Greetings from the Oscars! My name is Stuart Oldham, and I'll be your tour guide, er, Oscar blogger this evening.

10:00pm OK guys! That'll do it from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Thanks to everyone for writing in and contributing. It's been a blast! -Stuart

9:58pm I had the honor of asking the final question to Danny Boyle. I asked him about the journey of the film, going from the Telluride Film Festival to winning Best Picture at the Oscars. (I was actually sitting behind him in Telluride at the World Premiere and remember him squirming in his seat). "Do you know what that was? It was the sound system! They were overlapping the sound and I was thinking to myself, 'Christ! This certainly isn't a good start.'" Boyle and Colson deserve a lot of credit. Although I wasn't enthralled with the pic, the journey this indie production has been on is quite remarkable.

9:48pm Boyle on "Slumdog's" impact on America. "In culture, fusion is a wonderful thing and I felt it most with the music." Colson adds, "For the first time in my lifetime, America is cool again."

9:46pm Boyle and Colson have a laugh with the RottenTomatoes reporter: "We LOVE RottenTomatoes! "Slumdog" was at 95%," Boyle says. "And I think my last film, 'Millions' did REALLY well on RottenTomatoes." (Boyle's accentuation of the 'Tomatoes' is pretty classic)

9:44pm Boyle mentions the poet W.H. Auden, "He says about America 'Soon, you'll be putting jukeboxes on the moon' and I LOVE that expression. And I think it applies to tonight about electricity and that anything's possible."

9:37pm Boyle says, "One of the lovely things about this evening is that it's a triumph for this kind of film. It's independent minded and it's against the odds, really. You see Heath Ledger's work in 'Dark Knight,' it's extraordinary work but Heath started in small films," Boyle states. "And the studio's under pressure, obviously, but that's where everyone begins. So it's very, very, very important to remember this."

9:37pm Director Danny Boyle and the producer of "Slumdog Millionaire," Christian Colson, just showed up in the interview room.

9:35pm Still waiting on the "Slumdog" gang. Just popped next door in the photog room where Spielberg was hanging out. (And not talking to me, unfortunately)

9:20pm Penn's done at the podium. Next up: the filmmakers of "Slumdog Millionaire."

9:18pm On the Anti-Gay sign outside that said "Heath (Ledger) is in hell." Penn says, "I think we'd be better dismissing these comments as opposed to commenting on them."

9:16pm Sean Penn on his relationship with Mickey Rourke, whom he mentioned in his Oscar speech. "I've known Mickey for over 25 years. We've had a very close friendship." Penn still on Rourke: "He's one of our most talented actors, ya know? Everyone in this room has to make a comeback everyday."

9:12pm Penn is talking largely about the civil rights themes of "Milk." "Anyone who believes in equal rights, it's simple," he says. "To see this culture of ignorance, that breed this kind of hateful expression, these people with these signs outside, there's nothing more important than the themes in these movies. When you see something like you saw outside today, it just really frustrates you." On what he'd say to the Anti-Gay demonstrators outside the Kodak Theater. "I'd tell em to turn in their hate card and find their better self. These are largely taught limitations and ignorances. It's very sad in a way. Its a demonstration of emotional cowardess."

9:12pm Sean Penn has now arrived backstage, Winslet just left.

9:09pm Someone just asked Winslet about her sex life with director Sam Mendes. "Wow!" she said, before giving a PC answer about how 'accepting' Sam is. Awkward...

9:06pm When asked about what she's wearing, Winslet responds, "I'm sorry but fashion questions are so funny." She sarcastically replies, "It's Yves St. Laurent and it's gun metal gray."

9:05pm Winslet is still at the press podium. She's exstatic ecstatic. Almost giddy. Someone from the Russian pres just asked a really deep question, to which the N.Y. Times reporter next to me just mimicked a bong hit.

9:04pm When asked a question from a British reporter named 'Baz,' Winslet raced down and gave this 'Baz' fellow a hug. It was a nice moment, I'll admit.

9:03pm "It's just donning on me now that I won an Oscar," Winslet says. "Oh my God."

9:02pm Which actor would she like to pass the nude torch to? (Now that Winslet's supposedly retiring the racy nude scenes) "Susan Sarandon."

9:02pm To the question of why British people mocked her tearful speech at the Golden Globes: "I really don't care," Winslet says.

9:01pm "I can't be responsible for the emotional response an audience has for any film," Winslet admits. "It certainly wasn't my intention to make people sympathize with an SS guard."

9:00pm Kate Winslet has arrived backstage.

