Welcome to AFP's live report on the 2010 Oscars. A crush of stars in all their finery are beginning to descend on Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre for the movie industry’s biggest night out.

This year's Oscars countdown has seen some unexpected gloves-off drama with one nominee even banned for illegal campaigning. But will the ceremony, now in its 82nd year, prove as exciting?

With the acting categories considered done deals (though I'm still hoping for some upsets), attention has focused on the David-and-Goliath battle between ex-spouses Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron and their vastly divergent films.

Despite the expanded best picture category -- from five to 10 nominees -- Cameron's 3D sci-fi behemoth "Avatar", the biggest grossing film of all time, and Bigelow's low-budget, little-watched but critically adored Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" are seen as the major contenders for the Academy's top prize.

The exes are also vying for best director: Bigelow would be the first woman to win. Cameron could deliver the first Oscars acceptance speech in Na'vi.

Organisers are hoping the suspense -- plus the unusual fact TV audiences may actually have seen some of the nominated films -- could provide a ratings boost not seen since, well, Cameron's other top grossing epic, "Titanic", swept the board in 1998.

For many, though, the night is more about gowns than gongs, the fashion hits and the stars who'll be sacking their stylists come Monday morning. So let's kick things off by seeing who's winning on the red carpet...

3:18pm in Los Angeles: As if on cue, the heavens open and torrential rain begins hammering on the plastic roof covering the red carpet as the first limos start to unload their charges. The stars are going to get wet, my AFP colleague Philippa Leach reports, as there is a 10-foot uncovered gap at the the entrance to the theatre...

3:23pm in Los Angeles: Actor Zac Efron, sporting an extravagantly gelled quiff, and actor Sam Worthington are two of the early arrivals. Efron, one of the night's presenters recruited to attract younger viewers, congratulates Worthington, star of "Avatar", and says he has seen the 3D epic four times.

But the former "High School Musical" star won't be drawn on whether "The Hurt Locker" or "Avatar" will win best picture. "I don't know... it's really tough to choose," he tells E!'s Ryan Seacrest. Worthington meanwhile says he has put on his "monkey suit" for the night and is seeking work. "I just need another job," the actor says.

3:36pm in Los Angeles: Anna Kendrick, best supporting actress nominee for "Up in the Air", has arrived resplendent in a pink -- I think -- gown that she chose at the last minute after rejecting a dark blue number by a designer "who will remain nameless", she tells Seacrest.

Mo'Nique, her rival for the Oscar, is right behind her in blue. The "Precious" star is considered a lock for the award after winning a ton of previous prizes for the role. How does that feel, she's asked. "I'm honoured for what the whole process of this fantasy land is," she replies. "I'm hoping the message of this movie changes lives."

3:45pm in Los Angeles: LA's omnipresent mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, arriving on the red carpet, doesn't have any doubts over who will win best picture -- "Avatar" is the best movie of the year, he declares, as he stands next to its star Zoe Saldana.

Vera Farmiga, another best supporting actress nominee, goes unrecognised by taxi drivers, she reveals. She's also not shy about who she's backing in the best director race. Bigelow has her vote, she says quickly, before realising -- whoah, what about Jason Reitman, the director of the film she stars in, "Up in the Air"? She clutches her head. "I just mis-stepped." Whoops.

3:51pm in Los Angeles: Actor Ryan Reynolds reveals he is rooting for Sandra Bullock, the best actress favourite and his co-star from last year's "The Proposal".

"I just think Sandy winning is a fantastic story," the towering actor tells Seacrest, echoing what nearly every pundit has been saying for weeks. "It feels like your best buddy just got drafted to the NBA." Let's hope Seacrest is as close a friend of Bullock's -- he just described her as a "chick that's half like a dude."

4:02pm in Los Angeles: Two best director contenders are side by side on the red carpet, Jason Reitman and James Cameron. Reitman, one of the youngest best director nominees, has been popping the Ambien and playing Xbox in readiness, he reveals. He's also envious of Cameron's wardrobe savvy - the "Avatar" director sports a pocket square in a blue matching the dress of his wife, Suzy Amis. He describes it as a "little Na'vi blue," a pun on the fictional language in the sci-fi blockbuster.

