Oscars 2009: The Show's Timeline Recap
10:30: Slumdog Millionaire wins for Sound Mixing, marking the rare occasion that the two sound awards go to different films and more importantly, AGAIN sabotaging many an Oscar pool.
10:34: Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire.
10:49: We come back from commercial to find Jackman being serenaded by a guitar strummer sitting at his feet.
10:54: Slumdog’s A.R. Rahman wins Best Original Score …
10:56: … then performs as part of a Best Original Song nominee medley (along with John Legend, who apparently has a standing invitation to perform at any and every awards ceremony) …
11:00: … then wins for Slumdog’s “Jai Ho.”
11:06: The Japanese film Okuribito (Departures) becomes the only real surprise of the night thus far, beating out Waltz with Bashir and The Class for Best Foreign Language Film.
11:10: Just when you think it’s time for the big categories and the final stretch, along come the celebituaries.
11:17: Jackman makes a joke, but it’s really the truth: Outgoing President of the Academy Sid Ganis’ decision to not make a speech truly is a farewell gift! We might’ve been looking at close to four hours otherwise.
11:19: Danny Boyle, to no one’s surprise, wins Best Director for Slumdog and starts off his speech as Tigger. Seriously, what is this man’s secret source of energy at this point in the show?
11:27: Shirley MacLaine’s honoring of Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway sounds so sincere and heartfelt that it reminds us what a great actress MacLaine is.
11:30: Brew that cup o’ coffee, people -- looks like we’re in for another post-11:30 ending (for those of us on the East Coast).
11:32: Kate Winslet wins her long-overdue first Oscar, beating out Streep, who was in line for her umpteenth. Winslet thanks the late Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, both of whom were producers on The Reader.
11:36: There’s a Robert De Niro sighting and hearing.
11:42: Sean Penn wins Best Actor over his “brother” Mickey Rourke, who, let’s face it, is probably pretty pissed about not having that statuette to signal the completion of his much-heralded comeback. Penn uncharacteristically offers a great, self-deprecating line during his acceptance speech: “I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me.” He also gives a shout-out to the criminally ignored Gus Van Sant before rightfully voicing his disgust with those who voted to ban gay marriage.
11:47: Take us home, Spielberg -- quickly!
11:52: Slumdog takes the biggest category, Best Picture, meaning there wasn’t a single surprise winner tonight (OK, aside from Foreign Language Film). The humongous cast and crew fill the stage to accept the award, and the show mercifully comes to an end at--
11:55: Not too bad, considering that it felt like 12:55!