The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is actually taking the Oscars back to their historic roots in doing so. Sid Ganis, AMPAS president, said: "After more than six decades the Academy is returning to some of its earlier roots when a wider field competed for the top award of the year… The final outcome will be the same – one Best Picture winner – but the race to the finish line will feature 10, not just five movies, from 2009."

In 1944, there were 10 films in the running for the centerpiece award – and the Best Picture went to … Casablanca.

Ganis continued: "Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going to allow Academy voters to recognise and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize."

He added: "The field is vast – there were around 300 eligible movies this year and last and 10 nominees out of 300 is still spectacular. It’ll be less cloistered and more open with possibilities."

The announcement got a warm reception in Hollywood. LA Times critic Tom O’Neil, wrote:

"They’ve got to do something to make the show more sexy and hip and expanding the Best Picture race is a brilliant solution."

The actress from “Slumdog Millionaire” is doing her best to adjust to her new celebrity status after the movie she stared in was the big hit at the Academy Awards. Freida Pinto said this about being famous: “It’s a blessing and I need to learn to relish and savor each moment, so that’s what I’m doing. And, most importantly, I have to breathe!” Yes, Freida Pinto should breathe now while she still can because she’ll probably find out in a short time that it’s not that much of a blessing. She also added: “I am trying to enjoy it all as much as I can, because this is an once-in-a-lifetime experience.” I have to ask myself: was there ever anybody who became famous a multiple number of times during their life?

Best Actress winner Kate Winslett may have won the coveted Oscars but she still could not help getting mesmerized by her trophy. The actress regaled the Academy audience when in hr acceptance speech, she revealed that she had been obsessed about the Oscars even as a child and mimicked the winners using her shampoo bottles. Well, nothing has changed except that Kate Winslet is no longer holding a shampoo bottle now but the Golden Boy statuette. Kate Winslet however admits she could not stop looking at her very first Oscar which she won for her performance in “The Reader”.

Kate Winslet apparently has a new man in her life and she would not let go of “it” even during the Oscar party and even during her guesting at the Oprah Winfrey show the next day. The statuette was also with her when she arrived at the JFK airport albeit covered in protective green covering. She even admitted to Oprah that she is so obsessed with it she keeps on looking at it even noticing that her statuette has a very nice little bottom. Kate Winslet said she was expecting that the award would go to Meryl Streep.

Post winning the Best Actor Award at this year’s Academy Awards Sean Penn has wasted no time to send a message across to people who are opposed to gay marriage and also those who took to the streets outside the Academy Awards on Sunday to protest against same-sex marriage.

When asked what he would tell the protesters, he responded: “I’d tell them to turn in their hate card and find their better self. It’s very sad in a way, because it’s a demonstration of such emotional cowardice, to be so afraid of extending the same rights to your fellow man as you would want for yourself.”

Well, America is a free country and people have the right to express their own and Sean has the right to say what he feels. The protesters believe it’s a moral issue. It’s not a right until it’s voted a right by the majority of the vote and protesters will always be around for what they believe is right or wrong.

As for Sean’s acting well there are doubts no more that he did a fine job and thankfully the Academy has honoured the right person this time.

The actress from “Vanilla Sky” who managed to nail an Academy Awards for best supporting female role due to her performance in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” was highly grateful to Woody Allen for her success. Penelope Cruz said the following in her acceptance speech: “I’m going to go call Woody right now. I call Woody sometimes to just say hello and I adore him. I think he’s so funny and charming and so peculiar and unique. And of course, today I have to talk to Woody to thank him.” Yeah, too bad Woody didn’t nail a little golden statue for himself too, but then again there’s always next year. We all know how the legends go: try, try again…

Cat fights? This was what war-freaks were expecting with Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston thrown into one location where they could not help but bump into each other. They may not have bumped into each other but everything seemed fine between the women—Jennifer Aniston the past and Angelina Jolie the present—in Brad Pitt’s life. The two were thrown into the Kodak Theater for the 81st Academy Awards last Sunday. In fact, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were just 12 seats away from Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer.

