"SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE," WINS BIG AT THE OSCARS

Rules Oscars with 8 prizes including Best Picture
by Associated Press/ February 22, 2009
Los Angeles - "Slumdog Millionaire" took the best picture Academy Award and seven other Oscars on Sunday, including director for Danny Boyle, whose ghetto-to-glory story paralleled the film's unlikely rise to Hollywood's summit.
The other top winners: Kate Winslet, best actress for the Holocaust-themed drama "The Reader"; Sean Penn, best actor for the title role of "Milk"; Heath Ledger, supporting actor for "The Dark Knight"; and Penelope Cruz, supporting actress for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
A story of hope amid squalor in Mumbai, India, "Slumdog Millionaire" came in with 10 nominations, its eight wins including adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing and both music Oscars (score and song).
"Just to say to Mumbai, all of you who helped us make the film and all of those of you who didn't, thank you very much. You dwarf even this guy," Boyle said, holding up his directing Oscar.
The filmmakers accepted the best-picture trophy surrounded by both the adult professional actors who appeared among the cast of relative unknowns and some of the children Boyle cast from the slums of Mumbai.
The film follows the travails and triumphs of Jamal, an orphan who artfully dodges a criminal gang that mutilates children to make them more pitiable beggars. Jamal witnesses his mother's violent death, endures police torture and struggles with betrayal by his brother, while single-mindedly hoping to reunite with the lost love of his childhood.Fate rewards Jamal, whose story unfolds through flashbacks as he recalls how he came to know the answers that made him a champion on India's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
Complete list of winners at the 81st annual Academy Awards, presented Sunday night at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles:

• Motion Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire."
• Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk."
• Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader."
• Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight."
• Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
• Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."
• Foreign Film: "Departures," Japan.
• Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire."
• Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, "Milk."
• Animated Feature Film: "WALL-E."
• Art Direction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."
• Cinematography: "Slumdog Millionaire."
• Sound Mixing: "Slumdog Millionaire."
• Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight."
• Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman.
• Original Song: "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Gulzar.
• Costume: "The Duchess."
• Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire."
• Documentary (short subject): "Smile Pinki."
• Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire."
• Makeup: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."
• Animated Short Film: "La Maison en Petits Cubes."
• Live Action Short Film: "Spielzeugland (Toyland)."
• Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Academy Award winners previously announced this season:
• Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (Oscar statuette): Jerry Lewis
• Gordon E. Sawyer Award (Oscar statuette): Pixar Animation co-founder Ed Catmull