Best & Worst: Oscars 2009

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The funniest he's been since 'Shanghai Surprise'

By Denise Martin, Brill Bundy and Hanh Nguyen

Although he ended his speech preaching to the choir about California's Prop. 8, best actor winner Sean Penn started off with a cheerful greeting to "You Commie, homo-loving sons-of-a-gun" and acknowledged that "I know how hard I make it to appreciate me ... often." Graciously welcoming fellow nominee Mickey Rourke "back into the ring" only added to the impression that Jeff Spicoli might be mellowing. It's about time.

Related: 'Slumdog' strikes it rich with 8 Oscar wins

Related: 2009 Oscar scorecard

Related: Gallery: Oscar arrivals

Related: Gallery: Best & Worst: Oscars 2009

Related: Gallery: Red Carpet Rewind: Oscars 2009

Related: Review: The Oscars show itself was puttin' on the fritz

Related: 'Slumdog,' Winslet and Penn: No surprises at the Kodak

Related: For Heath Ledger, a bittersweet salute

Related: Big Picture: Not exactly an enchanted evening

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Tom O'Neil, Gold Derby

Tom O'Neil is the author of "Movie Awards," "The Emmys" and "The Grammys" (Penguin Putnam Books) and has reported on showbiz awards for the L.A. Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Variety, TV Guide, Reader's Digest and other major media. In 1999, he launched GoldDerby.com, the first website devoted to predicting all top showbiz awards. It was acquired by the Los Angeles Times in November 2005 and folded into the launch of TheEnvelope.com.

O'Neil's special interest is how the awards affect each other, particularly the top film prizes that can be viewed as one single gold derby with the Oscars as the finish line. Consider what happened to "Chariots of Fire," for example. In 1981, it emerged from obscurity to win awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the National Board of Review, then fell behind "Reds" and "Atlantic City" at the film critics' awards and Golden Globes, then trotted ahead as best-picture champ at the Oscars. Contact O'Neil: GoldDerby@gmail.com.