And he’s done it! Danny Boyle has done it! Best Director for Danny Boyle and Slumdog millionaire. He jumps for joy(literally), and with good reason. It’s the films seventh award. He gives a great speech and finishes it off with a heartfelt thanks to Mumbai.
Again, must mention how impressive Hugh Jackman has been. The rugged Aussie is definitely maneuvering about the stage, controlling the action without hogging the limelight. He passes the stage on to Reese Witherspoon, of Legally Blonde fame, who is wearing a gorgeous dark blue/purple gown. She’s giving the award for Best Director, where Danny Boyle must be considered the favorite.
Looking regal and royal in blue, Queen Latifa is on-stage in a gown quite befitting of her name She leads us into another of these cool montages. Now the lovely, exquisite, delightful Freida Pinto is on-stage to present the award for Best Foreign Film. The girl exudes class, whether it’s on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, in the pages of Vanity Fair or on the red carpet at awards show. The winner is Departures, a Japanese film.
And Jai Ho has won the Oscar for Best Song! Two Oscars for India’s finest
modern musician! What a night to remember. India at the Oscars will never be
looked at the same. And a classy, gracious acceptance speech from Mr Rahman.
Well deserved, sir. Well deserved. You’ve made all of India proud! Slumdog,
for those keeping count, has collected a staggering six awards already.
And an incredible treat, the great AR Rahman is performing live at
the Oscars. Wah! Wah! Triple Wah! O Saya is by Rahman himself, and accompanied
by a platoon of dancers and drummers. It segues to a Western song and soon
comes back to Rahman. This time, it’s the song that made the film famous: Jai
Ho!
And the winner is AR Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire! He’s looking
dapper in a black sherwani. Like a good Indian boy, he mentioned his
mother and said a few words in his native tongue. India has arrived, ladies and
gents. There’s no point denying it now!
A lovely piece of orchestral music leads us into the award for best Original
Score. AR Rahman, India’s
son, is up for the award.
And the winner is Slumdog Millionaire!?! Wah! Wah! The film
is really and truly hitting a six in cinema’s version of the World Cup. **Chris
Dickens** brings it home(Best Film Editing), with a classy and
gracious’thank you’. In true stiff-upper-lip fashion he thanks his Indian
hosts, his English friends and his own family. Classy, classy. Slumdog
has won four awards!
Another award presented by Will Smith? He might as well have been named
co-host. The award is for Best Film Editing. Can Slumdog win another?
And the Best Sound Mixing award goes to Slumdog Millionaire’s **Resul
Pookutty**. Amchi Mumbai, the movie is, and it captures the living, breathing
pulse of India’s most famous
megacity, the city of Dreams!
And now some genuine, authentic praise of’Bombay’, as he says. Who would have thought?
Oh no! It’s the first big letdown of the night! Slumdog has lost out to The
Dark Knight for best sound editing. It’s sad, of course, but one can see why it
happened. The truck flip sequence and the countless explosions in The Dark
Knight were too much for Slumdog and the sounds of Mumbai to overcome.
Smile Pinki! This is really and truly India’s night, ladies and
gentleman. Smile Pinki!, the story of a Uttar Pradesh village girl born with
cleft lip, is the winner! Megan Mylan, the director, is very gracious in
her acceptance speech. Pinki is actually on hand, with her parents.
And now the Best Documentary(Short). Smile Pinki, a film
based in Benares, is up for the award.
Bill Maher, of Religulous fame, is on-stage, cracking jokes
’bout religion. That’s walking on egg shells, most certainly. Mr Maher is
presenting the award for Best Documentary.
The winner is Heath Ledger! Tears are in abundance in the audience,
as Ledger’s parents accept the Best Supporting Actor award and make a touching,
poignant, powerful speech.
As for the song, his partner is the inimitable Beyonce. It’s a proper
musical, with several songs, top-hats, sequined gowns. They’ve done it up and
done it big. It’s an homage to High School Musical, to Mamma Mia!,
to musicals from years past. Great stuff.
Now the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film. And the winner is **Spielzeugland
(Toyland)**. The show is just flying along this year.
And the Oscar for Best Cinematography goes to: Slumdog Millionaire
(Anthony Dod Mantle)! It’s the year of the dog, Slumdog that is!
Soon Mr AR Rahman should be getting in on all this Oscars fun…
We’re back. Looking beautiful in pink is Natalie Portman. She’s
positively sparkling. Alongside her is Ben Stiller.
And the Oscar goes to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button! It
was a tough battle, to overcome the crazed Joker’s make-up from *The Dark
Knight*. But ultimately, the ability to show Brad Pitt as anything but an
incredibly handsome middle-aged man must be applauded! Number two for Benjamin
Button.
And the Oscar goes to Simon Beaufoy and Slumdog Millionaire. Pay
attention, folks, because the rout is on! There’s no stopping this *Slumdog *locomotive
now.
And the winner is: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona!
Another classic Woody Allen character brought to life by Penelope in stunning
fashion. Now five famous best supporting acress winners have come on-stage - **Whoopi
Goldberg, **Tilda Swinton and Goldie Hawn, Eva Marie Saint
and Anjelica Huston. They say they are here to welcome a new actress
into the sorority, then preview each of the nominated ladies.
Here Jackman starts a song and dance number that previews the show,
and names many of the year’s films. First up? Slumdog Millionaire, why
of course! Dev is stylishly rocking a classy black tux, while Freida Pinto is
wearing a royal blue gown with sequins.
The cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire are on hand, with director **Danny
Boyle** at the helm. It’s a veritable platoon! Gracious responses from both
Danny and Dev Patel. Nice going, guys. The Mumbaikar child actors are
working the Hollywood paparazzi with decided ease.