04.53: Well, it's all over and before 5am too. Aside from a little lag in the middle, I'd say that was a very good show. Jon Stewart was sharp and slick and didn't take up more time than he needed to. The awards were spread far and wide and almost all went to deserving winners. Marion Cotillard, Diablo Cody and the Once team provided the sweetness and Daniel Day Lewis and the Coens gave us grace. The musical segments didn't all bite and Oscar only briefly gave in to his usually overpowering hankering to turn everything that stood still long enough into a montage. There can't be many film fans who will be upset at the results tonight. Thanks for staying up, if you did. It's now time for the great, good and freeloading of Hollywood to head off for some booze and the rest of us to head to our beds. See you in on March 9 for live blogging of the Sony Ericsson Empire Awards, which are being held at a reasonable hour and where I get to partake of the free bar throughout. Woohooozzzzzzzzz.....
04.51: It's the big'un. Best Picture. No Country For Old Men would seem the most likely, but could there be an upset? It's No Country! The Coen brothers are going to have to get a bigger mantelpiece. Someone keep an eye on Francis McDormand, because she's going to explode. She' actually covering her mouth for apparent fear of screaming.