Home / The 81st Annual Academy Awards

The 81st Annual Academy Awards

Year:

2009

Duration:

USA:210 min (including commercials)

IMDB rate:

Director:

Roger Goodman

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 2009-02-22

Filming Locations: California, USA

Cast

Actor

Character

Hugh Jackman

Himself - Host / Performer

Amy Adams

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Jennifer Aniston

Herself - Presenter: Best Animated Film and Best Animated Short Film

Alan Arkin

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Amy Bailey

Dancer - Luhrmann / Ashford

Julia Bantner

Dancer

Eric Barba

Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects

Craig Barron

Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects

Kirk Baxter

Himself - Nominee: Best Film Editing

Simon Beaufoy

Himself - Winner: Best Adapted Screenplay

Kristine Bendul

Dancer

Halle Berry

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Jessica Biel

Herself - Presenter: Technical Awards

Dustin Lance Black

Himself - Winner: Best Original Screenplay

Jack Black

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Animated Film and Best Animated Short Film

Danny Boyle

Himself - Winner: Best Director

Eric Bradley

Himself

Marlon Brando

Himself (archive footage)

Adrien Brody

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Josh Brolin

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Donald Graham Burt

Himself - Winner: Best Art Direction

Ben Burtt

Himself - Nominee: Best Sound Mixing and Sound Editing

Greg Cannom

Himself - Winner: Best Makeup

Cyd Charisse

Herself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Simon Chinn

Himself - Winner: Best Documentary Feature

Christian Colson

Himself - Winner: Best Picture

Dominic Cooper

Himself - Performer

Marion Cotillard

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Daniel Craig

Himself - Presenter: Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Best Art Direction

Michael Crichton

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Penélope Cruz

Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Miley Cyrus

Herself - Audience

Stephen Daldry

Himself - Nominee: Best Director

Burt Dalton

Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects

Jules Dassin

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Adam Davenport

Himself

Viola Davis

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Robert De Niro

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Roger Deakins

Himself - Nominee: Best Cinematography

Alexandre Desplat

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Score

Chris Dickens

Himself - Winner: Best Film Editing

Pete Docter

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Screenplay

Anthony Dod Mantle

Himself - Winner: Best Cinematography

Robert DoQui

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Michael Douglas

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Robert Downey Jr.

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Faye Dunaway

Herself (archive footage)

Zac Efron

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Original Score and Best Original Song / Performer

Danny Elfman

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Score

Mike Elizalde

Himself - Nominee: Best Makeup

Manny Farber

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Tina Fey

Herself - Presenter: Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay

David Fincher

Himself - Nominee: Best Director

Thomas Floutz

Himself - Nominee: Best Makeup

Nina Foch

Herself - In Memoriam (archive footage)

James Franco

Himself - Presenter: Best Live Action Short Film

Jochen Alexander Freydank

Himself - Winner: Best Live Action Short Film

Peter Gabriel

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Song

Sidney Ganis

Himself

Whoopi Goldberg

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Louis Gossett Jr.

Himself - Audience Member

Elliot Graham

Himself - Nominee: Best Film Editing

Joel Grey

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Daniel P. Hanley

Himself - Nominee: Best Film Editing

David Hare

Himself - Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay

Anne Hathaway

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Goldie Hawn

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Isaac Hayes

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

John Michael Hayes

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Taraji P. Henson

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Werner Herzog

Himself - Nominee: Best Documentary

Charlton Heston

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Mike Hill

Himself - Nominee: Best Film Editing

Pat Hingle

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Anthony Hopkins

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role

James Newton Howard

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Score

Ron Howard

Himself - Nominee: Best Director

Vanessa Hudgens

Herself - Performer

Courtney Hunt

Herself - Nominee: Best Original Screenplay

J. Paul Huntsman

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Anjelica Huston

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Kon Ichikawa

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Giovanni Jackson

Himself

Richard Jenkins

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Charles H. Joffe

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Van Johnson

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Ollie Johnston

Himself - In Memoriam (archive footage)

Angelina Jolie

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Janusz Kaminski

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Live Action Short Film

Kunio Kato

Himself - Winner - Best Animated Short Film

Dominique Kelley

Dancer

Kathleen Kennedy

Herself - Nominee: Best Picture

Evelyn Keyes

Herself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Alicia Keys

Herself - Presenter: Best Original Score and Best Original Song

Nicole Kidman

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Richard King

Himself - Winner: Best Sound Editing

Ben Kingsley

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Kevin Kline

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Beyoncé Knowles

Herself - Performer (as Beyoncé)

Frank Langella

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Queen Latifah

Herself - Performer: I'll Be Seeing You

Heath Ledger

Joker

John Legend

Himself - Performer (song "Down to Earth")

Mike Leigh

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Screenplay

Melissa Leo

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Jerry Lewis

Himself - Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award Recipient

Sophia Loren

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Bernie Mac

Himself - In Memoriam (archive footage)

Shirley MacLaine

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Bill Maher

Himself - Presenter: Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short

Abby Mann

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

James Marsh

Himself - Winner: Best Documentary Feature

Frank Marshall

Himself - Nominee: Best Picture

Steve Martin

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay

E. Anthony Martinez

Performer - USC Trojan Marching Band

Martin McDonagh

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Screenplay

Chris Menges

Himself - Nominee: Best Cinematography

Anthony Minghella

Himself - Nominee: Best Picture / Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Claudio Miranda

Himself - Nominee: Best Cinematography

Ricardo Montalban

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Terry Moore

Herself - Audience Member

Peter Morgan

Himself - Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay

Robert Mulligan

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Eddie Murphy

Himself - Presenter: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

Megan Mylan

Herself - Winner: Best Documentary Short Subject

Paul Newman

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Thomas Newman

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Score & Best Original Song

Michael O'Connor

Himself - Winner: Best Costume Design

Brett Padelford

Performer - USC Trojan Marching Band)

