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The 81st Annual Oscars brought its usual surprises and disappointments to the Kodak Theater. But this year's host Hugh Jackman opened the award night with a comical and entertaining theater ensemble, singing and dancing as stage sets citing potential winners changed around him. Anne Hathaway was even nabbed from the audience to aid Jackman's interpretation of Frost/Nixon, in which the Best Actress nominee showed off her versatility as an actress and singer by hitting an incredible high note.

This year's Oscars had a more laid-back and honest feel, dipping into classic set design for presenters' backdrops as well as camera angles that gave television viewers an intimate feel of the large theater. The award show also provided scripted comedic presenters whom this year were actually capricious and sounded more real than transcribed. Twilight hunk Robert Pattinson poked fun at his role in the 2008 film, joking that he needed to become a vampire in order to get a date. Presenter Natalie Portman paired up with a heavily bearded Ben Stiller, teasing supposed retiree Joaquin Phoenix for his recent appearance on David Letterman where Phoenix took out gum from his mouth and stuck it under the Late Night host's table.


Winning big at Oscar Night was Slumdog Millionaire, which took home eight of its nine nominations. Following a far second was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which won just three of its 13 nominations, then The Dark Knight taking home two of six, and Milk receiving only two of its eight nominations. Highlights of the night included a very touching acceptance speech by Health Ledger's family for his Oscar for best supporting actor in The Dark Knight, as well as the expected Oscar for Kate Winslet, who gave an emotional speech for her leading Role in The Reader. Winslet, had previously been nominated for five academy awards, but this Oscars marked the first win of her career.

The Wrestler, Changeling, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, and Revolutionary Road received no Oscars despite their combined eighteen nominations, which included Mickey Rourke and Frank Langella for Best Actor, Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie for Best Actress, Frost/Nixon for Best Picture and Best Director, and Amy Adams, Viola Davis, and Marisa Tomei for Best Supporting Actress.

The 2009 Oscar winners were as follows:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Supporting Actor: Health Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Foreign Language Film: Departures, (Japan) directed by: Yojiro Takita
Original Song: "Jai Ho," music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Gulzar, Slumdog Millionaire
Original Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Sound Editing: Richard King, The Dark Knight
Sound Mixing: Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty; Slumdog Millionaire
Film Editing: Chirs Dickens, Slumdog Millionaire
Visual Effects: Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Documentary Short: Megan Mylan, Smile Pinki
Documentary Feature: James Marsh and Simon Chinn, Man on Wire
Short Film (Live Action): Jochen Alexander Freydank, Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
Makeup: Greg Cannom, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Costume Design: Michael O'Connor, The Duchess
Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt (Art Direction); Victor J. Zolfo (Set Decoration), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Animated Short Film: Kunio Kato, La Maison en Petitis Cubes
Animated Feature Film: Andrew Stanton, Wall-E
Writing, Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Writing, Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk