Live Blogging the 80th Academy Awards

Hello out there and welcome to the 2nd Annual Pop Goes the World live blog of the Academy Awards. This being the 80th edition, i am so glad that the writer's strike is over so that we can have a grand celebration of this award show rewarding the best in film.

As with last year, I have made a bet with my younger brother. We disagreed on seven categories so no chance of a tie. At stake is a buffet meal while we are in Vegas in a couple of weeks.

What you won't find in this live blog is me blogging the red carpet stuff because a) I am not that into fashion and b) sometimes the questions these people ask the nominees or the celebrities are stupid.

But there is one category I am excited for and that is Best Original Song. I really want the song from Once -Falling Slowly - to win. I love that song and this weekend I picked up Once on DVD. It is such an awesome movie that everyone should see.

8:00 We are 30 minutes from the ceremony. Just have to go through 30 minutes of Regis doing the Red Carpet on ABC.

And I normally have pizza and booze as my Oscar dinner but today it's OJ and Hamburger Helper. Next year will be better as I will be back in Vancouver and can actually host an Oscar party and if my friend Lynette hosts one at her place in Victoria, I will be there!!!! She puts on an awesome party every year and I've missed it these past four years.

8:25 Five minutes to go to showtime and Regis is a bit annoying. Sometimes I think he is a bit out of touch with pop culture today and the only reason why I think he knows what he is saying is because he is reading it off a teleprompter.

I think I might have said it on my blog last year but it is a dream of mines to go to the Oscars. One of these days I hope to write a movie that might get nominated.

8:27 credits are rolling so that means we are now near the end and Regis just called Javier Bardem Xavier Bardem -see what I mean by him being out of touch. I remember Kelly Ripa saying on Friday on Live with Regis and Kelly that Regis calls Javier Bardem, Xavier.

Anyways, so close to show time. I would be more excited but I am bit tired from the weekend. Stayed up until 2am last night and did quite a bit today, so I am pooped but I think once the show starts and the awards start getting dished out I will perk up again, especially as I keep track of my Oscar pool.

8:30 Here we ago the start of the show. A CG opening with different film clips like Transformers, Easy Rider, Cars, etc... obviously honouring the fact that it is the 80th Academy Awards.

8:32 For some reason I am hearing voices....but no funny opening. Well, here is Jon Stewart, see how he does on his second time hosting.

8:35 Good joke about the depressing nominated movies and mentioning Juno (a fave film of mines)

8:37 ok laughed at the Norbit joke -I mean laughed out loud. So far so good, glad that they went right into Stewart's monologue so that means the giving out of awards can't be too far behind.

8:39 Stewart is definitely using the U.S. Election as fodder in his monologue.

8:41 sounds like it is starting. It is. First presenter. Unlike last year where it seemed it took forever to get started.

8:42 First category: Costumer Design. Me: Sweeney Todd Justin: Elizabeth. Winner: Elizabeth. Justin: 1 Vanessa: 0. Not off to a good start for me. I don't why I listen to Entertainment Weekly. But it is just the first category. But my dream of getting 24 out 24 right is over with the first category. As I said the only time I came close was 2004 when I got 23 out of 24 right.

8:47 George Clooney presenting history of the Awards. Great, our first montage of the evening. Good joke about the ceremony being long. Not a bad montage since I do love watching the Awards ceremony.

8:51 Unintenional iPhone plug.

8:52 Second category of the evening with Get Smart's Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway. I did like how Carrell made the subject matters of the film sound like a serious documentary. It is Animated Feature. Justin and I: Ratatouille. Winner: Ratatouille. Justin: 2, Vanessa: 1. I love Ratatouille. So happy that it won.

8:56. Katherine Heigl is presenting Make-up. Me: La Vie en Rose. Justin: Pirates of the Caribbean. Winner: La Vie En Rose. We are tied. Thank goodness to EW. We are tied. Justin: 2, Vanessa: 2.

8:59 First best song performance from Enchanted. Happy Working Song with Jon Stewart singing it no, just kidding. It is Amy Adams. It is odd that she is singing it alone on the stage but she does have a nice voice but I don't want this or any song from Enchanted or August Rush to win. I am surprised no interpretive dancing is going on. That was an odd and weird performance. Seriously, weird (and not in a good way). I hope that three songs split the vote. So far the Happy Working Song doesn't hold a candle to Falling Slowly.

9:02 I do like these Oscar memory videos. I think they are so much better than parading past Oscar winners on stage like they did for the 75th.

9:05 Crap! I forgot to tune in at 9pm to see Gillian Anderson introduce Part 3 of Pride and Prejudice on Masterpiece Classic. Oh! well.

9:06 The Rock doing an award for Best Visual Effects. Me and Justin: Transformers. Ok, Rock you are no a comedian. Winner: The Golden Compass. We both lose. Score remains at 2-2.