Cameron and Amis are asked yet again about the rivalry with his ex-wife, Kathryn Bigelow, but refuse to enter into the media-spun "narrative". Both "could not be more proud" of what Kathryn's achieved, they reply. Bigelow gave Cameron notes on "Avatar" during production, the director explains, while he told his ex after reading "The Hurt Locker" script that she should make it right away, describing it as a "no brainer".

4:15pm in Los Angeles: Actress Sandra Bullock -- who everyone is suddenly calling Sandy -- looks a little like an Oscar statue herself in a vintage, shimmery gold number. She seems overwhelmed if not a little annoyed by the fact the entire world is convinced she's going to scoop best actress for her performance in footballing hit "The Blind Side".

"I'm so not" (going to win) the 45-year-old star tells Seacrest. Her main concern is not tripping over. "I just don't want these heels to pull this body down," she says.

4:28pm in Los Angeles: How old is tween star Miley Cyrus these days? Seems like just the other day people were fretting over how she was dressing too old for these awards dos. But no one seems alarmed at the strapless gold bodice she's donned for her second Oscars presenting gig.

This time she's brought her mother, not her dad Billy Ray Cyrus, to the ceremony. Miley's mum is also exposing quite a bit of back. She turns to show off her tattoos as the pair pose together. Is this possibly a bad example to set? Seacrest asks Cyrus. "No, it's good," Miley replies. "She has nice choices in tattoos."

4:40pm in Los Angeles: Kathryn Bigelow is on the red carpet. Despite a 30-year career, she's attending her first-ever Oscars as only the fourth woman to be nominated for best director. And she's favourite to win, which would see her make history as the first woman to get the award.

But does she seem ruffled? Not a bit, as she towers over Ryan Seacrest. She's also staying on message when it comes to the question about the rivalry with Cameron. "I'm just so honoured to be in the same competition with him," the 58-year-old says. "It's humbling."

4:44pm in Los Angeles: Actress Sigourney Weaver may star in the world's most technologically-advanced movie but she's not embracing all aspects of the modern digital world -- yet. After the Oscars, however, the 60-year-old star plans to start Tweeting, she tells my colleague Philippa Leach on the red carpet. "I'll send my first tweet after the show," she says.

4:52pm in Los Angeles: It doesn't seem anything can stop Jeff Bridges from winning the best actor Oscar tonight -- even rival nominee George Clooney says he voted for the 60-year-old "Crazy Heart" star.

Meanwhile, Meryl Streep jokingly chides Seacrest for gushing about Sandra Bullock's chances of winning the best actress Oscar, which Streep is also in the running for. "You were cheerleading a little," the 16-time nominated star says. "But that's all right. I'm in love with her, as is all of America."

It doesn't seem anything can stop Bullock from winning.

4:57 pm in Los Angeles: Quote of the night so far -- from best actress nominee and "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe. Glowing in a Grecian style, off-the-shoulder blue dress, she poses with hands on hips and pronounces: "If fashion was porn, this dress is the money shot and you know it."

The newcomer gushes excitedly about her newfound fame but her unaffected sass is a breath of fresh air. "I'm a normal person in a fantasy world," she says.

5:23pm in Los Angeles: Jennifer Lopez has got the fashion pundits aflutter in a structured sparkly gown that looks more like an art installation with its stiff wave of fabric emanating from the bust. If anyone can pull off such a number though, it's Lopez.

She's also got a different opinion from most on which film will win best picture. "I really loved 'Precious'," she says.

5:34pm in Los Angeles: So, here we go.. the show is about to begin. This year's producers, who have subjected the ageing ceremony to yet another revamp, have promised "the greatest Oscar opening ever".

Phrases like "Idol-esque" have been mentioned and performers from reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" are reportedly taking part. It's been enough to worry some veteran Oscar watchers....

5:46pm in Los Angeles: And what do they offer us? Neil Patrick Harris, in a sparkly jacket, surrounded by dancers in ostrich feathers running about the stage -- and audience, it seems. He asks, or sings, the question we're all asking: "I know, what am I doing here?" It's mercifully brief -- he introduces presenters Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin before the duo descend from ceiling holding hands and skip down the stairs.