8:59pm My award for best-dressed of the evening goes to: Penelope Cruz and Brad Pitt. Penelope looked radiant and Brad, well, come on. He showed up.

8:57pm While we wait, I must ask: what did you guys think? Any surprises? Any favorite moments? Any good moments? I'm kidding, of course (or am I?)

8:56pm Hugh Jackman is being asked to come backstage as well. Stay tuned...

8:55pm The show's over inside. Backstage, the party is just getting started. Stick around for comments from the winner's room, including Kate Winslet, Sean Penn and the "Slumdog Millionaire" gang.

8:54pm "Slumdog" sweeps the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Let it be known...(in Jack Black voice)

8:53pm A small roar ripped through the press room when Spielberg made the announcement.

8:52pm "Slumdog Millionaire"

8:50pm And the Best Picture is...

8:48pm If "Slumdog" doesn't win, it will be a MAJOR upset. But from the way things have been going, Danny Boyle's "Millionaire" is a shoe-in shoo in. 

8:47pm Steven Spielberg now presenting Best Picture. All is quiet backstage in the press room.

8:45pm Sean Penn mentions the Anti-Gay signs out on Hollywood Blvd. "I am also proud of a country who elects a smart man their President." He also celebrated Mickey Rourke's revival. "You're my brother!"

8:45pm Sean Penn wins for Best Actor. "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns," he jokes.

8:44pm Group presentation for Best Actor now. Robert DeNiro was awesome, when talking about Sean Penn. "How did Sean get all of those straight roles in the past?"

8:44pm Technical difficulties. Sorry about that.

8:34pm Everyone backstage is watching Winslet on the monitors. I think people truly underestimate this woman's fan base. "Titanic" was the "Twilight" of the '90s. Actually, it was bigger than that. So don't listen to what Mickey says in "The Wrestler" (about the 90s sucking and all...). Winslet is officially a Hollywood superstar.

8:32pm Kate Winslet wins her first Oscar ("The Reader"). Total class act.

8:28pm: Group presenters for Best Actress now. Thoughts everyone? I'm really not a fan of additional compliments (on top of the Oscars, of all things). These women obviously deserve kudos for their remarkable performances but we know who they are and why they're there. No need to tell us the meaning of their roles. Come on...

8:27pm OK. I've reached a consensus between me, myself and my sore ass: tonight's show is boring.

8:25pm My NEW favorite part of the show. Hilary Swank in the Best Actress montage saying, "I'm just a girl from a trailer park with a dream."

8:21pm Hugh Jackman just took the stage (off the air) and thanked Anne Hathaway. "And the crew backstage. The producers: Bill Condon and Larry Mark. Our director Roger Goodman." Among others...

8:20pm "Slumdog" has won every televised award it has been nominated for this evening.

8:17pm Boyle hopped up on stage and said it was inspired by "Winnie the Pooh" and his kids. (Tigger, from "Winnie the Pooh" that is)

8:16pm And the Oscar goes to...Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

8:15pm Reese Witherspoon presenting Best Directing honors. This seems appropriate...not.

8:12pm Backstage, the press (and publicists) are taking a breather. And by breather, I mean, continuing work with their heads down and not speaking to anyone.

8:11pm Queen Latifah singing "I'll Be Seeing You" for the In Memoriam tribute. She sounds pretty good. The audio is apparently turned off for you folks at home. Stan Winston got a nice applauce (visual effects guru). As did Sydney Pollack, Heath Ledger, and lastly, Paul Newman (who got a rousing ovation and individual montague with audio to boot).

8:09pm Quick question: Who do you guys think is the best dressed tonight?

8:07pm Wow! Biggest upset of the night thus far. "Departures" wins over "Waltz with Bashir" in the Foreign Language category. Ari Folman, writer/director of "Bashir," had won the honor at all of the major award shows this season. Interesting...

8:06pm Liam Neeson and Frieda Pinto presenting the award for Best Foreign Film. Now this category pisses me off. Why? 'The Class' 'I've Loved You So Long' and 'Gomorrah' were left off of the nominees list.

8:00pm As we reach the 8 o'clock hour, I have to ask: What do you guys think of the Oscars so far? I'm voting for b-o-r-i-n-g. Jackman disappeared after those song and dance sequences. I know that producers are required to dole out twenty-four trophies. Still, spice it up, people!

7:59pm Surprise. "Jai Ho" wins Best Original Song.

