OMG! How much do I love Sean Penn?!?! I got so excited as I typed today’s Manly Monday entry — weekly celebrations of M-E-N — because I was 100% all about awarding it to Spicoli. (The Fast Times at Ridgemont High reference isn’t a backhanded compliment, by the way; I geniunely think it’s a testament to Penn’s talent as an actor that he’s grown to do flicks like At Close Range, Mystic River, I Am Sam and Milk.) Nevertheless, instead of only giving Sean Penn (ahem, ahem) the Manly Monday love, I decided to pick out a few male attendees, presenters, nominees and absentees of the 81st Annual Academy Awards who are equally deserving.

• The Rebels. Johnny Depp. Mickey Rourke. And, of course, Sean Penn. Over the past few years, it’s been fun to see The Academy finally dole out nominations and awards to independently-minded men who take daring, unconventional roles and turn them into something special as only they can. How can you not love a guy who starts his acceptance speech: “You commie, homo-loving sons of guns [...]“???

• The Winner. Will Smith. No, he didn’t win anything last night. But, according to Forbes, Smith commands higher box office and bigger “blockbuster paychecks” than any other actor in tinsel town. Folks, we have a winner!
  

• The lover. I got really choked up when I heard Dustin Lance Black‘s tender, honest and heart-felt speech. As sex & relationships writer who happens to be a spiritual person, I kind of think got what he was trying to do. (But, I could be wrong.) I get the impression he was really trying to drive home the point that the word “CHRISTIAN” and the phrase “HOMOPHOBIC, SEX-NEGATIVE, RACIST, RIGHT-WING NUTJOB”  aren’t always symonymous. I don’t know; form your own opinion about his speech. You can read the transcript on GlAAD’s blog, but it’s worth it to watch the video instead.

• The Guy Who Should’ve Been There. Benicio del Toro. Am I missing something or was someone missing from last night’s show?

Okay. So, I’m curious to hear what you all thought of last night’s show. Did you love or hate the Broadway musical inspired influence? Was it too long? Too boring? What would it take to make the Oscars more interesting? Pssst … If you liked Sean Penn’s portayal of Milk, you can watch a feature-length documentary about the real Harvey Milk free at Hulu.