Stars, fans converge on Hollywood for Oscar night

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-23 09:27

Actress Natalie Portman arrives at the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2009.[Agencies]

The competition for best-actor appears to be a two-way battle between Penn and Mickey Rourke as a faded athlete in "The Wrestler." On Saturday, Rourke won the independent film world's Spirit Award for best actor, but that honor comes from different voters than the roughly 6,000 academy members who cast Oscar ballots.

Winslet is tipped for best actress playing a German Nazi-era prison guard in "The Reader" over Meryl Streep as a nun who suspects sex abuse in a Catholic school in "Doubt.

Heath Ledger, who died in 2008 of an accidental prescription drug overdose, is favored for best supporting actor as the villain Joker in Batman movie "The Dark Knight."

Pundits say the award for supporting actress is wide open with Penelope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" up for the Oscar against Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler," Taraji P. Henson for "Benjamin Button" and Viola Davis and Amy Adams, both in "Doubt."

Fashionistas will be watching the gowns on the red carpet, and while experts say the recession has stars dressing down, they are quick to add the designs won't all be dull.

Previous 1 2 Next Page