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Oscars 2009: The 81st Annual Academy Awards The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads the 2009 Oscar pack with 13 nominations, including Best Picture. Winners of the 81st Academy Awards will be announced Feb. 22 in Hollywood — and NPR.org will be live-blogging the ceremony. Check back here for new stories daily.
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The 81st Annual Academy Awards

Inspirational Movies Win Big At Oscars

The ghetto-to-glory story Slumdog Millionaire was named Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday. It won seven other Oscars, including Best Director. Kate Winslet won Best Actress for the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader, and Sean Penn took Best Actor for the title role in Milk.

Inspirational Movies Win Big At Oscars

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'Slumdog Millionaire' Trumps Oscar Competition

The Academy Awards took over Hollywood last night as some of the world's biggest stars were honored for their work in film. Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner, sweeping the ceremony with eight awards, including the prize for best picture. Boston Globe film critic Wesley Morris offers a wrap-up of last night's festivities.

'Slumdog Millionaire' Trumps Oscar Competition

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Movie Music 2009: Oscar-Nominated Scores

Tucked in among the Oscars for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture is a lesser-known category: Best Original Score. Film-music specialist Andy Trudeau has come to discuss the nominees every year since the 68th Academy Awards.

Movie Music 2009: Oscar-Nominated Scores

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Opinion

Who Are You Wearing To The Oscars? Who Cares?

At the annual Oscar gala, the cameras flash and reporters ask whose clothes you're wearing. But they only offer a glimpse of nominees and their escorts. This Sunday, commentator Peggy Orenstein will walk the red carpet with her filmmaker husband — another time.

Who Are You Wearing To The Oscars? Who Cares?

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The Curious Case Of A Missing Academy Award

Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in the 1939 epic Gone With the Wind — becoming the first African-American to win an Academy Award. But her award has been missing for some 40 years. Was it lost, stolen or simply overlooked?

The Curious Case Of A Missing Academy Award

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At 91, Shoemaker To The Stars Is Still In Business

The man behind Charlton Heston's sandals in The Ten Commandments is 91-year-old Willie Rivera, who began making shoes at the age of 13 in Mexico City. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s and has dressed the feet of legends such as Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Lily Tomlin and Bill Cosby.

At 91, Shoemaker To The Stars Is Still In Business

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Before 'The Wrestler,' True Drama Beyond The Ring

Pro wrestling may be big on theatrics, but the main character in the Oscar-nominated film The Wrester is a lot like a real guy — Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose rise and fall was recorded in a documentary in 2000.

Before 'The Wrestler,' True Drama Beyond The Ring

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'Frozen River,' A Study In Oscar Marketing

With its Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay, Frozen River is emerging as this year's "Little Indie Makes Good." Its producers deftly negotiated the movie marketing game and now are planning to capitalize on this opportunity.

'Frozen River,' A Study In Oscar Marketing

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Opinion

'Slumdog Millionaire' Fits The Bollywood Model

Commentator Sandip Roy adds his two cents to the media fray surrounding the Academy Award nominated film, Slumdog Millionaire. Some people have complained that the film paints a negative portrait of India, but Roy has a different view.

'Slumdog Millionaire' Fits The Bollywood Model

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Oscars: Keeping Things Short ... And Sweet

A short film must make its point quickly, but what becomes clear watching the Oscar-nominated shorts each year is how many different ways there are for a filmmaker to make a point. A lot of heart can be put into a few minutes.

Oscars: Keeping Things Short ... And Sweet

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Oscar Nods Give 'Slumdog' A Box Office Bump

This year's Oscar season illuminates an interesting quirk in box-office strategy: How theaters and studios place bets on re-releases of movies they think will be nominated. Some pay off — but some sure don't.

Oscar Nods Give 'Slumdog' A Box Office Bump

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Building The Curious Faces Of 'Benjamin Button'

Effects-driven acting? Actor-fueled effects? The line between performance and technology has rarely been thinner than in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Laura Sydell goes behind the scenes with the FX gurus who helped make it happen.

Building The Curious Faces Of 'Benjamin Button'

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A Movie's Look, From Toilet To Villain's Lair

Lighting, props, sets and costumes all contribute to the "look" of a movie — and production designer J. Michael Riva, the grandson of Marlene Dietrich, makes sure all those elements integrate seamlessly for a film. He has worked on blockbusters such as The Goonies and A Few Good Men.

A Movie's Look, From Toilet To Villain's Lair

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Creating Queenie: Taraji Henson's Leap Of Faith

The Benjamin Button actress talks with NPR's Michele Norris about bringing a character to life on screen — and helping audiences connect with the movie's distinctly different hero.

Creating Queenie: Taraji Henson's Leap Of Faith

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Mumbai-Set 'Slumdog Millionaire' Opens In India

The movie Slumdog Millionaire has been nominated for ten Academy Awards. It's a love story set in the slums of the Indian city of Mumbai. Some Indians think the film damages their nation's image by focusing on poverty. Slumdog Millionaire opened Friday in India.

Mumbai-Set 'Slumdog Millionaire' Opens In India

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'Benjamin Button,' 'Slumdog' Top Oscars List

Thirteen nominations for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but no Best Picture nod for The Dark Knight: NPR's Bob Mondello talks to Michele Norris about today's Oscar surprises, disappointments and don't-misses.

'Benjamin Button,' 'Slumdog' Top Oscars List

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Money Makers Mostly Snubbed By Oscars

The Dark Knight, Iron Man, and Indiana Jones were hits at the box office in 2008. But only one of those films got a major Oscar nomination — Heath Ledger, for supporting actor in The Dark Knight. Which nominations surprised you?

Money Makers Mostly Snubbed By Oscars

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'Benjamin Button' Leads Oscar Race With 13 Nods

The nominees for the 81st Academy Awards were announced this morning. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads the pack with 13 nominations, including Best Picture. Critic Kenneth Turan has some thoughts on the nominees list.

'Benjamin Button' Leads Oscar Race With 13 Nods

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Oscar Nominees Due: Who'll Make the Cut?

Nominations are due at 5:30 a.m., Hollywood time. Renee Montagne talks to Entertainment Weekly writer Dave Karger about his predictions on which movies and movie stars will make the list — and who'll wake up to bad news.

Oscar Nominees Due: Who'll Make the Cut?

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