7:58pm Expect "Jai Ho" to win for "Slumdog Millionaire." M.I.A. is noticeably absent from the performance. (She just gave birth two weeks ago)

7:53pm John Legend is substituting for "Wall-E" songwriter Peter Gabriel after Gabriel protested the Oscar laws of music. (Keep it under 65 seconds and perform it with the rest of the bunch).

7:51pm "Slumdog" wins again. F*cking ridiculous! (Don't worry, I didn't hit anyone). And sorry. I congratulate "Slumdog" and the composer. But I could've burped 'Oops! I Did It Again' and won under "Slumdog"...

7:50pm Original Score next. I love that "Wall-E" composition. Beautiful. If "Slumdog" wins in this category, I'm going to hit someone.

7:49pm The woman for Documentary Short is speaking to the press. I'm not really listening nor is anyone else. She's wearing a nice dress at least...

7:48pm Alright. The length is starting to kick in. Did everyone at home just change the channel to Anthony Bordain for a minute or so? I probably would have. Up next...oh right. I can't tell you :( 

7:44pm Back to the show. Jerry Lewis was just handed the Lifetime Achievement Oscar from "Nutty Professor" actor Eddie Murphy. Probably not the most politically correct individual (Lewis). Still, very deserving of the recognition. And the length of that speech, 30 seconds, I love it! Sally Field, take note.

7:43pm Meanwhile, the Ledgers are still backstage. His sister, Kate, is beautiful.

7:42pm Yet another Coldplay fueled montage. Blah.

7:40pm Eddie Murphy onstage at the Oscars. A very, very rare occurrence.

7:35pm Backstage, Heath Ledger's family just stepped to the press podium. "When he came home for Christmas a year ago, he sent me bits and pieces from the film ("The Dark Knight")," Ledger's sister, Kate, says. "He knew (an Oscar was in his future). I said to him, 'You're going to get a nomination from the Academy' and he just looked at me and smiled. So he knew..."

7:34pm Notice how they fly through the technical awards and yet there's a group presentation for actors? Hmmm...

7:33pm Film Editing up next...

7:30pm Will Smith still onstage. Whoa there. I stand corrected. 'Slumdog' takes Sound Mixing. (Notice how they've won in every category they've been in.)

7:29pm There you have it. 'The Dark Knight.' Unfortunately, this film wasn't nominated for Best Picture and will likely take the '08 'Bourne Ultimatum' honors: Sound Mixing, Editing & Film Editing.

7:27pm No surprise: 'Benjamin Button.' Up next: Outstanding Sound Editing. Expect a victory for 'Dark Knight'

7:26pm Outstanding Visual Effects

7:25pm Will Smith, everyone. "Sometimes action movies don't get the respect they deserve. They can take Brad Pitt and turn him into a garden gnome."

7:24pm This is unnecessary. 'Action 2008' ??

7:22pm Hugh Jackman is back, as am I, with a post-production feature. (Anyone else notice the music interrupting Hugh's dialogue?)

7:15pm 'Restroom break, boss?' I need to quickly use the facilities, gang. Be back in a flash.

7:12pm Best Documentary Short Subject. 'Smile Pinkey' wins. Sweet! I voted for this  in an Oscar pool, never having seen it. (Much like the voters, I'm sure..) "Vote for that one, Frank. The title is so cute!"

7:11pm 'Man on Wire' wins Best Documentary. Honestly, I was disappointed that 'Dear Zachary' wasn't nominated. Oh well. Go see 'Man on Wire.' A remarkable sight.

7:10pm Up next: Best Documentary Feature (Bill Maher presenting)

7:09pm And they follow up Ledger's family speech with....a depressing Documentary feature with 'keep those Ledger tears flowing' music.

7:08pm His family is accepting. Best moment of the night so far. "I have to say this is ever so humbling," his father says. "Heath was such a compassionate and generous soul," his mother states. "Tonight we are choosing to celebrate and be happy what he achieved." His sister went on: "We really wish you were here. And proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful Matilda (daughter)."

7:07pm Heath Ledger wins! ("The Dark Knight")

7:01pm Cuba Gooding Jr. on Downey Jr. "Are you out of your mind?!?! The brothers need to work! Congratulations on your upcoming film, 'Shaft.'"

7:00pm Group presenters again for Best Supporting Actor. What do you guys think? I don't mind the intimacy (or Philip Seymour Hoffman's hat??) but this is taking a REALLY long time.

6:57pm Lots of stretching backstage. I need to go to the bathroom but am dedicated to my craft (and you). Back to the show...

