81st Academy Awards Wrap-Up

The last of the big award shows of the season has come and gone. The 81st annual Academy Awards were long, bloated and really according to plan except for one award: Best Actor. After capturing the hearts of the Golden Globe, BAFTA and Spirit Award members, Mickey Rourke lost to Sean Penn in the race for Oscar. What was probably Rourke's last legit shot at Oscar gold, he can take away from it the revitalization of his career. Here is a rundown of the winners with my analysis:

BEST PICTURE

Winner: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Reaction: This movie deserved to win Best Picture. I loved 'Benjamin Button' and all the others deserved to be up there with it. But this movie is a masterpiece in tugging the heart strings and getting people to jump for joy at the end. Danny Boyle should be proud of this film and it's improbable run to Oscar gold.

Director Danny Boyle shares an Oscar moment with one of the little girls who played Latika in "Slumdog Millionaire"

BEST DIRECTOR

Winner: Danny Boyle - "Slumdog Millionaire"

Reaction: What a career this director has had. From "Trainspotting" to "28 Days Later" and now "Slumdog Millionaire." A departure from his earlier works, this is without a doubt Boyle's masterpiece. He will now be able to do whatever films he likes as the doors of hollywood have opened after nearly shutting in his face. Congrats to Boyle for his masterful direction in creating this film and helping it survive.

Sean Penn with two beautiful Oscar winners Kate Winslet and Penelope Cruz

BEST ACTOR

Winner: Sean Penn - "Milk"

Reaction: In what I thought was the shocker of the night, Penn was rewarded for his flamboyant performance as 1970's Gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Mickey Rourke's performance in 'The Wrestler' was phenominal, but the thing working against him was the Academy voters view that this was just him playing himself. This focused their attention on Penn who makes it difficult for people to like him but brings it when he acts.

Side Note: Brad Pitt will win an Oscar someday. 'Benjamin Button' was just stacked too much against to be a clear cut winner.

BEST ACTRESS

Winner: Kate Winslet - "The Reader"

Reaction: A long time coming for Kate Winslet. Although this movie was not seen as her best performance, she is rewarded for her overall work with this Oscar win. Reminds me of Russell Crowe winning for 'Gladiator' when he should have won the year before for 'The Insider.' Meryll Streep's 15 nods and 2 wins were against her in this category, but we will see the greatest actress of all time again I am certain.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Winner - Heath Ledger - "The Dark Knight"

Reaction: Finally, Oscar gets it right. A post-humous honor for the great Heath Ledger who took an already dark character and made him into something no one could have expected. The tragic death of Ledger amplified this movie but his performance speaks for itself. There was no possible way he was going to lose this award.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Winner - Penelope Cruz - "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Reaction: Woody Allen strikes again! Another actress picks up an Oscar for her work in his movie. "He writes great roles for women," Cruz said of Allen. The last decade has brought the second coming of Allen with fantastic movies such as "Match Point" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Here's hoping he keeps writing!

Allen's Oscar Wins for Actresses: Best Actress - Diane Keaton, Best Supporting Actress - Diane Wiest (twice), Mira Sorvino and now Penelope Cruz.