Slumdog is Top Dog at Oscars

By:OK! Staff

Feb. 23 2009, Published 4:57 a.m. ET

Go back to the beginning of fall and look forward at the movies still to come out — two directed by Oscar fave Clint Eastwood, another by the Academy's beloved Ron Howard, a Sean Penn-starring biopic that had Oscar written all over it; not to mention Brad Pitt's time-spanning, age-reversing bit of awards bait. And then there's this little film from England and India about a poor kid on a TV game show — not exactly the one you'd pick to win in February.

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Fast forward to Sunday night when the Academy honored that little film, Slumdog Millionaire with eight awards, including Best Picture, Director and Adapted Screenplay.

The film also picked up trophies for Cinematography, Editing, Sound Mixing and Editing, and Original Song, where it had two of the three nominated songs.

It was also a big night for Sean Penn and Milk, as the film won for Original Screenplay and its star surprised everyone by upsetting Mickey Rourke, who had been the frontrunner to win for his career-reviving role in The Wrestler.

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"You commie homo-loving sons of guns," Penn joked while accepting the award. He even admitted that sometimes his personal life overshadows his professional achievements. "I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me," he said with a wink.

Meanwhile, it was the fulfillment of years of being a runner-up for <a href="https://okmagazine.com/search/winslet" target="_blank"><strong>Kate Winslet</strong></a>, who finally won an Oscar for her role The Reader.

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It was also a first win for <a href="https://okmagazine.com/search/cruz" target="_blank"><strong>Penélope Cruz</strong></a>, who won yet another award for her work in the Woody Allen-directed Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

"I'm going to go call Woody right now," she said backstage. "He sent me flowers last week when I went to BAFTA, and we've been speaking sometimes during the week. But I call Woody sometimes to just say hello and I adore him. I think he's so funny and charming and so peculiar and unique. And of course, today I have to talk to Woody to thank him."