6:56pm Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens have joined Beyonce Knowles and Hugh Jackman to sing and dance to Baz Luhrmann's directed ensemble. "The musical is back!" Jackman exclaims at the end.

6:55pm Backstage, "Wall-E" director Andrew Stanton is now speaking to the press. "It was about connectivity. People connecting with each other. Not their cell phones or other technological devices." "Wall-E" beat out "Kung Fu Panda" and "Bolt!" in the Best Animated Feature category.

6:53pm Beyonce Knowles, ladies and gentlemen. (Yes, the same person Etta James threatened with an ass-whoopin')

6:52pm Actually, "The musical is back," he says as he goes into another song and dance.

6:51pm Hugh Jackman is back.

6:49pm Back to Simon Beaufoy in the press room. (Adapted Screenplay, winner for "Slumdog Millionaire") "We've taken a lot of flack for showing the slums of Mumbai," he says. "Something that's not geared for the Middle Class. It's a new cinematic pathway for Indian film."

6:49pm Commerical

6:46pm Franco has a difficult time announcing the winner's name, Alexander Fraydank. I'm sure they're still high...

6:45pm Rogen appears onstage with Franco for Live Action Short Film Oscar. "If you like that piece, I wrote it. If not, it's Judd Apatow's fault."

6:43pm Back to the show. Seth Rogen and James Franco ("Pineapple Express") are laughing at this year's dramatic films, stoner-style. "Do you think I can make this into a pipe?" Rogen asks, looking at an Oscar statue.

6:41pm Adapted Screenplay winner Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") is now in the interview room. "It's just extraordinary. The kids are here. I mean, we were so worried about bringing them over from Mumbai to such a lavish ceremony, but they're all running around having a laugh. In the end, it was the absolute right thing to do, having them come over."

6:40pm Back at the live show, Jessica Biel, host of last night's Visual Effects Awards, just did a quick recap. She also just made every geek's day, mine included.

6:39pm And Penelope Cruz is done with the interviews.

6:36pm Cruz is still talking about Woody Allen backstage. "I never doubted the genius but I was curious about his tone in person." On her early struggles with American audiences: "It was tough but it's gotten better. If movies represent life, about what happens on the streets, then we are all here together. And more and more everyday, that has to be reflected in cinema."

6:35pm And the Oscar goes to...Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

6:31pm Stiller is now stumbling around aimlessly while Portman talks about the Cinematography nominees. LOL

6:30pm Meanwhile, Ben Stiller is doing the bizarre Joaquin Phoenix shtick onstage. Beard and all. Natalie Portman: "You look like you work in a hasidic meth lab."

6:29pm Three out of the four questions have been in Spanish so bear with me. (even though I speak 'un poquito espanol'). "I'm going to call Woody (Allen) right now," Cruz says. "I adore him. I think he's so funny and charming. So unique."

6:28pm Penelope Cruz just arrived in the press room. She's wearing a stunning diamond necklace. On what she said in Spanish: "I want to dedicate it to all of the actors in my country. And to all of the people in Spain who are watching at home."

6:27pm We've just been told (in the press room), that the Animated Short winner's Japanese translator is nowhere to be found. Um...

6:25pm Young ladies, behold! Robert Pattinson from "Twilight" is presenting.

6:24pm Best Makeup..."The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

6:22pm Dustin Lance Black says the feeling is "Unbelievable. I had an idea of what I wanted to say (on stage)." He's beginning to tear up. "Harvey (Milk) gave me this story and it changed my life."

6:20pm Meanwhile, "The Duchess" just won Best Costume Design. No surprises. If you have a period film, you'll likely be competing in this category. (Not that Prada isn't an achievement, right Sarah Jessica Parker?)

6:19pm Dustin Lance Black, winner of the Original Screenplay award ("Milk"), just arrived in the Interview Room.

6:17pm And the Art Direction Oscar goes to...'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

6:16pm Sarah Jessica Parker and Daniel Craig. I'm guessing Christian Bale isn't presenting this year...

6:15pm The Animated Short winner is making his way to the press room. (The guy with the broken English). Should make for an interesting interview...

6:15pm Art Direction up next

6:14pm Hugh is back on. "30 seconds!" They cut his mic.

6:11pm It's not incredibly interesting. Spielberg says "'Milk' could be Van Sant's best movie yet."

6:10pm Hugh Jackman is now talking in between commercials. "You guys OK up in the balcony? Some of these awards get cut because of the air time. Here's a behind-the-scenes featurette about some of this year's Best Picture nominees! It's three minutes long so hurry back."

