For some reason better know to the voters of the Academy Awards, Slumdog Millionaire won and Oscar in just about every category in which it was nominated, totaling 8 little gold men. It would appear that this is the movie version of The Emperor’s New Clothes. Could it be that no one actually wants to admit that it’s a cruel movie that merely demonstrates the degradation suffered by the children of Mumbai for fear of being ridiculed.

But one category where no Oscar was awarded but had an outright winner on the night was that of choice of presenter, Hugh Jackman. What a man! He dances, he sings, he acts, he’s funny, he’s charismatic and he’s just about the most handsome man to hit Hollywood since George Clooney

As the actors and actresses arrived on the red carpet to attend the 81st Oscars there was a grand assortment of gowns, hair styles, designers, colours and, of course, flops!

Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker arrived with husband Matthew Broderick in tow, dispelling all rumours of a break up between the two, actors, but creating the question, was she appearing in the remake of The Wizard of Oz and filling the role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, wearing a white and silver billowing ballerina/fairytale style dress, SJP’s hair was also reminiscent of Glinda’s come to think of it!

star Sarah Jessica Parker arrived with husband Matthew Broderick in tow, dispelling all rumours of a break up between the two, actors, but creating the question, was she appearing in the remake of and filling the role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, wearing a white and silver billowing ballerina/fairytale style dress, SJP’s hair was also reminiscent of Glinda’s come to think of it!

Next up the red rug was Amy Adams, star of Doubt, the movie that saw her dressed head to foot in a black nun’s habit, which for the Oscars she had in no uncertain terms abandoned in favour of a deep red Carolina Herrera red strapless gown with black piping teamed up with an unusual green, blue and red Fred Leighton necklace, unusual, but it worked fro Amy.

When Amy was asked if she felt it was unfair that she should be pitted against Marisa Tomei in best supporting actress category bearing in mind Amy had played Sister James and Marisa had been a pole dancer in The Wrestler, Amy reflected for a moment then giggled, ‘no, its not fair!’

The Pitt-Jolies were greeted on the red carpeted when told they were the most attractive couple at the Oscars, Angelina Jolie, in her usual drab black gown, with her usual self indulgent look of disgust at having been approached as a member of Hollywood‘s royalty, mumbled a ‘thank you’, said very little else, smiled even less, and wandered off. Both of their huge egos dragging closely behind them.

Danny Boyle of Slumdog Millionaire fame arrived on the red carpet with almost the entire population of India. Wearing his black suit, with the top button of his white shirt undone and his tie loosened, he really let the Brits down. His unkemped appearance added to his harsh north England accent put him in much the same category as Mickey Rourke for style and appearance.

Speaking of whom, Mickey Rourke arrived in a white Saturday Night Fever style suit, black vest and no tie. His hair looking as though it needed a good wash, his bling sized rings and dark glasses said just about everything about why he had been dropped as a Hollywood star all those years ago. No style!

Miley Cyrus, as usual over doing everything, too much dress, too much make up and looking years beyond her age, arrived wearing a dress from the Zuhair Murad Spring 2009 Couture, with scalloped edges cascading from the waste, a deep plunging neckline, millions of sequins and an embellished belt.

Although Anne Hathaway looked very heavily made up, her style was simple when it came to her dress, an ivory Armani Privé Spring 2009 gown that was covered in clear sequins, later being replaced with a less glamorous layered net dress as she was dragged from her seat in the front row to perform a dance routine with the host Hugh Jackman. Obviously pre-arranged as the two gelled so well together and clearly adored working the routine for the awe struck audience.

Meryle Streep wore a dark taupe off-the-shoulder Alberta Ferretti gown and arrived very proudly with her daughter who wore a sage green gown and looked equally as proud of her mother. As an actress, Meryle has received a recoed 15 Oscars during her career, it has to be said, her acting far surpasses her sense of style.

Penelope Cruz wore bangs and a bun and a cream evening gown that had the appearance of festoon blinds billowing from the waistline.

Marisa Tomie, who wore a silver grey one-shouldered Versace Atelier satin organza gown which fell in beautiful folded pleats from the waste to the trailing skirt, was clearly not trying to upstage Amy Adams as much as she did as a pole dancer!

All in all the Oscars took on a totally different feel for the 81^st event, with the worst recession since the 1930’s, it seemed the organizers and the stars had taken that ion board and kept everything somewhat low key, but thoroughly entertaining mainly thanks to Hugh Jackman.