Like a lot of people who have been hit hard by the economic recession, the Oscar voters were clearly in the mood for a feel-good story … even if it was one that wasn't an American movie production.
"Slumdog Millionaire," a rags-to-riches romance tale set in the economically and ethnically diverse Mumbai, took home eight gold trophies during the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. That included the supposed top award, for Best Picture, as well as Best Director, an award given to Irish filmmaker Danny Boyle.
"Thank you for being so generous to us this evening," Boyle said to the Oscar voters. He also hailed the people of Mumbai for their support of the film, saying, "You dwarf even this guy," referring to the Oscar statuette.
The film was nominated for 10 Oscars in all, but managed to trump the equally heralded fantasy "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which received 11 total nominations.
Since most of "Benjamin Button's three wins were in technical categories (including Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup), the biographical drama "Milk" was arguably the second-biggest winner of the night, with its two trophies.
Sean Penn won as Oscar's Best Actor, for his portrayal of slain gay-rights activist Harvey Milk.
The often-outspoken Penn said he "did not expect this," and then criticized supporters of California's Proposition 8, telling them to "sit and reflect, and anticipate their great shame."
Likewise, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, won Best Original Screenplay and thanked the real-life Milk. "When I was 13 years old my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope," Black said. "It gave me the hope to live my life."
Black was one of several first-timers who won Oscars. In the acting categories, Kate Winslet won in her sixth bid for an Academy Award, taking home Best Actress for her performance in "The Reader." "(The Oscar) is not a shampoo bottle now," she said, joking about practicing for this moment when she was a youngster.
A clearly overwhelmed Penelope Cruz, a Best Supporting Actress winner for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," threatened to become the "first one" to faint on the Oscar podium.
However, the most emotional part of the evening came when the late Australian actor Heath Ledger was honored as Best Supporting Actor, for his villainous turn as the Joker in the year's biggest film, "The Dark Knight."
Ledger's father, Kim, mother, Sally Bell, and sister, Kate, accepted on his behalf and "on behalf of his beautiful Matilda," said the latter, referring to Ledger's young daughter.
Host Hugh Jackman joked a bit less than previous Oscar hosts (such as last year's emcee, "Daily Show's" Jon Stewart). But as he teased in a pre-Oscar interview program with Barbara Walters, the show was indeed "a little more show and a little less biz."
In an opening medley spotlighting the five Best Picture nominees, the Tony Award-winning actor showed off some serious song-and-dance skills.
He also dragged actress Anne Hathaway, a Best Actress nominee for "Rachel Getting Married," onstage for an unusual, musical re-creation of "Frost/Nixon." (He sang-and-danced opposite Beyonce Knowles, and "Mamma Mia!" and "High School Musical" stars, as well.)
While Oscar organizers did make changes to the format that were supposed to speed up the ceremonies, it still took nearly 3½ hours to pass out the six major awards and more than a dozen others.
As per usual, the broadcast was preceded by a Barbara Walters interview special and a Red Carpet event. "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts was considerably more dignified than fawning co-hosts Tim Gunn and Jess Cagle.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com