The Oscars 2009

The best of the best sit with baited breath, waiting for the presenters' next words to come forth. What follows in the next two seconds can make or break a career.

Such a spectacle occurred on February 22, 2009, in the Kodak Theatre, located on the entertainment-rich Hollywood and Highland. Hosted by Hugh Jackman, the awards ceremony was filled with many frills and hardly any thrills. The theme sagged under the weight of a poor economy, but was miraculously enlivened by a few musical numbers a la Jackman and Beyonce.

The pinnacle of the ceremony occurred when the much-anticipated Supporting Actor category was announced. The late Heath Ledger, who immortalized a sadistic Joker in The Dark Knight, was a sure win. As Heath's family assembled on stage to accept his award, the applause was heartbreaking. Many of our best actors and actresses held an immeasurable amount of respect for their fellow actor.

Of course, every Oscars ceremony has one film that sweeps most categories and makes off with multiple statues. Such a film was Slumdog Millionaire, a film directed by Danny Boyle. The film, which has become a "Cinderella Story" of sorts, breathes a unique shade of humanity into the Oscars. Slumdog Millionaire opened doors for a more multicultural generation.

Congratulations, Academy, you done good!