And the Oscar goes to...

“Slumdog Millionaire” was the big winner on Oscar night Feb. 22. It won eight out of the ten awards it was nominated for, including Best Editing, Song, Directing and, of course, Best Picture of the Year. “Slumdog” tells the ultimate underdog story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who becomes a contestant on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” earning his shot at a fortune and reconnecting with the love of his life.



Sean Penn took home his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, in the appropriately named film, “Milk.” Under the direction of Gus Van Sant, Penn delivered the powerful performance which brought home his award. Although many people favored Micky Rourke to win this year, Penn beat the odds and even mentioned Rourke in his acceptance speech, calling him his ‘brother.’

It was finally Kate Winslet’s turn to take home Oscar gold last Sunday. After six nominations, Winslet won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Reader.” The film stars Winslet as a former concentration camp guard facing a war-crime trial and the daunting task of defending herself.

Heath Ledger’s mother, father and sister accepted his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on behalf of his daughter, Matilda. Ledger won for his chilling role as The Joker in last summer’s “The Dark Knight.” His chilling take on The Joker had been hyped for months, but it swung into a fever pitch after Ledger’s accidental and fatal overdose on prescription medications last January. Ledger is only the second man in Oscar history to win an award posthumously

This was the second Oscar nomination and first win for Penelope Cruz. She took home Best Supporting Actress for her role in Woody Allen’s film, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Cruz plays Maria Elena, the jealous, unbalanced ex-wife who shows up to wreak havoc on her ex-husband’s life. Cruz is the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar.