2009 Oscar Host Hugh Jackman Aces Night

Hugh Jackman extended his hosting credentials Sunday night by bringing elegance and pizazz to the Oscars. Jackman previously hosted the Tony awards, which by all accounts was a brilliant performance and now is only topped by his Oscar night debut.

The evening began with a comedic musical one man show where Jackman interpreted the best picture nominee's with "homemade sets" to play off of the struggling economy, It was reminiscent of his theatre days as he showed off his singing and dancing skills for the entire Oscar crowd.

The opening monologue was short and witty. Throughout the night it seemed one theme guided Jackman, do not over power the Oscars. His presence dwindled as the night went on allowing the Oscars themselves to be the host.

The recent history of hosts at the Oscars has be mostly comedians who with much anticipation fell a little flat from their attempt at zinging everyone and everything to keep the audiences attention. The mistake made by them, and not Jackman, was that the Oscar's need not a headlining act but a compass to navigate through all the Stars and fanfare. If you compete with Clint, Meryl, Jack, and Brad for the spotlight, you will lose and Jackman never showed up to battle.

Best picture
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Director
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"
WINNER: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Actor
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
WINNER: Sean Penn, "Milk"

Actress
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
WINNER: Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Supporting actor
Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"
WINNER: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

Supporting actress
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"
WINNER: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Animated feature
"Bolt"
"Kung Fu Panda"
WINNER: "WALL-E"

Adapted screenplay
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," screenplay by Eric Roth, screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
"Doubt," written by John Patrick Shanley
"Frost/Nixon," screenplay by Peter Morgan
"The Reader," screenplay by David Hare
WINNER: "Slumdog Millionaire," screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
"Frozen River," written by Courtney Hunt
"Happy-Go-Lucky," written by Mike Leigh
"In Bruges," written by Martin McDonagh
"WALL-E," screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon; original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter
WINNER: "Milk," written by Dustin Lance Black

Sources: http://oscar.com/nominees/?pn=nominees