9:10 Cate Blanchett doing Art Direction. Me: Atonement. Justin: Sweeney Todd. Winner: Sweeney Todd. I thought about picking it but decided to go with Atonement. Justin: 3, Vanessa: 2.

9:12 You know what I am glad is that there is so far no Martin Landau moment of people's speeches not getting cut off.

9:13 First acting award via montage for Supporting Actor. Jennifer Hudson is presenting this award. A bit stiff there Jennifer in your reading. Justin will be disappointed that Tom's scened didn't involve baguettes. Justin and I: Javier Bardem. Winner: Javier Bardem. Justin: 4, Vanessa: 3. That was a no-brainer and I pretty much typed out that he was a winner even before Jennifer Hudson read the winner. Loved his Spanish thanks to his Mom.

At 9:19 I have this feeling that I am not going to win the pool this year. I am preparing myself that I have to pay for the Vegas buffet.

9:23 Taste of what the Oscar's would have been like of the writer's striker were to go on. The montage to binoculars and periscopes was a funny bit. The Bad Dreams salute was funny.

9:24 Keri Russell, whom I loved in Felicity, is introducing the August Rush song. At least the presentation of this song is more entertaining than having just Amy Adams on stage singing.
I think each song is actually song the full length version of the song. Like that much better than cutting the song short like they have done in ceremonies past.

9:28 Yes the little girl was good. What did Owen Wilson get nominated for. Anyways, Live Action Short. Justin: At Night I: Tanghi Argenthini. Winner: Les Mozart Des Pickpockets. We are still at 4-3.

9:31 ok that Bee from Bee movie or Jerry Seinfeld. Anyways, he is doing Animated Short. Justin and I: I Met the Walrus. Winner: Peter and the Wolf. Give me a freakin' break. We are still at 4-3. I am not doing very well.

9:34 I think we are at Best Supporting Actress. Alan Arkin to present. Me: Cate Blanchett. Justin: Tilda Swinton. Winner: Tilda Swinton. My goodness. How does Justin know this. Justin: 5, Vanessa: 3. That was a great speech. Definitely memorable.

9:40 I really thought that this was my year but the show seems to be moving along at a nice pace.

9:44 Jessica Alba doing the Scientific Awards. Yawn!!!!

9:46 James McAvoy -hello. And Josh Brolin, whom I remember from Young Riders. I think they are doing a screenplay award. Adapted Screenplay. Justin and I: No Country for Old Men. Winner: No Country for Old Men, although I was rooting for Canadian girl, Sarah Polley. But cool that she got nominated. The tally is 6-4 for Justin.

9:49 The Academy president is on. I can go and get a snack, which I am going to do right....now

9:51 Ok a little more interesting knowing about how the Oscar process works. Much better than the president making a long and boring speech.

9: 52 Miley Cyrus most likely doing another song in Enchanted but sung by Kristen Chenoweth, whom I love a lot. I already know that this will have a cheesy production number when Regis previewed it backstage just before the telecasted started. I really don't like the big splashy numbers anymore. I just want something simple when the songs are performed. The song is just ok, I don't think that it showcases what Kristen Chenoweth can do. I was really disappointed with that. I am sure the song is fine if seen in the context of the film but I personally didn't like it.

10:00 I did enjoy the whole pregnant actress stick.

10:01 Judi Dench and Halle Berry, really. had me going there for a second. It is Seth Rogen and the guy from Super Bad. Their banter is ok, could be funnier if it didn't seem so forced. Sound Editing. Justin: Bourne Ulitmatum. Me: No Country. Winner: The Bourne Ultimatium. I am losing so bad right now. Justin: 7 me: 4.

10:05 Next category Sound Mixing. Justin: Bourne. Me: No Country. I am pretty sure I have lost this one too. I was banking on a No Country Sweep. Winner: Bourne. 8-4 Justin. He is four categories up. I think I have lost this considering that we agreed every where else. Congratulations Justin, you have won yourself a Vegas buffet.

10:08 We are already at Best Actress, that is pretty soon. Me and Justin both predicted: Julie Christie. Winner: Marion Cotillard. 8-4 still Justin. I mean, good for her but I really wanted Julie Christie or Ellen Page to win.

10:14 I think that this is the worse I have ever done. I have only 4 right. That is really a shame for me as a movie buff. I really thought for sure I was going to do well. I really hope to hit double digits before the nights out. We have 11 categories left so hopefully I got all of those right to end up with 15 right for the evening and Justin will end up with 19 since we agreed on the remaining categories.

10:17 They are playing Wii. Cool.

10:18 Colin Farrell will be introducing the song from Once. Falling Slowly. I love this song so much. What is with the orchestra, not necessary at all. The piano and the guitar is enough. The orchestra is ruining the song. Please leave the two of them alone. The song is beautiful without all that damn orchestra. Why pan to Bill Conti and the audience. Hello it is all about Glen and Marketa.

10:22 Jack Nicholson is doing what montage? I guess a montage of all the Best Picture Winners. too bad the years are cut off. In 80 years of the Oscars and Best Picture, I have seen I think 24 of them. Not too bad.

