Best Dressed: The Oscar's 2009

Admittedly, I missed the 81st Oscar's red carpet due to the fact that I thought I'd be better off without television this year. I did however, catch an hour or so of the actual broadcast and took in every female presenter (not to mention the front-row set during the obligatory, response-catching audience pans) to see who and what she was wearing.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Marion Cotillard - Dior Haute Couture

Sarah Jessica Parker - Christian Dior (though this look is becoming a signature for her)

Angelina Jolie (if only for the Lorraine Schwartz emerald teardrop earrings)

Anne Hathaway - Armani Privé

Evan Rachel Wood - Lightening up in Eli Saab Haute Couture

Tilda Swinton - Lanvin (at least she doesn't disappoint our expectations for something avante guarde and a little kooky)

As for the rest, the gowns are getting as predictable as the award winners. Aside from the red-carpet reds and a few Pepto pinks, the color of the night was predominantly black or white. Give us color! Where are the jewel tones?

While most actresses played it safe in these recessionary times (come on people the dresses are on lone, live a little!), some actresses even went so far as to wear what could be confused for the same dress worn in award season's past. Ahem, Jennifer Aniston and Penelope Cruz you know who you are...

All in all the dresses were good, not bad but not great either—the only thing close to a Bjork moment was Sofia Loren's Limoncello disaster. But she's in her 70s and still looks hot so I, as everyone else except maybe Joan Rivers, will look the other way. Oh and one more little note to Beyoncé: it's the Oscar's, I think it's time to stop letting your mother dress you.

All negativity aside, my favorite dress of the night was Marisa Tomei's Atelier Versace gown. The intricate orgamigasmic pleating finally gave us something to take in and not once-over. The asymmetrical top was "on point" for the moment. For me, when the camera panned from top to train, it did inspire a moment of awe. So, thank you Miss Tomei for saving us from sartorial boredom.