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Stars arrive for Oscar ceremony Stars arriving for Oscar ceremony
(30 minutes later)
Stars have begun arriving at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles for the 82nd Academy Awards. Stars have begun arriving at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles for the 82nd Academy Awards, with best actress nominee Sandra Bullock among them.
Mo'Nique, who is nominated for the best supporting actress award for her role in Precious, was among the first to arrive on the red carpet. First-time nominee Bullock, 45, is the favourite for the Oscar for her role in The Blind Side. Jeff Bridges is tipped to take best actor for Crazy Heart.
The Hurt Locker and Avatar will be going head-to-head for the coveted best picture Oscar later. Leading the nominations, The Hurt Locker and Avatar will go head-to-head for the coveted best picture Oscar.
Jeff Bridges is tipped to take best actor for Crazy Heart, while Sandra Bullock is favourite for best actress. The Hurt Locker's Kathryn Bigelow is expected to take best director.
James Cameron's 3D sci-fi juggernaut Avatar, which has taken more than $2bn (£1.32bn) at the box office, had looked like a favourite in early 2010. If she is named best director, she would become the first female to win the award - only four women have ever been nominated.
But the Iraq bomb disposal drama The Hurt Locker by Kathryn Bigelow is tipped to take the prize. Jeremy Renner - who is nominated for best actor for his role in Bigelow's Iraq war drama - described the unexpected success of the film as "like the top of Everest".
Voting system The low-budget film, which has made just $15m (£9.9m) at the box office, is battling James Cameron's 3D sci-fi juggernaut Avatar, which has taken more than $2bn (£1.32bn).
But with 10 films in the running for best picture and a change in the voting system, the way is still open for a major Oscar upset. British hopeful Carey Mulligan, who is nominated for her breakthrough performance in An Education, was among the early arrivals.
Quentin Tarantino's eight times nominated World War II fantasy Inglourious Basterds could benefit from a split vote. "Everything has been building to this - it's massive," said Mulligan, 24.
Cameron and Bigelow, who were once married, also go against each other in the best director category with Bigelow heavily tipped to win. She was closely followed by director Quentin Tarantino with Inglourious Basterds star Diane Kruger.
Industry paper The Hollywood Reporter on Friday predicted wins for Bigelow for both best picture and director. Tarantino's World War II fantasy, which has eight nominations including best director and best picture, is seen as the only film that could cause an upset in the race for evening's top award.
If Bigelow is named best director she would be first female to win - only four women have ever been nominated. It is the first time since 1966 that 10 films have competed for best picture, prompting a major shake-up to the voting system, and paving the way for a possible surprise win.
The Hurt Locker is tipped to win the best picture OscarThe Hurt Locker is tipped to win the best picture Oscar
Bridges, 60, has swept the awards season this year, winning Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his portrayal of an alcoholic country singer.Bridges, 60, has swept the awards season this year, winning Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his portrayal of an alcoholic country singer.
'In the bag''In the bag'
British hopes in the acting categories include Colin Firth, Dame Helen Mirren and Carey Mulligan.
But Bullock is expected to win best actress for American football drama The Blind Side.
But she has close competition from Meryl Streep, whose role in Julie and Julia has earned her a record 16th Oscar nomination.
The best supporting actor and actress awards seem to be already in the bag for Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) and Mo'Nique.The best supporting actor and actress awards seem to be already in the bag for Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) and Mo'Nique.
All of which leaves stop motion animation heroes Wallace and Gromit as one of Britain's best hopes of taking home an Oscar. The comedienne, nominated for her debut film role in Lee Daniels' harrowing drama, has dominated awards season for her devastating performance as abusive mother Mary.
Nick Park, nominated in the short animated film category for A Matter Of Loaf And Death, is in line to win his fifth golden statuette. Fellow best supporting actress Anna Kendrick - nominated for her role opposite George Clooney in Up In The Air - agreed it was "Mo'Nique's year".
Asked about his rivals to the best director trophy, Precious' Daniels said: "I hate them all... I'm here to win."
He joked: "I'm stabbing whoever goes up there on that stage."
Britain's best hopes lie with Nick Park, nominated in the short animated film category for the Wallace and Gromit film A Matter Of Loaf And Death. Should he prove successful, it will be his fifth win at the Academy Awards.