5:50pm in Los Angeles: And the first winner of the night is Christoph Waltz, named best supporting actor for "Inglourious Basterds". The 53-year-old Austrian's win is no surprise -- he's trounced the competition throughout the awards season. He beats Matt Damon, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer and Stanley Tucci to win his first Oscar.

Waltz's acceptance is eloquent and brief; he thanks director Quentin Tarantino for his "unorthodox methods", likening him to a "fearless explorer (who) took this ship across and brought it in with flying colours. There's no way I can ever thank you enough, but I can start right now."

6:00pm in Los Angeles: "Up" wins best animated feature, the second Oscar of the night.

"Never did I dream making a flip book out of my third grade math book would lead to this," says creator Pete Docter, accepting his Oscar.

6:05pm in Los Angeles: Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett win the best original song Oscar for "The Weary Kind" from the movie "Crazy Heart".

6:12pm in Los Angeles: Martin and Baldwin's opening is pretty entertaining and, as predicted, they seem at ease sharing the presenting load. They have fun singling out nominees and gently ribbing them.

Meryl Streep has not only the most Oscar nominations as an actress, but "the most losses, as I like to call it," Martin quips. And they earn a laugh when they pull on 3D glasses to address "Avatar" director James Cameron. "That cut-away of James Cameron already earned $3 million," Martin says. They also get some mileage from the "amazing fact" that Cameron was married to best director rival Kathryn Bigelow. "She was so pleased to be nominated she sent him a beautiful gift basket -- with a timer," Martin says. "And he reciprocated by sending her a Toyota," Baldwin adds.

6:13pm in Los Angeles: Three down, 21 to go. Best original screenplay is next. Will it be "The Hurt Locker"??

6:17pm in Los Angeles: Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr present the winner -- and it is Mark Boal, for "The Hurt Locker". The nine- time nominated film gets its first Oscar of the night. It beats "The Messenger", "A Serious Man", "Up" and "Inglourious Basterds".

Boal, a journalist whose Iraq war reporting inspired him to write "The Hurt Locker", thanks "one extraordinary individual and visionary filmmaker", Kathryn Bigelow, and dedicates his award to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

6:28pm: Actors Molly Ringwald and Matthew Broderick present a tribute to the late John Hughes. Broderick says he has the iconic 1980s director to thank for the fact every day someone taps him on the shoulder and says, "Hey Ferris, is this your day off?" .

There's a montage of clips from some of Hughes' most famous films before fellow Hughes graduates -- including Macaulay Culkin, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy -- join the tribute on stage. Some have aged better than others...

6:33pm in Los Angeles: "Logorama" wins the best animated short film Oscar. It beats Nick Park's "A Matter of Loaf and Death".

6:37pm in Los Angeles: "Music By Prudence" wins best documentary short, beating "China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province", "The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner", "The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant" and "Rabbit a la Berlin".

Winners Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett get carried away with their thank-yous and have to be faded out.

6:39pm in Los Angeles: "The New Tenants" wins best short live action film. It beats "The Door", "Instead of Abracadabra", "Kavi" and "Miracle Fish".

6:44pm in Los Angeles: Actor Ben Stiller, made up like a blue-skinned character from "Avatar" and mumbling nonsense (or is it Na'vi?) gets some laughs as he introduces the best make up nominees.

"The ironic thing is that 'Avatar' isn't even nominated," he says, before flashing his scary amber-coloured contacts at Cameron. "After I announce the winner I shall try to stand as far away from them as possible so as not to demean their moment of triumph," Stiller says, as his blue 'tail' thrashes about behind him.

"Star Trek" wins!

6:47pm in Los Angeles: Honorary Oscars are given to Lauren Bacall and Roger Corman, who get a standing ovation.

6:53pm in Los Angeles: "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" wins best adapted screenplay. It beats "Up in the Air", which many thought would win, "District 9", and British entries "An Education" and "In the Loop".

It's the first Oscar of the night for the film, which has six nominations. Accepting the prize, Geoffrey Fletcher is emotional and lost for words. "I'm drawing a blank right now" he says. "I thank... everyone."

