Humm, “SAVE” what a concept!

Not much else to report. Except I am still awaiting my payment from Zazzle/PayPal. I was told to wait another 2 days. I’ve been waiting 2 months, I guess two more days won’t be any trouble. 

Here’s a quote from Kate Winslet’s acceptance speech last night,

  “I’d be lying if I hadn’t made a version of this speech. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror and this would have been a shampoo bottle. Well, it’s not a shampoo bottle now.”

Til next time, take really good care of yourself!!