6:09pm 'The House of Small Cubes' (English translation)

6:08pm Animated Short (has anyone seen these? Or do they just pick the one with cutest title?)

6:07pm Andrew Stanton (director of "Wall-E") deserves a lot of credit. Watch the 'Making Of' on the DVD and you'll see why...

6:06pm Wall-E (and a sarcastic 'Yes!' from Jack Black)

6:06pm Best Animated Feature...

6:05pm Meanwhile, still no Penelope in the Interview Room...

6:05pm And Angelina was laughing! Yes! LOL

6:04pm Ouch. Jack Black's Pixar joke was harsh.

6:04pm I know. I know. I'm in the minority when it comes to "Slumdog"...

6:02pm I'd be surprised if "Slumdog" loses anything tonight. (unfortunately)

6:02pm Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

6:01pm Best Adapted Screenplay

6:00pm Steve Martin is THE MAN

5:57pm First politifcal moment of the evening. What do you think? I didn't mind it.

5:56pm Dustin Lance Black, "Milk."

5:55pm Cool typewriter sound effect. Reminds me of "Atonement"

5:53pm Tina Fey and Steve Martin are terrific. Best Original Screenplay...

5:51pm Penelope Cruz is on her way back here. One last mic check at the podium...

5:50pm Twenty minutes in and ONE AWARD given out. Wow. Twenty three to go.

5:48pm Props to Pedro Almodovar. Nice touch. Tremendous director.

5:47pm Penelope Cruz!

5:46pm Wow. I'm really surprised they're going this route. The music might start playing over the presenters!

5:45pm (Tick tock)

5:43pm This is a very LONG way to present an award. I really hope they don't keep this up.

5:42pm Group presenters!?

5:42pm Best Supporting Actress...

5:39pm Ladies and gentlemen, the first (and certainly not last) montage of the night!

5:38pm The Interview Room was in shambles over that 'Reader' bit.

5:36pm Anne Hathaway did a nice job. Is there any way she can not lose to Kate Winslet?

5:34pm Not a bad opening number. Brings back memories of Billy Crystal.

5:33pm Hugh Jackman singing "It's alright to be gay." Priceless...

5:31pm This looks/feels very Tony-ish.

5:30pm Hugh Jackman is Australian?!?!? Kidding...

5:29pm Showtime!

5:23pm The atmosphere here is truly remarkable. Pretty much every country you can think of is represented in some way, shape, or form. In fact, I would probably shear a tear if it weren't for the copious amounts of Starbucks in my system, preventing me from any kind of emotion other than rapid typing and inquisitive head-turns.

5:20pm Penelope Cruz is wearing a 60 year old dress. God, she's beautiful.

5:16pm WARNING: Publicists are running around like cheetahs on speed! 

5:14pm ABC's interview with the "Slumdog Millionaire" troupe got a few hoots and hollers back here in the press room. Get ready for a "Slumdog" evening, America!

5:12pm Robert Downey Jr. is nominated for "Tropic Thunder" and ironically enough, he looks like he went to a tanning salon.

5:09pm On a side note--I'm confused by the black tie stigma. Men have to wear black ties, tuxes preferred, but women can wear whatever the hell they want? (Color wise). Call me crazy but I think that's prejudice... 

5:07pm Everyone just moaned because Valentino's interview with Tim Gunn was cut on our monitor. Boo?

5:04pm One of the Bloomberg correspondents just came back from the red carpet. "No Penelope Cruz!" she says.

5:00pm OK. I guess the show starts at 5:30pm. Everyone back here is confused. We all thought it started at 5. Oh well. 5:30pm it is!

4:58pm The press is really hoping for a Mickey Rourke victory. I'm guessing because of his love of the word 'fuck.'

4:57pm Bring on the Oscars!

4:53pm Everyone's rushing into the theater at this point. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are last but certainly not least (You could hear a pin drop back here while they were interviewed).

4:50pm The food backstage is fantastic. From Vietnamese Spring Rolls, to Beef Empanadas, you can munch on pretty much anything and everything back here. (While drinking fresh Starbucks coffee, mind you)

4:44pm All of the women in the press room are glued to the TV watching the red carpet happenings. Kate Winslet looks gorgous, they're saying...

4:42pm Why is Miley Cyrus here?? "Because of 'Bolt,' probably," Variety's David S. Cohen reminds me.

4:40pm Everyone's getting settled backstage in the press room. The sound at the winner's podium has been taken care of (Finally! For ten minutes, they were asking us, "Does this sound like a buzz or a whine? A buzz or a whine?" Ahhhh!)

