The 81st Annual Academy Awards (TV 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

Nicole Kidman had at one point been set to play Kate Winslet's Oscar winning role of Hanna Schmitz in The Reader, but passed on the part due to pregnancy. Also, Marion Cotillard had been briefly considered for the role of Hanna before Winslet was cast. Ironically, both Kidman and Cotillard were two of the presenters who awarded Best Actress winner Winslet her Oscar trophy.

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Goofs

During the "In Memoriam" segment a shot of the famous spaghetti eating scene in Lady and the Tramp is shown behind Ollie Johnston. Johnston did not actually animate this scene. Fellow "Nine Old Men" member Frank Thomas animated the scene.

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Quotes

Hugh Jackman: Everything is being down-sized because of the recession. Next year, I'll be starring in a movie called "New Zealand".

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Connections

Follows The 60th Annual Academy Awards (1988)

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Soundtracks

"Fanfare for Oscar"
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith

User Reviews

Nicely Done

Hugh Jackman had a great time as host of this year's Academy awards, and so did we. His joy was infectious. The staging and set up is probably one of the best I've seen in all my years of watching these shows. The pre-show done by Jackman and Anne Hathaway was passable, but the whole production came across as so real and human, it astounded us. This actually was very well done. The set up for the presentations were beautiful, reminiscent, reflective, and sweetly genuine. This moved us tremendously, and it helped us know how deep some of the relationships go inside Hollywood. This was most excellent, and I cannot wait until next year's show. I am already starting to wonder who will host, what movies will make it, and how the stage will be set up. Yeah, I'mma geek.

I have to say that Ben Stiller's parody of Joaquin Phoenix was the funniest moment in the show. I also loved Heath Ledger's family and what they had to say, promising and accepting Heath's posthumous Oscar to "his sweet Mathilda." I loved the new way they set up and presented each Oscar. I loved the new "tribute" portion, Queen Latifah sang "I'll be seeing you" magnificently. I was moved by Jerry Lewis and the Academy's acknowledgment for all his hard work and dedication...coming out there on stage as he did, unaided by cane or friend (they're all gone now), seeing him standing there in sweet sweet reverie while his peers greet him with a "standing O" was so touching ... and so fitting.

I won't bore you with who won what. Everyone else will do that. I just wanted to let you know what you missed, as this was the greatest Oscars show I can remember having seen. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I LOVE the changes they made to the presentation style. WOW!

I give it 8/10 for great presentation and indefatigable style...

the Fiend :.