Oscar and Hugh: not such an odd couple

With the Oscars 2009 show being a piece of history now (in other words, it was yesterday...) folks downunder are wondering what response was gleaned by Hugh Jackman -- who's only the second Aussie ever invited to host the show.

Turns out, Hugh's been gathering mixed reviews -- and I shouldn't think it bothers him one jot, because while critics appear to have NOT likes him, audiences loved him. And that's what a performer cares about. (Which is probably also how he's feeling about Australia, which has been, and still is, absolutely delighting home-grown viewers all over our rural zones, even though city slicker crictics in the hearts of major metropolises like New York, London and so forth didn't reckon it was worth the celluloid it was printed on! Go figure. Me? I reckon it's audiences that count. God knows, they're the ones who didn't get free bloody tickets!)

Here's some interesting reading on the topic:

Will Hugh Jackman get Oscars call back? Was he Billy Crystal?
Liveblogging the Oscars: Stopping the Show
Kudos!!!!

Kewl, eh, what?!

So let's have some pictures while we're here!





Now, that's what I call candy for the visual cortex.

Way to go, Sean!

It's history: the Oscars 2009 ... and what history!

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire;
Best Actor: Sean Penn, for Milk;
Best Actress: Kate Winslet.
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger;

...and this is so cosmopolitan a decision on all fronts, I'm surprised and delighted. Slumdog is a picture about Indian people in India. Sean Pen's character of Harvey Milk was not merely 'out' gay, but the gay rights activist to end 'em all ... in fact, he's become a gay icon. Kate Winslet is English; Heath Ledger was Australian.

Here's the complete list: http://oscar.com/oscarnight/winners/

And here is Sean Penn's clip, speech and all:




Verrrrrry, verrrry nice! Here's AG standing up and applauding!

And the winners are --

Yep, it's Oscar's Day -- can't say "Oscar's Night," because down here in Aus, the show goes on (and on and on and on) all day, due to the time difference!

As I write this, the great news is that Heath Ledger has just been honored with the AFI award:

See the winners come up in real time here, if you can't park yourself in front of a TV screen for about six hours during the working day -- and who can?

From my perspective, this is the big news at the Oscars -- why? Because it's the last chance Heath Ledger will have to "win the big one." And he richly deserved it. Brad Pitt and others will have many, many other chances, but this one was critically important for Heath, his family, and his fans.

Nice one, kid. Real nice.

And the winner is ... hey, KOOEE! That's Hugh Jackman!

The news hit the wires just one hour ago: Kooee!!! It's Hugh Jackman to host the Academy Awards show! That'll make for a pleasant evening, even if you think (as most of us usually do) that the awards all wandered off home with the wrong people!


So, who's going to win what? I'm not the one to ask, but I did read a really excellent roundup:
Who Will Take Home the Oscar? 2009 Academy Award Predictions -- that post is well worth a read, on Blog Critics.

And now, a tiny bit of Oscar trivia ... do I miss my guess, or was Sidney Poitier the first black actor to win the academy award?


And then it was 40 years before Denzel Washington won one, is that right? Woah. That's a long time between dinners.

Best of luck to Heath Ledger: here's hoping!