Best & Worst: Oscars 2009

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.

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