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Stars gather for Oscar countdown Stars gather for Oscar countdown
(30 minutes later)
Stars have begun arriving on the red carpet for the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. A host of stars turned out on the red carpet for the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.
British film Slumdog Millionaire, from director Danny Boyle, is tipped to win the evening's top award, best picture. Australian star Hugh Jackman, who is hosting the awards, opened with a song medley paying tribute to the best picture nominees.
Fellow Briton Kate Winslet is also expected to triumph, winning the best actress Oscar, while Mickey Rourke remains favourite to win best actor. Slumdog Millionaire is tipped to win the evening's top prize, best picture.
Australian star Hugh Jackman will host the event - with organisers promising lots of surprises. British actress Kate Winslet is also expected to triumph, winning the best actress Oscar, while Mickey Rourke remains favourite to win best actor.
"It's going to be a show that takes some bold risks," said Sid Ganis. president of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences. Hollywood A-listers including Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Meryl Streep were among this year's nominees gracing the red carpet.
Hollywood A-listers including Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Meryl Streep are among this year's nominees gracing the red carpet.
Romance rumoursRomance rumours
Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, the leading actors in Slumdog Millionaire, was among the first of the evening's celebrities to appear.Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, the leading actors in Slumdog Millionaire, was among the first of the evening's celebrities to appear.
They were joined by director Danny Boyle and Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, who fuelled the rumours of an off-screen romance between Pinto and Patel. "There is a potential and they look great together," he said.They were joined by director Danny Boyle and Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, who fuelled the rumours of an off-screen romance between Pinto and Patel. "There is a potential and they look great together," he said.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are both nominated in the top acting categories
The movie, a rags-to-riches tale set in the slums of Mumbai, has been named best film by the producers', writers', actors' and directors' guilds in the US.The movie, a rags-to-riches tale set in the slums of Mumbai, has been named best film by the producers', writers', actors' and directors' guilds in the US.
Boyle attributed the film's popularity to people's desire "to root for the underdog".Boyle attributed the film's popularity to people's desire "to root for the underdog".
Actor Mickey Rourke is tipped to win for his performance in The Wrestler
He will battle it out with David Fincher for the best director Oscar, alongside fellow contenders Ron Howard, Stephen Daldry and Gus Van Sant.He will battle it out with David Fincher for the best director Oscar, alongside fellow contenders Ron Howard, Stephen Daldry and Gus Van Sant.
Fincher, best known for Se7en and Fight Club, is nominated for his work on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which leads the field with 13 nominations including best picture.Fincher, best known for Se7en and Fight Club, is nominated for his work on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which leads the field with 13 nominations including best picture.
The film, which stars Pitt as a man who ages backwards, has had the most box office success - taking $242m (£169m) worldwide - but Academy voters will not necessarily see this as a reason to win.The film, which stars Pitt as a man who ages backwards, has had the most box office success - taking $242m (£169m) worldwide - but Academy voters will not necessarily see this as a reason to win.
Actor Mickey Rourke is tipped to win for his performance in The Wrestler
Other titles in the running for the main prize include The Reader, Milk and Frost/Nixon.Other titles in the running for the main prize include The Reader, Milk and Frost/Nixon.
Winslet's strongest competition comes from Meryl Streep, for her role as a nun who suspects sex abuse in Doubt, while Penn remains Rourke's closest rival for his role as gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the eponymous Milk.Winslet's strongest competition comes from Meryl Streep, for her role as a nun who suspects sex abuse in Doubt, while Penn remains Rourke's closest rival for his role as gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the eponymous Milk.
Spain's Penelope Cruz was also nominated in 2007
The least predictable field is said to be best supporting actress, where Penelope Cruz's wild, impulsive character in Vicky Cristina Barcelona is up against Marisa Tomei's pole-dancing love interest from The Wrestler.The least predictable field is said to be best supporting actress, where Penelope Cruz's wild, impulsive character in Vicky Cristina Barcelona is up against Marisa Tomei's pole-dancing love interest from The Wrestler.
Heath Ledger, who died in 2008 of an accidental prescription drug overdose, is favoured for best supporting actor after his scene-stealing performance as the Joker in Batman movie The Dark Knight.Heath Ledger, who died in 2008 of an accidental prescription drug overdose, is favoured for best supporting actor after his scene-stealing performance as the Joker in Batman movie The Dark Knight.
Show secretsShow secrets
Details of this year's ceremony have been kept firmly under wraps as organisers try to claw back the ceremony's TV audience.Details of this year's ceremony have been kept firmly under wraps as organisers try to claw back the ceremony's TV audience.
Spain's Penelope Cruz was also nominated in 2007
Last year's event watched by just 32m viewers in the US, down from 40m in 2007 and the lowest figure since 1974, when the current ratings system began.Last year's event watched by just 32m viewers in the US, down from 40m in 2007 and the lowest figure since 1974, when the current ratings system began.
Producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, who worked on Oscar-winning musical Dreamgirls, have promised sweeping format changes, and generally kept journalists and cameras away from the rehearsals.Producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, who worked on Oscar-winning musical Dreamgirls, have promised sweeping format changes, and generally kept journalists and cameras away from the rehearsals.
The show's grandiose set has been drastically revamped. "It's more like the nightclub of your dreams," Jackman said.The show's grandiose set has been drastically revamped. "It's more like the nightclub of your dreams," Jackman said.
"It's very intimate. It's got to be a lot closer.""It's very intimate. It's got to be a lot closer."