The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)

Annual awards presentation honoring the best film achievements of 2008.

Directors:

Roger Goodman, Allen P. Haines

Writers:

Jon Macks, Jenny Bicks,

Stars:

Hugh Jackman, Amy Adams, Jennifer Aniston

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Hugh Jackman	...	Himself - Host / Performer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amy Adams	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Jennifer Aniston	...	Herself - Presenter: Best Animated Film and Best Animated Short Film
Alan Arkin	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Amy Bailey	...	Dancer - Luhrmann / Ashford
Julia Bantner	...	Dancer
Eric Barba	...	Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects
Craig Barron	...	Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects
Kirk Baxter	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Film Editing
Simon Beaufoy	...	Himself - Winner: Best Adapted Screenplay
Kristine Bendul	...	Dancer
Halle Berry	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role
Jessica Biel	...	Herself - Presenter: Technical Awards
Dustin Lance Black	...	Himself - Winner: Best Original Screenplay
Jack Black	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Animated Film and Best Animated Short Film

Storyline

Annual awards presentation honoring the best film achievements of 2008.

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Plot Keywords:

lifting an adult into the air | carrying someone | musical number | lifting female in air | tv special | 

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

81i teleti aponomis ton vraveion Oscar - Live

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

210 min 210 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

All five Best Picture nominees are contemporary period films: Slumdog Millionaire (Mumbai, 1990s - 2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (primarily New Orleans, 1918 - 2005), Frost/Nixon (primarily California, 1974), Milk (San Francisco, 1970s), The Reader (primarily Berlin, 1958 - 1995). The films also received nominations for their respective directors.

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Goofs

During the presentation of the Best Supporting Actor nominees, Alan Arkin introduces Philip Seymour Hoffman as "Seymour Philip Hoffman".

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Quotes

Robert De Niro: How did he do it? How, for so many years, did Sean Penn get all those jobs playing straight men?

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Connections

Referenced in Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2009 Academy Awards (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Musicals are Back"
Performed by Hugh Jackman with Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Seyfried & Dominic Cooper and Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens

User Reviews

A different approach to the Oscars. Milk edges out the ram, Kate finally brings home gold, and the rags to riches story wins top prize!

"The 81st Annual Academy Awards" was certainly one of the first Oscars that was done in a different style and direction. Unlike some of the past ones the show was more a performance style than a laugh fest. As evidenced by the host, as in the past when we laughed to the jokes and skits of Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Ellen, or John Stewart well this year the academy went a different route. A performer hosted that being actor Hugh Jackman and he displayed his talent very well mostly in the form of singing and performing well done skits and displays of the nominated films. Jackman not only a talented actor, but a stage performer you can tell his talent rubbed off well as his voice lit up the Oscar stage well. Also the awards categories when presented were handed out by at least five previous winners from the past of that particular category a first that I saw. The most moving and touching moment was the win of the late Heath Ledger as best supporting actor for his wicked performance of the Joker in the "Dark Knight" as his family mother, father, and sister accepting the award brought tears to everyone. And finally long overdue was the win of Kate Winslet for best actress the streak is over as her performance in the "Reader" broke her losing streak. And in the hot contested race of best actor Sean Penn's lifelike performance of gay politician Harvey Milk edged out the comeback kid Mickey Rourke as Mickey's turn in "The Wrestler" had all of us hoping for an underdog win. As in the best picture race as expected Hollywood loves a fairy tale as expected the rags to riches tale "Slumdog Millionaire" took best picture and it scooped up a total of eight wins. Overall one of the more recent better Oscars as with the hosting the show was less funny yet the talent and performance display was moving even though the shows pace ran a little bit over. Yet this 81st edition is most memorable for having one of the best and closest best actor races in years and it shows Hollywood always has a big heart for a rags to riches picture and as Kate proves just keep trying. But most of all history was made with Ledger's win as he became the first posthumous Oscar winner since Peter Finch who won for 1976's "Network". So overall one of the better award shows in recent years. Yet one last question where was Jack Nicholson?