CleverDonkey.com …Musings, Commentary, Opinions, and Drivel

Weirdest Trend of the Night: Bruise Chic

So, black and blue is an unusual combo, but both Maggie Gyllenhaal and Portia DeRossi combined them with elegant results.

Maggie wears the one-shoulder well, although I’m not sure if her hair accessory is feathers or an oil slick. I guess neither is very PC, though, given this is the first environmentally friendly Oscars, eh?

Portia’s slender frame works quite well with the cutaway and shimmery fabric.

Things I Normally Don’t Like That I Liked For Some Reason

I have never ever seen a Zac Posen dress I liked… ever… until this gorgeous terra cotta pleated sheath.

I generally think Celine Dion dresses terribly and I don’t care for low-cut gowns, but this elegant emerald creation with just-the-right-amount of diamond bling was just perfect.

Ditto for Anika Noni Rose — not usually a big fan of the low cut but she looks radiant, or at the least irradiated!

I normally diss beigey neutrally colors, but this satin quicksilver Vera Wang gown on Rachel Weisz is absolutely stunning.

Stuff I Loved

Jodie Foster (also in Vera Wang) is fabulous in cornflower chiffon.

Reese Witherspoon once again proves she’s not hurtin’ post-breakup — at least not visibly — in this plummy Nina Ricci.

Love the dress on Queen Latifah and absolutely adore anything Carmen Marc Valvo.

Simply stunning. Can’t say enough good things about Helen Mirren and her ability to just look flat out gorgeous.

Cate Blanchett models one of the nicer costumes from ’300′. No, seriously, she absolutely wins top Mynagirl honors with her unerring ability to look like a bronzed (or in this case, pewtered) goddess — top notch in Armani Privé.

Although normally I ignore men’s fashion during my little reviews, I have to give a shout out to Ryan Seacrest’s Calvin Klein underpants. Britney, take note, honey.

The Everpresent “Enhh” Category

If only they could’ve gold-plated her smile… Jada Pinkett Smith’s gown isn’t horrible, but she looks wicked tense.

The flappity gold wings don’t quite work… I wish Jennifer had gone for the clingy diva look she wore onstage during her singing number — this one didn’t do anything for me. But she’s enjoying herself, for sure!

Hey, you can play Bejeweled if you get bored during the awards! Beyonce sports a beautifully colored but slightly too encrusted Armani.

Taking a cue from Bjork, Cameron Diaz wears her interpretation of a paper origami bird.

If the Devil is in the details, neither dress does it. Both Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt disappoint in Valentino and Calvin Klein, respectively.

I know what boys like… I know what guys want… Jessica stumbles after her Golden Globe stunner, showing a little too much in her thin late-80′s fuschia-and-black halter.

Enh. Beige/peach/strapless/ruffled/yada/yada/yada. Penelope Cruz once again goes daring with the exact same type of dress she always wears.

ROFLMAO

It never ceases to amaze me that these people with all this money, with designers and stylists at their every disposal, can wear stuff this wacky.

Kelly Preston is wearing the Grrranimals Couture collection by Dolce & Gabbana.

Message for you, sir!! Catherine Deneuve models the “Sweet Concord” collection by Python Couture.

It’s like an Anime Horror Story… believe it or not, Kirsten Dunst’s schoolgirl-necked frock includes feathers at the bottom.

E! correspondent Giuliana DePandi models the Ace Bandage collection from Monique L’Huilier.

Okay, I normally don’t pick on non-honorees/non-famous people, but Steve Carrell’s wife really looks like she’s just waiting for the rest of that dress to “accidentally” fall off in front of the cameras. Hmmm.. anyone know if she got a body piercing in Houston yesterday??

Modeling the “Mother’s Little Helper” collection is a slightly glazed-looking Jennifer Lopez, who continues to not quell rumors of pregnancy in her second empire-waisted Marchesa gown in a row.

Okay, I know Elisabeth Shue hasn’t really been in a major movie in a while, but… Dress Barn? C’mon, Liz!!

And the Worst Outfit of the Evening goes to Nicole Kidman, who sports the “December to Remember” collection by Lexus.

Oh yeah, and in case you’re one of those people who, like, watches because it’s about acting — or something like that…

The Nominees and Winners for 79th Academy Awards

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond

Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson

Peter O’Toole, Venus

Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness

Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Best Actress

Penélope Cruz, Volver

Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal

Helen Mirren, The Queen

Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada

Kate Winslet, Little Children

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine

Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children

Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond

Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls

Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

Best Supporting Actress

Adriana Barraza, Babel

Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal

Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine

Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls

Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

Best Director

Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima

Stephen Frears, The Queen

Paul Greengrass, United 93

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Babel

Martin Scorsese, The Departed [YAY!!! FINALLY!!]

Best Picture

Babel, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Steve Golin, Jon Kilik

The Departed, Graham King

Letters from Iwo Jima, Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Robert Lorenz

Little Miss Sunshine, David T. Friendly , Peter Saraf , Marc Turtletaub

The Queen, Andy Harries , Christine Langan , Tracey Seaward

Best Original Screenplay

Babel, Guillermo Arriaga

Letters from Iwo Jima, Iris Yamashita , Paul Haggis

Little Miss Sunshine, Michael Arndt

El Laberinto del Fauno, Guillermo del Toro

The Queen, Peter Morgan

Best Adapted Screenplay

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Sacha Baron Cohen , Anthony Hines , Peter Baynham , Dan Mazer , Todd Phillips

Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón , Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata , Mark Fergus , Hawk Ostby

The Departed, William Monahan

Little Children, Todd Field , Tom Perrotta

Notes on a Scandal, Patrick Marber