2008 Oscar Winners

There were a few surprises during the 80th annual Academy awards this year. "La Vie En Rose" did better than some expected, and Cate Blanchett did not win the Oscars many people expected she would win. "No Country for Old Men" fared exceptionally well-much better than I expected. I'll list the 2008 Oscar winners here along with general commentary on presenters and notable acceptance speeches.

The show was hosted by Jon Stewart. He kept the humor fairly tame-but that is not to say his quips didn't solicit laughs. His jokes included a comment on the writers strike-just recently ended-- and how writers should be invited to the parties. Jon Stewart made a great Academy Award host. They chose well.

In an earlier article I gave my Oscar predictions for the top categories. I will list my earlier predictions beneath the actual winners (If you'd like to see that article click here). I wrote this Oscar Winners article as I was tuned in to the show, and I double checked the Winner's List at the Official Website (which you can also view by visiting this link)

Without further ado, here are the 2008 Oscar winners.

The Best Actor in A Leading Role: Beautifully (and humorously) presented by Helen Mirren

The 2008 Oscar Winner for Lead Actor went to: Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood."

I had predicted: Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Presented by Jennifer Hudson

The 2008 Oscar for supporting actor went to Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men."

I predicted: Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men."

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Presented by Forest Whitaker

The 2008 Oscar Winner: Marion Cotillard in "La Vie En Rose." (She also gets my award for the second most emotional acceptance speech)

I predicted: Cate Blanchett "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

The 2008 Oscar Winner went to Tilda Swinton for "Michael Clayton." ( She gets my award for most humorous acceptance speech)

I predicted: Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There"

Best Costume Design: Presented by Jennifer Garner

The 2008 Oscar Winner: Alexandra Byrne for "Elizabeth: The Golden age."

I predicted: "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"

Best Documentary Feature

The 2008 Oscar Winner was "Taxi to the Dark Side," Alex Gibney and Eva Orner.

I predicted: "War Dance"

Best short Documentary: Presented by Servicemen and women in Iraq

The Oscar for the Best Short Documentary went to "Freeheld," Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth. This was the most emotional acceptance speech.

Best Animated Feature Film

The 2008 Oscar Winner for Best Animated Feature Film was "Ratatouille."

I predicted: "Ratatouille"

Best Visual Effects

The 2008 Oscar for Best Visual Effects went to "The Golden Compass": Michael Fink, Ben Morris, Bill Westenhofer

I predicted: "The Golden Compass": Michael Fink, Ben Morris, Bill Westenhofer and Trevor Wood

Best Picture

The 2008 Oscar Winner for Best Picture: "No Country for Old Men."

I predicted: "Juno"

Best Director

The 2008 Oscar winner for best director was, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for "No Country for Old Men."

I predicted: Jason Reitman for "Juno"

Best Makeup: Presented by a very nervous Katherine Heigl

The Oscar for best Makeup went to "La Vie En Rose," Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald.

Best Art Direction: Presented by Cate Blanchett:

The 2008 Academy Award for art direction went to: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo for "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Best Live Action Short Film

The 2008 Oscar winner for Live Action Short Film: "Le Mozart Des Pickpockets," Phillipe Pollet-Villard.

Best Animated Short Film

The 2008 Oscar Winner for the Animated Short Film was "Peter and The Wolf," Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman.

Best Adapted Screenplay: "No Country for Old Men," Joel Coen & Ethan Coen.

Best Original Screenplay:

The 2008 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay went to Diablo Cody for "Juno"

Best in Sound Editing

2008 Oscar went to "Bourne Ultimatum"

Best Sound Mixing:

The 2008 Oscar for Best sound Mixing went to Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis for "Bourne Ultimatum"

Best Foreign Film: Presented by Penelope Cruz.

The Oscar for Best Foreign Film went to "The Counterfeiters," an Austrian film directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky

Best Original Song: Presented By John Travolta.

The Oscar for Best Song went to: "Falling Slowly," Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from "Once."

Best Cinematography

The 2008 Oscar for Best Cinematography went to "For There Will Be Blood."

Best Music Score

The Oscar for Best Music Score went to Dario Marianelli for "Atonement."

I admit I was shocked that Cate Blanchett did not get an award for Best Actress or Best supporting Actress. She had stiff competition, but I was nevertheless surprised. To say I was surprised isn't to say I was necessarily disappointed. I think Cate is a fine actress but Marion Cotillard, the winner for Best Actress, indeed gave a stunning performance.

To visit the official Oscar website, click the link below
http://www.oscar.com