Oscars 2009 - Best & Worst Moments

Oscars 2009 Best and Worst Moments

BEST: Ben Stiller Does Joaquin Phoenix

The incredibly weird recent behavior of trainwreck (hoaxster?) Joaquin Phoenix has been begging for some spoofery. Funnyman Ben Stiller answered the call, arriving on stage in dark shades and full ratty beard alongside co-presenter Natalie Portman and delivering a spot-on impression. He did not rap, however. Thankfully.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

WORST: 'Benjamin Button' Segment of Opening Number

In his song-and-dance tribute to Best Picture nominee 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' Oscar host Hugh Jackman ran down Benjamin's curious backwards aging process, including these pithy lyrics: "When I was 4, my back was sore and I had pubic hair ..." Well, alrighty then.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

BEST: 'Reader' Segment of Opening Number

Even Hugh Jackman couldn't keep from laughing during 'The Reader' portion of his song and dance number, during which (like many of us), he said he meant to see the movie, though he "went down to the theater but there was a line, of all the people watching 'Iron Man' a second time."

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

GOLDEN QUOTE: Reaaaally Wishful Thinking

"Hopefully I'll be here getting something for it next year ... it's a lot more real and deeper than people would expect the movie to be." -- Miley Cyrus, talking during the ABC pre-show about her Oscar wishes for -- wait for it -- 'Hannah Montana: The Movie'

Amy Sancetta, AP

BEST: Presenters Steve Martin and Tina Fey (and Steve Martin)

After a painfully slow start to the ceremony, recent co-stars Martin and Fey ('Baby Mama,' '30 Rock') provided some much-needed comic relief, capped by a hilarious, not-so-subtle dig at Scientology. Trashing Scientology in front of a Hollywood crowd? Now that's edgy.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

WORST: Acting Nominations Announced by Five Actors

When we first realized how the announcements were being made, when five actresses -- Eva Marie Saint, Tilda Swinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn and Anjelica Huston -- came out to announce one Best Supporting Actress winner, we knew we were in for a looong night. And we weren't disappointed -- except for the fact that we were sooo disappointed.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

BEST: Dustin Lance Black Acceptance Speech

After his win for Best Original Screenplay, the wunderkind 'Milk' scribe delivered a poignant speech, advocating gay rights and guaranteeing the eventual legalization of gay marriage. Harvey Milk would be proud.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

WORST: Inorganic Chemistry

'Mamma Mia!' star Amanda Seyfried and 'Twilight' hunk Robert Pattinson, two young Hollywood-ites with absolutely no chemistry -- and, apparently, not even the ability to pretend to be interested in what they're saying -- introduced a montage of the year's most romantic big-screen moments. And, yes, tween girls across the land, we hear your screams of anguish.

Getty Images (2)

BEST: 'Pineapple Express' Stoners Return

Seth Rogen and James Franco revived their 'Pineapple Express' characters for a gut-busting video tribute to this year's comedies (wait, did the Academy just recognize comedies?). While 'The Reader' and 'Doubt' were not exactly funny, watching these two crack up to scenes from those Oscar films in between shots from 'Tropic Thunder' and 'Step Brothers' was a sorely needed laugh out loud moment.

Sony

WORST: Sucks to Be Jen

Not only did presenter Jennifer Aniston have to deliver some lame patter with Jack Black, but she had to do it mere feet away from front row attendees Brangelina.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images