4:38pm Natalie Portman is a Goddess. Period.

4:36pm My apologies for mispelling Heath Ledger's name earlier. Must be all of the Chimay...

4:33pm A couple of people from US Magazine just snickered at Evan Rachel Wood's appearance on the red carpet. Meoooow! (scratch, claw, hiss)

4:25pm Variety film critic Justin Chang is sitting next to me. Justin? Any predictions you'd like to make? "'Slumdog' obviously for Best Picture." Boring! What else? (He's thinking real hard...)"'Slumdog' for adapted screenplay. 'Slumdog' for editing." Shocking! OK. I'll leave him alone. He's busy...

4:22pm I just overheard a conversation about Mickey Rourke's recently deceased dog. (Captivating, I know!) A woman kept going on and on about how sad it made her feel. Meanwhile, the gentlemen she was with laughed and said, "It's complete bullshit!" What do you think? Dead dog? Or canine crap? The answer after the break!

4:19pm Word is Heath Ledger's father will accept the Best Supporting Actor honor if Heath were to win.

4:17pm I've just been handed the schedule for tonight's show. Unfortunately, I can't share that information with you but I CAN SAY they're handing out Oscar statues at some point...

4:14pm Here in the press room, the New York Times people are on my right. Bloomberg Press on my left. There's a major "Slumdog" buzz. (No surprise)

4:04pm Meanwhile, security is VERY tight. I've been through three separate metal detectors in the past hour. Luckily, they didn't confiscate my "Paul Blart" action figures...

4:00pm The scene outside is quite hectic. As we were ushered into the press room, thousands of people were lined up on Hollywood Blvd. Everyone from onlookers to crazy Jesus people. (One woman had a 'Heath is in Hell' sign, protesting homosexuality. Quite sad...)

3:49pm As you can see on television, the red carpet is alive and kicking on Hollywood and Highland. We have monitors in the press room, so although I'm not standing next to Tim Gunn or Joan Rivers, I, like you, am staring at the screen awaiting the next big star. 

3:46pm Well, my co-workers and I have touched down at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Actually, we're in the back of the building in the illustrious press room. For those of you who haven't been (this is my first time), the Oscar Press Room is located behind the Kodak Theater in the Renaissance Hotel's grand ballroom. In other words, I'm sitting in the room where the winners address the press.

Best Picture of the Year: "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.

Best Actor: Sean Penn (left) for "Milk". Read more about the performance.

Best Actress: Kate Winslet (right) for "The Reader". Read more about the performance.

Best Director: Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the director.

Best Foreign Language Film: "Departures" (Japan)

Best Original Song: "Jai Ho" ( from "Slumdog Millionaire"). Read more about the film.

Best Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire".

Best Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire".   

Best Sound Mixing: "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.  

Best Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight". Read more about the film.

Best Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Read more about the film.

Best Documentary Short: "Smile Pinki".

Best Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire".

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight" (left). Read more about the performance.

Best Live Action Short: "Spielzeugland (Toyland)".

Best Cinematography: "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.

Best Make Up: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Read more about the film.

Best Costume Design: "The Duchess".

Best Art Direction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". (right) Read more about the film .

Best Animated Short: "La Maison en Petits Cubes".

Best Animated Feature: "Wall-E". Read more about the film.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy for "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.

Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black for "Milk". Read more about the film .

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz (left) for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Read more about her performance.

Take a look behind the scenes at the Oscars with Variety's Stuart Oldham.

See the complete list of nominees.

Complete coverage at Award Central.

Call it a variation on the Oscar curse, wherein a tattered trade journo gets excited about dining with the greats -- only to pull the short straw when it comes to table assignments.

Or call it Mickey's Law, wherein a tattered and faded star returns to glory, only to forget Oscar's Rules of Order.

But we're getting ahead of the story.

I just got back from the Oscar nominees lunch and (outside of dining with 112 nominated luminaries from all branches, including brilliant stars such as Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, Robert Downey, Jr. et. al. and genius film artists such as Andrew Stanton, Danny Boyle, Ed Catmull, David Hare et. al.) it's a fairly quiet and traditional outing: Short on schmooze and electricity, long on Oscar heritage and class.

"Everybody wins," says Academy president Sid Ganis. "This is the most democratic of events, where nominated stars sit with nominated visual effects, production design, costume pros and there's no table better than any other table in the room."