"I wrote that speech for him," Steve Martin immediately claims.

7:00pm: No surprises here - Mo'Nique, the 42-year-old stand-up comedian and actress, wins best supporting actress for her riveting, much decorated portrayal of an abusive mother in "Precious". She beats Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Penelope Cruz.

In an emotional speech, she thanks the both Academy "for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics, and her husband.

"To my amazing husband, Sidney -- thank you for showing me that sometimes you have to forego doing what's popular, in order to do what's right," the comedian added.

7:08pm in Los Angeles: "Avatar" gets its first Oscar of the night -- it wins the art direction award.

7:13pm in Los Angeles: Alec and Steve are back. Martin welcomes, "Two world renowned clothes whores," before his partner corrects -- 'horses'.

"He directed 'A Single Man' and she weighs a single pound," Martin says, as Tom Ford and Sarah Jessica Parker take the stage. "The Young Victoria" takes the Oscar for best costume design -- it's the third Academy Award for Sandy Powell.

7:24pm in Los Angeles: Twilighters Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart are on stage to introduce a medley of horror films, a tribute to the genre. Quentin Tarantino claps enthusiastically after the gore-drenched montage.

7:30pm in Los Angeles: "The Hurt Locker" is beating "Avatar" in the technical categories, picking up Oscars for best sound editing and sound mixing! That's three Oscars for Kathryn Bigelow's film to one so far for "Avatar"...

7:39pm in Los Angeles: A sparkly Sandra Bullock is on stage to present the cinematography Oscar. And it goes to... "Avatar".

7:47pm in Los Angeles: Actress Demi Moore introduces a tribute to stars who have passed away during the past year including Michael Jackson, Natasha Richardson and Brittany Murphy, as James Taylor sings The Beatles song "In My Life".

7:55pm in Los Angeles: Ooh, things have turned musical again as Jennifer Lopez and Sam Worthington introduce the nominees for best original score.

The League of Extraordinary Dancers takes the stage, performing to a clip from each of the films. There's lots of breakdancing and athletic leaping, twirling and some pretty impressive head-spinning that looks refreshingly out of place at an Oscars ceremony. And "Up " wins!

Accepting his best original score Oscar, composer Michael Giacchino sends a rousing message to budding young artists: "Get out and do it," he cries. "It's not a waste of time!"

7:58pm in Los Angeles: "Avatar" gets another Oscar, for visual effects, its third of the night. That's three all so far for Cameron and Bigelow.

8:09pm in Los Angeles: Matt Damon's on stage presenting the best documentary feature. And the winner is "The Cove", as expected.

The documentary about the killing of dolphins at a national park in Japan beats "Burma VJ", "Food, Inc.", "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers" and "Which Way Home".

The winners attempt to unfurl a banner on stage that seems to have instructions about a texting campaign but the camera pans away before they can do it.

8:12pm in Los Angeles: "The Hurt Locker" gets another Oscar -- for film editing. That's four for Bigelow's Iraq war film.

8:23pm in Los Angeles: Quentin Tarantino and Pedro Almodovar present the best foreign language film Oscar and it's the night's first upset! It goes to Argentina's "El Secreto de Sus Ojos", beating "The White Ribbon", considered the favourite along with "A Prophet", as well as "Ajami" and "The Milk of Sorrow".

8:28pm in Los Angeles: ABC is trying to keep the suspense bubbling with voiceovers asking: "Is a surprise in store?" in the best film category. It seems unlikely, given how the night is going so far. Best actor up next... can it be anyone other than Bridges?

8:33pm: Five actors are on stage introducing the best actor nominees. Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred with Jeff Bridges in the "Fabulous Baker Boys", gives a warm tribute to her former co-star that causes him to tear up.

Vera Farmiga pours praise on George Clooney; Julianne Moore raves about "the magnificent Colin Firth"; Tim Robbins, who starred with Morgan Freeman in "The Shawshank Redemption", recalls a conversation they had about friendship: "Being a friend is getting the other a cup of coffee, can you do that for me, Ted? It is, Ted, isn't it?.." Robbins jokes, before lauding his former co-star. "I'm always proud to call you my friend -- when you take the call." Morgan looks like he's tearing up too. Colin Farrell recalls starring with Jeremy Renner in "SWAT" and sharing a bed with him, though it was only "spooning". He calls the nomination "so well deserved".

