The Gays claim back the Oscars!

A lot of pundits online are saying these are the gayest Oscars ever. The musical numbers, the humour, Jackman, the strong showing of "Milk". All I'm saying is; that is how it should be. The Oscars are the Gay Super Bowl and it's time they became what they actually are.

Finally!

Kate got her Oscar!

Initial Reaction!

Loved the show, best ever. It was entertaining, touching and moved swiftly.
Began so strong with Jackman's charming opening number that included the beautiful Anne as Nixon. Who would've thought?
Then the surprise of the emotional tributes of five previous winner and Penelope's heartfelt speech. All the nominees were crying! And then comes Dustin Lance Black with the most inspiring speech in so many years. I called it then the best show ever.

Rating the Oscar performances

Here are my ratings in the 4 acting categories, from most favourite to least. Let's start with the ladies:

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Viola Davis.Emotional and brilliant.
2. Penelope Cruz. Genius:-)
3. Taraji P Henson. She's so cute!
4. Amy Adams. Adorable.
5. Marisa Tomei. Good performance but misogynist role.

Best Actress:
1. Meryl Streep. Excellent actorly "turn".
2. Anne Hathaway.Annoying but heartbreaking.
3. Kate Winslet. She can do no wrong but not a great movie.
4. Melissa Leo.Don't know what all the fuss is about. She didn't elevate her co-star Misty Upham's performance, which was just amateurish
5. Angelina Jolie. Didn't see it but looks histrionic in the trailers.

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Heath Ledger.Couldn't take my eyes off of him when on screen.
2. Josh Brolin.Brought a despicable character to life and gave him pathos
3. Robert Downey Jr. Very funny.
4. Michael Shannon.A little bit over the top.
5. Phillip Seymour Hoffman.Don't like the actor cause he's so full of himself but good performance.

Best Actor:
1. Sean Penn. No words can describe my favourite performance of the year, but here goes. Heartfelt, brilliant, full of emotion, funny, lovable, soulful.
2. Richard Jenkins. Fantastic in a fantastic movie.
3. Mickey Rourke. Excellent in a so-so movie.
4. Brad Pitt. Gorgeous in a role that fit him like a glove since he didn't have to emote much.
5. Frank Langella. Another actorly "turn", but this time way over the top.

What I hope to see tonight?

- Viola Davis winning for the performance that packed the most emotion this year.
- Dustin Lance Black winning because he will give a great and political speech.
- Song and dance numbers that celebrate movies by Oscar worthy talents. so yes to Anne Hathaway joining Hugh on stage but I hope the rumours of Zack Efron are just that, rumours.
- Emotional funny speeches all around.
- Less than 4 hour show.

The "Murtada" Awards

Best Film:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Milk.
Rachel Getting Married.
Revolutionary Road.
The Visitor.

Best Actor :
Leonardo DiCaprio in "Revolutionary Road".
Robert Downey Jr in "Iron Man".
Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor".
Sean Penn in "Milk"
Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler".


Best Actress :
Cate Blanchett in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".
Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married".
Kristin Scott Thomas in "I've Loved You So Long".
Meryl Streep in "Doubt".
Kate Winslet in "Revolutionary Road".

Best Supp Actor :
Josh Brolin in "Milk"
James Franco in "Milk"
Bill Irwin in "Rachel Getting Married"
Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight"
Haaz Sleiman in "The Visitor"

Best Supporting Actress :
Hiam Abbas,in "The Visitor".
Penelope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".
Viola Davis in "Doubt".
Taraji P Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".
Debra Winger in "Rachel Getting Married".

Best Director :
David Fincher for "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button".
Gus Van Sant for "Milk".
Jonathan Demme for "Rachel Getting Married".
Sam Mendes for "Revolutionary Road".
Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire".

Best Original Screenplay :
Milk - Dustin Lance Black.
Rachel Getting Married - Jenny Lumet.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Woody Allen.
The Visitor - Thomas McCarthy.

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth & Robin Swicord.
Doubt - John Patrick Shanely.
The Reader - David Hare.
Revolutionary Road - Justin Hythe.

Final Oscar Predictions

Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Director, Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Actor: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, Viky Cristina Barcelona
Original Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Wall-E
Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Animated Film: Wall-E
Foreign-Language Film: Departures
Documentary: Man On Wire
Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Costume Design: The Duchess
Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Score: Slumdog Millionaire
Song: "Jai Ho," Slumdog Millionaire
Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sound: Wall-E
Sound Mixing: The Dark Knight
Short: Spielzugland (Toyland)
Animated Short: Presto
Documentary Short: The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306

What happened to Baby Joan?

Joan Allen is heading back to Broadway in a new play with Jeremy Irons. But that's not the story.Look at that face, she is botoxed up the wazoo!! And what's up with the lips and cheeks. Something is wrong here.

Predictions coming soon!

My final Oscar predictions will be up by Friday!

5 Reactions to BAFTA!

1. BAFTA lost all creditabity for me, they award everything with a whiff of Britishness. Yes Slumdog is on a roll, but they gave best costume to The Duchess over Ben Button, Best Screenplay to In Bruges over the superior and Best Film nominee Milk and Best Foreign Film to I've Loved You so Long over Waltz with Bashir just because it starred a British star.
2. Very sad to see Milk completely shut out. Hope that does not happen at the Oscars.
3. While I was rooting for Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke gave the best speech. he was very real and it was heartfelt. Bravo!
4. Who was the dude who accepted for Ledger? Whoever's in charge get your act together and choose someone charismatic for the Oscars.
5. Is Kate now scared of public speaking? She seemed like she just wanted to get off the stage. Good on the tribute to Pollack & Minghella, though.