Right then. So you get to spin a little bingo cage full of numbered balls and I pulled up table 25, which was filled with wonderful folks such as screenwriter Courtney Hunt ("Frozen River,") director Byron Howard ("Bolt"), Academy governor Phil Robinson, Academy counsel David Quinto... and this season's storied comeback star, Mickey Rourke.

Everyone chuckled as we awaited the arrival of our last diner, who we all guessed would come last to the glamorous Beverly Hilton do and make a glorious entrance.

"I hope he doesn't bring his chihuahua!" joked one guest.

"I hope he does," chuckled another.

And then he arrived. Sartorially splendid as usual, de riguer dark glasses. But even through his shades, he could see that his table -- and its guests -- didn't match his expectations.

Discovering that upgrades weren't an option, Rourke (and pal in tow) opted to stand at a table off to the side of the luncheon. By themselves.

So out of 112 nominees I could have been seated next to, I get the one guy who's too hip for the room.

When you see the traditional group photo of the 112 nominees, look for the guy with the goatee and shades.

He's the guy whose goat cheese-and-grapefruit salad I ate. -- Steve Gaydos

Tom Arnold took the time to bare his misspelled, Oscar-craving soul on the IMDB message board for Damien Harris' child exploitation drama "Gardens of the Night," a film in which Arnold has received some good reviews for his portrayal of a thoroughly creepy pedophile.

The topic: "Is Tom Arnold Oscar-worthy?" A poster has his doubts ("Cmon get serious") and with that, Arnold is off to the races, writing, "I am about to make the cardnal sin of getting respect in the acting trade (followed only by marrying a major female star), responding in person to a resonable question about my self, my talent or lack there of."

An onslaught of namedropping follows and then there's this:

"I knew ‘him’..he lived across the street..he was so nice and as my babysitter, for a kid who's mom walked out when he was 4..heaven sent, he was..or was it hell? I 'researched' this man from the time I was 4-7 and is my performance 'Oscar-worthy'..hell yes. Will I be sad when the nonimations are anounced? For a second :) Besides, I'm not spending any more on adds or campaigns..and most of all, I'm Tom Arnold for godsakes...but HE and I know the truth, I was Oscar-worthy and that's good enough for me.”

Arnold's rep confirms he wrote it. It kind of makes me want to see the movie. [IMDB]

The first reviews of "Australia" are in! Survey says? Well, depends who you ask!

Claire Sutherland, at Australia's Murdoch-owned Herald Sun, can't get enough of the outback:

"It's a movie with a message, but Luhrmann provides the audience with no shortage of thrills, from a cliff hanger cattle stampede to the bombing of Darwin. Kidman and Jackman are perfect together, Jackman's broad speaking drover a perfect foil to Kidman's snooty English rose.... A love letter to the Australian landscape and our history, 'Australia' has international blockbuster written all over it." 

She also calls the film "a compelling and moving tale which traverses war, race relations, class and the Stolen Generation.... (with) some of the most beautiful photography ever seen in an Australian film, from the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley to the Northern Territory in the midst of the wet season."

And then there's Jim Schembri at Australia's Canberra Times, which is owned by Fairfax Media:

"In what has to be the most hyped and self-consciously local film since 1984's 'The Man From Snowy River,' the anxiously anticipated 'Australia' is not a bad film. But it's far from a great one, and certainly not one destined to be a classic."

And that's the opening paragraph; another 450 words' worth of damning with faint praise follows, acknowledging that the film may be popular, "possibly wildly so," especially as a chick flick. But Schembri also calls it an "overlong melodramatic saga" that is "never boring, but, boy, is it overlong. At a mammoth 165 minutes it feels too much like a work in progress." And: "There are only so many wide shots of the Aussie outback that the human mind can stand."

Ouch. [Herald Sun, Canberra Times]

HAL is staying away from the Oscar handicapping game and its half-breed cousin, handicapping the Oscar handicapping game. However, Gawker's Alex Carnevale raises an excellent point: Why is the once-nascent category of animated filmmaking still limited to just three nomination slots? 

The list of films that could be nominated for the Academy's seven-year-old Best Animated Feature Oscar was released, and everything else in the category will be overshadowed by the one lock for a nod, Wall-E. The rest will campaign for just 2 other slots. With more animated films produced outside of the Disney system, small triumphs like the Israeli animated documentary Waltz with Bashir may find themselves on the outside looking in when nominations are announced next year. With only a tiny run in American theaters to put itself into consideration, why is the Academy continue to insists on cramming the field into this tiny category?