8:34pm in Los Angeles: And it's Jeff Bridges. He gets a standing ovation and whoops and cries as he hoists his trophy aloft.

8:40pm in Los Angeles: It's the win everyone wanted and the auditorium is filled with smiles and cheers. The 60-year-old star, winning his first Oscar after five nominations (Bridges, best known to many as The Dude from "The Big Lebowski", was first nominated in 1971), thanks his mother and father for turning him on to "such a groovy profession... my mom and dad loved showbiz so much."

He gives shout-outs to co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal, T Bone Burnett and his wife, who also has tears in her eyes. Next up is best actress.

8:49pm in Los Angeles: Now five actors are honouring the actresses in the running for the best actress Oscar. Forest Whitaker praises Sandra Bullock while Michael Sheen, who co-starred with Helen Mirren in "The Queen", asks, "Is it wrong to be so wildly attracted to a queen?"

Peter Sarsgaard raves about Carey Mulligan. Oprah Winfrey describes how Gabourey Sidibe skipped school to audition for "Precious". "I tell you, if that isn't a Hollywood fairytale, what is?" the talk show host says, as tears pour down Sidibe's face. Stanley Tucci says of Meryl Streep that she "is quite simply the best".

8:51pm in Los Angeles: And yes, it's Sandra Bullock!

8:55pm in Los Angeles: It's another award everyone seems pleased to see and Bullock is allowed a long, tear-filled acceptance. "Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down?" the 45-year-old star says of her first Oscar win.

She thanks her fellow nominees, singling out each one for praise and warmth, especially Meryl Streep who she kissed at the Critics Choice Award after sharing the best actress honour ("Meryl, you are such a good kisser"). Her Oscar is for "these extraordinary women, and my love, Meryl Streep," Bullock ends.

8:58pm: And Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first woman to win the best directing Oscar!

Bigelow, 58, beats her ex-husband James Cameron, Jason Reitman, Lee Daniels and Quentin Tarantino. "This is the moment of a lifetime," she says. The director dedicates it to "the men and women of the military who risk their lives on a daily basis".

9:01pm in Los Angeles: Whoah, Bigelow is barely backstage when Tom Hanks announces the best picture winner -- it's "The Hurt Locker" again!

9:13pm in Los Angeles: They must have been about to pull the plug on the telecast, which has lasted more than three hours as Tom Hanks didn't even read out the nominees for the night's top prize. It all feels desperately rushed after the epic build-up.

Weighed down by an Oscar in each hand, a breathless Bigelow takes the stage again to join her fellow "Hurt Locker" producers, minus Nicolas Chartier, who was barred from the ceremony for dissing rival "Avatar" in a campaigning email. But he gets a shout-out from the stage from his colleagues. Bigelow is open-mouthed and seems to struggle for words as she reiterates her dedication to "the men and women all over the world... who wear a uniform."

Luckily Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin are on hand to rescue her -- and us. They attempt to relieve her of her hardware. "I'll take one of those," Martin says, as the presenters joke about the lengthy telecast. "The show is so long that 'Avatar' now takes part in the past," Martin says.

9:40pm in Los Angeles: And it's over. As many predicted, the night belonged to "The Hurt Locker". The little-seen, modestly budgeted Iraq war drama scooped six Oscars, including best picture and director. It's probably the lowest-grossing best picture winner in Academy history while Bigelow becomes the first woman to take home the directing Oscar.

It seems in keeping with usual Academy logic -- rewarding the favourites whatever the movie-going public thinks -- while all those expert Oscars watchers were right when they said a sci-fi film couldn't win best picture, even if it is the biggest film of all time. Besides, "Avatar" hardly needed the box office boost. And Jim Cameron already has plenty of those gold men at home.

Expect lots of 'Bigelow triumphs in battle of the exes' headlines tomorrow as well as news on whether the telecast did actually experience a ratings boost, despite the lack of surprises.

Thanks for joining us, good night!