10:27 Renee Zellweger is doing Film Editing. Justin and I: No Country. Winner: The Bourne Ultimatum. We are still at 8-4 for Justin. I am surprised that the Bourne film is winning in these technical areas.

10:29 while this guy is doing his speech, I have noticed that there hasn't been a presentation for Best Picture nominees throughout.

10:31 Nicole Kidman is presenting a special award to Robert Boyle a legendary production designer. This is for the Honorary Oscar. The guy is 98 and I think he is still working today or at least teaching today.

10:42 Penelope Cruz to present Foreign Language Film. Me and Justin: The Counterfeiters. Please let me get this right. I already lost the bet. I just need my movie pride back. Winner: The Counterfeiters. Thank God. 9-5, still for Justin.

10:44 Patrick Dempsey aka McDreamy is introducing the final song from Enchanted. Another cheesy production number. It reminds me of all the times when Alan Menken's song were nominated in the past like from Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. I feel like turning to Masterpiece Classic so I could see clips from the new Sense and Sensibility and Room with a View. The guy singing is cute though but I think the song is whatever. I know I am very biased towards the song from Once. Why not do one for Amy Adams like have a whole bunch of people in animal costumes pretend they are cleaning the Oscar stage!

10:48 John Travolta will come on and announce the winner for Best Song. Me and Justin: Falling Slowly from Once. This is the one and only category I truly care about and am rooting to win, which is Once. Winner: Falling Slowly from Once. I am so happy. I am jumping up and down right now. Too bad Marketa didn't get to say thanks but Glen did a good job. Score: 10-6, still for Justin. I am too chuffed that Once won. To anyone that hasn't seen Once. Go out and rent it or better yet, get the soundtrack on iTunes. I never bought anything from iTunes before until I saw Once last year and as soon as I heard Falling Slowly and the equally beautiful If You Want Me, I bought the soundtrack.

10:51 I agree with Jon Stewart that the song is beautiful.

10:57 Marketa gets to say her thank you's. Thank you Jon Stewart. I love Jon Stewart for allowing Marketa to do her speech.

10:59 Cinematography presented by Cameron Diaz. I forgot we differed here. Me: No Country. Justin: Atonement. The way I am going, I probably am wrong. Winner: There Will be Blood. I rather both of us be wrong than Justin be right. Score 10-6, still for Justin.

11:01 Hilary Swank is doing the dead people montage. Not to be glib about it but that's the only way to call it and I think it is sad that people applaud only for certain people. I think Heath Ledger would get a fair number of applause.

11:05 While the montage was going on, I was reading other blogs of the Oscar, in particular EW and they said that Jon Stewart letting Marketa do her speech was the classiest thing on the show and I so agree.

11:08 Original score presented by Amy Adams. A category that I always love. Me and Justin: Atonement. Winner: Atonement. Score 11-7. I am inching into double digits, yay!!!!!

11:11 Tom Hanks doing another montage I think, not so sure. Ok, so he is doing best documentary short via soldiers in Bagdad. I think it's nice touch. Me and Justin: Sari's Mother. Winner: Freeheld. Was thinking about chosing that one but thought the Academy was filled so many old farts and they were too conservative to chose a film that had to do with a lesbian. Score still at 11-7. Can I break double digits?

11:15 Documentary Feature. Both Justin and I chose No End in Sight. Winner: Taxi to the Dark Side. Still at 11-7. Not hitting double digits this year, I don't think. If I get best actor, best original screenplay, best director and best picture I will hit 11 right.

11:23 Harrison Ford doing Original Screenplay. Go Juno as Justin and I guessed Juno. Winner: Diablo Cody for Juno. A great film, filled with awesome dialogue. She deserves to win. Score: 12-8.

11:29 We are one minute until the ceremony is supposed to end. Best Actor presented by Helen Mirren. This should be a no-brainer as Justin and I picked: Daniel Day Lewis. Winner: Daniel Day Lewis. Score 13-9. So close to double digits. I am willing to lose double digits if Juno wins best picture!!!!

After all this is over, I am going to rewind my tape and re-watch the Once performance and re-watch their acceptance speech.

11:39 Best Director to be presented by Martin Scorsese who finally got honoured last year. Our pick is the Cohen Brothers. Winner: The Cohen Brothers. Yay!!!! Double digits for me!!!! Score: 14-10.

11:44 The big one. Best Picture presented by Denzel Washington. Our Pick: No Country for Old Men. Winner: No Country for Old Men. Final tally: Justin 15 Vanessa: 11

Totally flamed out this year. Congratulations Justin. Enjoy your buffet!! I'll win next year.

Overall, I think Jon Stewart did a good job and they were only 18 minutes over. The best moment for me was when Once won and that Jon Stewart let Market Irglova do her speech.

Until next year, I will be blogging from Vancouver and it won't be so late for me.