There's 14 films in the full submissions list. Six are major-studio CGI ("Bolt," "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!," "Kung Fu Panda," "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," "Wall-E," "The Tale of Despereaux"), four are major-studio-CGI wannabes ("Delgo," "Igor," "Dragon Hunters," "Fly Me to the Moon" -- what, no "Space Chimps"?) two are Japanese anime ("The Sky Crawlers," "Sword of the Stranger") and two are tough to classify: the stop-motion "$9.99" and the animated documentary "Waltz with Bashir."

I don't think anyone's feeling bad for the wannabes (except maybe Harvey Weinstein), but with the continued growth in the number of animated movies each year, the indies are in a position to get screwed. Not that indies aren't used to it, but animation is an art form in which they have a consistent and legitimate opportunity to kick ass and with only three slots, the odds are just too great that they won't even get the chance to square off.

It's not like we need yet another Oscar category (please, we're begging you), especially one like "Eccentric Animated Films That Almost No One Saw But Deserve An Audience More Than Anything Else." But Carnevale's point is a good one: At seven years old, the animated-film category is old enough to cross the street by itself. Maybe it's time to let it stretch its legs into five nominations, like the big kids?

Will this be the year major studios make a triumphant return to Oscar glory? Among the campaigns now being mounted are those for Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight," Walt Disney/Pixar's "Wall-E" and Paramount Pictures' "Iron Man" -- bona fide blockbusters all. Notes Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes, the timing is excellent since the Academy is aching to give the show "a more commercially popular flavor. In part the academy’s producers will do that by including glimpses of the year’s box office favorites, whether or not they are nominated for prizes." Last year’s show was the least watched on record, with about 32 million viewers in the United States. The highest rating was 55.3 million in 1998, when the highest grossing movie of all time, "Titanic," swept the awards. [NYT]

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Why are the Oscars a comedy-free zone? [The Big Picture]

Do IMDB ratings hold the code to accurate Oscar forecasts? Ryan Adams thinks they might. He points out that the IMDB's top 5 movies include 11 best picture nominees and that, overall, "your movie on this top 50 list stands a 4 out of 5 chance of getting a Best Picture nomination." [Awards Daily]

Entertainment Weekly wants Hollywood to rewrite Oscar history, Anne Thompson writes. Recall The Gold asks would-be Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences members to reconsider the nominees in the top six categories for 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988 and 1983. Today, EW mailed out "an extensive survey" (at left, click for larger resolution) to 7,000 people culled from a list that included anyone who had ever been nominated or won an Oscar; crew members on films that grossed over $100 million; people who had been identified in the press as Academy members; members of all the categories covered by the Oscars and top film agents (they're usually ineligible for Academy membership). While the Wall Street Journal earned the Academy's ire when it polled Academy members in 2000, Bruce Davis, executive director of the Academy, says the EW exercise is OK by him. "This is a game we all play as individuals," he said, "looking back 10 years ago to see how we'd vote. I don't see any harm in it. There will be no emergency board meeting. It won't mean anything, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to do." The idea is the brainchild of EW's west coast editor, Sean Smith. [Thompson on Hollywood]

Like "Frozen River," "Elegy" is among the first shipment of Oscar screeners; unlike "Frozen River," however, "Elegy" went only to the actors' branch rather than the full academy, Tom O'Neil writes. Elegy's PR reps say the film is a contender for best actor (Ben Kingsley), actress (Penelope Cruz) and screenplay (Nicholas Meyer, adapted from the novel "The Dying Animal" by Philip Roth), but it's the supporting performances from Dennis Hopper and Patricia Clarkson that have been singled out for particular praise. And, as O'Neil points out, "If 'Elegy' was really being pushed for screenplay, the DVD screener would've been sent to the writers' branch. It wasn't." [The Gold Derby]

When it comes to the untenable market for specialty films, Patrick Goldstein says he's found the villian: Oscar. "The film industry's obsession with chasing Oscar glory has created an insupportable financial model for quality films and quality filmmakers," he writes. Companies like Picturehouse, Warner Independent Pictures, Paramount Vantage and ThinkFilm failed "because they wildly overspent on Oscar campaigns or made films that couldn't compete in the overheated Oscar marketplace." So what to do? Goldstein's hoping for Clint Eastwood to tell Universal not to bother campaigning for 'Changeling' (and, presumably, Warners for "Gran Torino"). "Imagine the hand-wringing if 'Changeling' got just as many award nominations as it would have if it had spent all those millions? That would definitely let all the hot air out of the Oscar balloon. It might also give more quality films an opportunity to compete on a level playing field and actually make some money." [The Big Picture]