Sarah Jessica Parker

Herself - Presenter: Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Best Art Direction

Robert Pattinson

Himself - Presenter

Sean Penn

Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Philippe Petit

Himself

Wally Pfister

Himself - Nominee: Best Cinematography

Harold Pinter

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Freida Pinto

Herself - Presenter: Best Foreign Language Film

Brad Pitt

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Sydney Pollack

Himself - In Memoriam (archive footage)

Resul Pookutty

Himself - Winner: Best Sound Mixing

Natalie Portman

Herself - Presenter: Best Cinematography

Steve Preeg

Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects

Richard Pryke

Himself - Winner: Best Sound Mixing

A.R. Rahman

Himself - Winner: Best Original Score / Best Original Song

Jim Reardon

Himself - Nominee: Best Original Screenplay

Seth Rogen

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Live Action Short Film

Mickey Rooney

Himself - Audience Member

Leonard Rosenman

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Eric Roth

Himself - Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay

Mickey Rourke

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Jane Russell

Herself - Audience Member

Eva Marie Saint

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Roy Scheider

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Charles H. Schneer

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Paul Scofield

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Amanda Seyfried

Herself - Performer

John Patrick Shanley

Himself - Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay

Michael Shannon

Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Lee Smith

Himself - Nominee: Best Film Editing

Will Smith

Himself - Presenter: Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing

Steven Spielberg

Himself - Presenter: Best Picture

Andrew Stanton

Himself - Winner: Best Animated Film / Nominee: Best Original Screenplay

Tom Stern

Himself - Nominee: Best Cinematography

Ben Stiller

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Cinematography

Bud Stone

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Meryl Streep

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Robin Swicord

Herself - Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay

Tilda Swinton

Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Ian Tapp

Himself - Winner: Best Sound Mixing

Charlize Theron

Herself (archive footage)

Marisa Tomei

Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Gina Tuttle

Announcer

Vampira

Herself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Gus Van Sant

Himself - Nominee: Best Director

Mara Virabov

Herself (as Mara Vardanyan)

Christopher Walken

Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Angus Wall

Himself - Nominee: Best Film Editing

David Watkin

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

James Whitmore

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Richard Widmark

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Kate Winslet

Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Stan Winston

Himself - Memorial Tribute (archive footage)

Reese Witherspoon

Herself - Presenter: Best Director

Matthew Wood

Himself - Nominee: Best Sound Editing

Amanda Wyss

Herself

Victor J. Zolfo

Himself - Winner: Best Art Direction

Fileena Bahris

Herself - Attendee (uncredited)

Tom Berklund

Dancer (uncredited)

Matthew Broderick

Himself - Audience (uncredited)

Trevor Donovan

Trophy Presenter (uncredited)

Greg Farkas

Dancer (uncredited)

Julia Fowler

Oscar Girl (uncredited)

Tara Nicole Hughes

Dancer (uncredited)

Vicky Lambert

Performer (uncredited)

Diane Lane

Herself - Audience (uncredited)

Christopher McDaniel

Trophy Presenter (uncredited)

Chris Moss

Dancer (uncredited)

Dev Patel

Himself - Audience (uncredited)

Jada Pinkett Smith

Herself - Audience (uncredited)

Wesley Sellick

Himself - Musical Number Dancer (uncredited)

Kevin Alexander Stea

Himself (uncredited)

USC Trojan Marching Band

Themselves - Drumline (uncredited)

Evan Rachel Wood

Herself - Audience (uncredited)

Robin Wright

Herself - Audience (uncredited)

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Herself - Audience (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

Doubt (2008) was the first film to receive four Oscar nominations for acting since Chicago (2002). Chicago went on to win one, but Doubt didn't win any.

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All five Best Picture nominees are contemporary period films: Slumdog Millionaire (2008) (Mumbai, 1990s - 2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) (primarily New Orleans, 1918 - 2005), Frost/Nixon (2008) (primarily California, 1974), Milk (2008) (San Francisco, 1970s), The Reader (2008) (primarily Berlin, 1958 - 1995). The films also received nominations for their respective directors.

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Notable actors like Harvey Korman, Eartha Kitt, Robert Prosky, George Carlin, Patrick McGoohan, Anita Page, and Beverly Garland were not part of the "In Memoriam" segment.

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Goofs

During the presentation of the Best Supporting Actor nominees, Alan Arkin introduces Philip Seymour Hoffman as "Seymour Philip Hoffman".

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Just before the presentation of "Best Supporting Actress" the curtain that was supposed to open to reveal the presentation screens don't open. You can then hear a stagehand from backstage yell, "We're doing it. Steve open it!" (his voice was probably picked up through Hugh Jackman's lapel mic.)

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During the "In Memoriam" segment a shot of the famous spaghetti eating scene in Lady and the Tramp is shown behind Ollie Johnston. Johnston did not actually animate this scene. Fellow "Nine Old Men" member Frank Thomas animated the scene.

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Quotes

Hugh Jackman: [singing] How come comic book movies never get nominated? How can a billion dollars be unsophisticated?

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Kevin Kline: In a year of striking film images perhaps the most unforgettable is that of a man. His face smeared in clown makeup, gleefully sticking his head out of a speeding car, relishing the night wind and reveling at the chaos he has unleashed on the streets of Gotham city. Menacing, mercurial, droll, and diabolical. Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight kept us all on edge anxious to see what act of appalling mischief he might commit next. With this bravura performance as well as with a wide range of other roles to which he put his unique signature. Heath Ledger has left us an original and enduring legacy.

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Sean Penn: [the first line of his acceptance speech] You commie, homo-loving sons of guns!

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