Capitalizing on the seeming rivalry between the two, the Oscar producers panned the camera on Angelina Jolie when Jennifer Aniston was presenting on stage with Jack Black and Angelina Jolie was caught smiling and enjoying their spiels. It was Jennifer Aniston’s turn when the camera panned on her while she and boyfriend John Mayer were applauding when Angelina Jolie’s name was mentioned for Best Actress and Brad Pitt for Best Actor. It seems that when it comes to Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, each has already forgiven and forgotten. Or was everything a put on? Wanna bet?

Academy Awards night host Hugh Jackman is taking the Oscars to new heights saying it will be a naked Oscars. That’s the sexiest man alive’s take on those prying to get a little Oscars details from him before the show begins Sunday. Hugh Jackman, who has been known for his affable and humorous nature, said this is going to be a whole new Oscars but continued to shy away from details. He joked that while most of them are doing the whole show naked, they will be singing through the whole show including the acceptance speech. However, Hugh Jackman’s sexy attributes will not be seen as he would be strategically covered by a leaf.

A lot of people are excited about how Hugh Jackman will handle this years Oscars considering that most if not all the hosts in the past have been comedians. The 40-year old Hugh Jackman, who is known worldwide as X-Men’s Wolverine, has been a three-time Tony Awards host. This is his first Oscars hosting job so be gentle.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt proved they are still the couple to beat after they wowed the British Academy Film Awards in London last Sunday. This time, Jolie opted for a Giorgio Armani evening gown in black with yellow accents instead of her trademark lose gowns during the recent red carpet events. The couple walked the red carpet and gamely signed autographs for fans.

The couple however came home empty-handed awards-wise as the top winner of the night was Slumdog Millionaire with seven prizes including the Award for Best Film. London’s favorite daughter Kate Winslet also won the Best Actress Award for “The Reader”. Mickey Rourke won Best Actor for “The Wrestler”. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s attendance to the BAFTAS has made quite a mark considering they were a no show during the Oscar launch.

“The Curios Case Of Benjamin Button”, which has been nominated for the Academy Awards has been hit with a controversy with barely a month remaining for the big night of the Oscar ceremony. The movie’s producers have been slapped with a lawsuit for stealing the story idea for their movie.

Hollywood star Brad Pitt was the lead actor of the movie which tells the story of a man whose age moves backwards and the plot of the movie allegedly belongs to the short story written in 1921 by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Adriana Pichini, a resident of the city of Rome has claimed that story of the movie is copied from the book she wrote and registered to Italian copyright Authority in 1994. Book, titled Il ritorno di Arthur all’innocenz, wasn’t famous enough to get published but now is in the top of the news.

The movie producers should place declaration, that movie was inspired by F. Scotts story, in front of Court to escape out from the troublesome.

Penelope Cruz says she is willing to do anything that will make her win an Oscar which she would like to dedicate to Spain; Penelope received an Academy Awards nomination on Thursday for her role in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona which has earned her a Best Supporting Actress category at the February awards.

She says, “I am eternally indebted to the Academy (and) to Woody Allen who gave me this opportunity. I am very happy to see all the affection and congratulations I have received, especially those from Spain. Let’s hope I can bring it home.”

I am sure Penelope realizes that her statements reveal mere hope cos’ like some other awards which are rigged the Academy Awards are presented completely on the basis of performance and baby if you did a really good job then you will win.

No, she didn’t lose it on the show. Instead, Whoopi Goldberg’s emotional moment came Monday morning as she cohosted The View.

As the ladies discussed the Oscars montage of important moments from past shows, Whoopi teared up when it was pointed out that she was left out. Whoopi was a former Oscar winner and the first black person to host the awards show.

Joy Behar said, “Where were you?” Whoopi mentioned that they also left out Steve Martin, and Barbara Walters pointed out that she was shown in another montage for past winners. Whoopi remarked, “Undoubtedly, I pissed somebody off once again.” WaWa said, “We think you’re a great host.”