America's favourite go-to awards MC, Neil Patrick Harris (pictured, below) will usher in the 87th annual Academy Awards in a matter of moments. From the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue, the 2015 Oscars have weathered their fair share of controversy, but all that counts for for little more than monologue fodder come the big night. As the celebration unfolds, SCREEN-SPACE will be live-blogging all the evening's key moments as they happen - every award, every presenter, all the spontaneous craziness that comes when tense celebrities meet free booze. Bookmark and refresh the page for all the latest Oscar moments...
LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES' DOLBY THEATRE, THE 87TH ACADEMY AWARDS...
An uncharacteristically rainy LA welcomes the celebs. Red carpet chit-chat turns from the tension of the evening to how the downpour will affect the hair and dresses.
Harris' strengths as a showman launch into an ol'-fashioned song-and-dance number about the magic of cinema. He 'Crystals' things up by putting himself in the frame with classic film scenes of yore.
Anna Kendrick and Jack Black weigh in with some self-deprecating humour, that actually works. Then some dancing storm-troopers...wait, what?
Solid opening that gets the show of to a high-gloss, upbeat start. Uh-oh, now he's talking...
First presenter, Lupita Nyong'o, introduces the nominees for Best Supporting Actor.
WINNER: JK SIMMONS, WHIPLASH
As expected, journeyman actor JK Simmons (pictured, below right) proves a popular choice for Whiplash. Co-star Miles Teller is clearly happy for on-screen tormentor. Wife Michelle leads the thank yous, followed by his kids,followed bya plea to "call your parents." Nice touch. No industry acknowledgements in speech! Is that a first?
Silly diversion about Price Waterhouse Cooper and NPH's predictions. Move on.
Liam Neeson introduces the Best Pic nominee clips, for The Grand Budapest Hotel and American Sniper respectively. Full black tux-&-tie ensemble very dashing.
Dakota Johnson introduces 'Lost Stars,' Best Song nominee from Begin Again, performed by Maroon 5, fronted by the music-biz pic co-star, Adam Levine. Tight set.
Show yet to spark. Slick but lacking...
The actress from Anaconda and Captain Kirk step up for Best Costume Design announcement.
WINNER: MILENA CANONERO, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Presenter Reese Witherspoon weathers an awful pun and condescending hillbilly play-on to present Best Makeup & Hairstyling.
WINNER: MARK COULIER and FRANCES HANNON, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Coulier honours the late Dick Smith, revered makeup artist, in his speech.
Channing Tatum steps up to introduce winners of the Team Oscar search, young filmmakers whose 60 second films were chosen from hundreds of entrants.
NPH has a Travolta moment introducing Chiwetel Ejiofor who, with Nicole Kidman, present the Foreign Film nominees.
WINNER: IDA (Poland).
First Oscar trophy for Polish film industry from 10 nominations. Director Pawel Palikowska (pictured, below) blows off orchestra play-off to deliver first memorable moment of the night, thanking all his drunk Polish friends and honouring his deceased wife and parents.
Shirley Maclaine struggles a bit talking up next three Best Picture nominees, Boyhood, Birdman and The Theory of Everything.
The old 'crowd-walk' bit is saved by Steve Carrell's quick wit.
Marion Cotillard who, we are reminded by some twee play-on music, is French, introduces the next Best Song nominee, The Lego Movie anthem Everyting is Awesome. Andy Samberg and co mash-up song-styles to garish, gaudy excess. This is more like it!
Kerry Washington and 'the most well-adjusted former child star in the room', Jason Bateman, present Live Action Short Film contenders.
WINNER: THE PHONE CALL, Matt Kirby and James Lucas.
...and straight into Best Documentary Short.
WINNER: CRISIS HOTLINE VETERANS PRESS 1.
Viola Davis introduces the recipients of the 2015 Governor's Awards, presented prior to the ceremony. They were Maureen O'Hara, Hayao Miyazaki, Jean-Claude Carriere and Harry Belafonte.
Another crowd-walk, in which David Oyelowo is put on the spot. Ouch.
Gwyneth Paltrow introduces Tim McGraw, who gives moving rendition of Best Song nominee, I'm Not Gonna Miss You. The nominated artist, the great Glen Campbell, in the grips of late-stage Atlzheimers, is in the audience.
NPH, perhaps realising the show is a bit staid, drops trousers for Birdman bit before introducing Margot Robbie and Miles Teller, who present clip package of AMPAS Technical Awards evening. Looked like fun.
Star eye-candy continues with Chris Evans and Sienna Miller onstage for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing categories. First, the Mixers...
WINNER: WHIPLASH, Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, and Thomas Curley.
..then, the Editors...
WINNER: AMERICAN SNIPER, Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman.
Winners know where their bread is buttered, and thank Mr Eastwood first off.
A freshly clothed NPH introduces Jared Leto in silver-blue tux (yikes), who wins points for Meryl Streep gag (Her nomination is a condition of a California State Law, apparently). The Oscar goes to...
WINNER: PATRICIA ARQUETTE, BOYHOOD.
Arquette rips into a speech certain to cause much post-ceremony commentary, as she demands wage equality across the US for women and justice for the hard-working middle-class moms, such as her character in Boyhood. Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lopez and co-star Ethan Hawke rise to scream support. A powerful moment.
Best Song nominee Grateful, word and lyrics by Dianne Warren, from Beyond the Lights, stakes a solid claim for the trophy with a soaring rendition by Rita Ora.
Ansell Elgort and Chloe Grace Moretz front for Visual Effects category.
WINNER: INTERSTELLAR, Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher.
Kevin Hart and Anna Kendrick do some 'short person' schtick ahead of Best Animated Short announcement.
WINNER: FEAST, Patrick Osborne and Christina Reid.
Zoe Saldana and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnstone pony up for Animated Feature award; NPH says what everyones thinking, "Where's The Lego Movie?"
WINNER: BIG HERO 6, Don Hall, Chris Williams, and Roy Conli.
AMPAS president Sheryl Boone-Isaacs speaks loud and proud for freedom of creative speech and expression. "We honour the courage of filmmakers who cross borders and expand boundaries," she says.
New Hollywood gets a look in with 2014's breakout stars Chris Pratt and Felicity Jones, who step up for Best Production Design announcement.
WINNER: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock.
Some one needs to stop Adam Levine's gf from being on-camera...
Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain present Best Cinematography award. This will be telling. Another Budapest trophy could put a stop to Birdman's night...
WINNER: Emmanuel Lubezki, BIRDMAN.
Meryl Streep (pictured, below right) introduces the much-loved In Memoriam montage. She is clearly moved...
Mickey Rooney, Paul Mazursky lead the artfully rendered presentation. HR Giger, Anita Ekberg, Louis Jourdan, Gordon Willis, Richard Attenborough, Ruby Dee. A young Robin Williams...
Jennifer Hudson sings a tribute to the many we've lost. Not necessary, given the emotion of the montage, but fitting.
Naomi Watts and Benedict Cumberbatch remind us just how white the night is. They present the Best Editor honour to...
WINNER: Tom Cross, WHIPLASH.
Is the playing field changing re the Best Picture race? Whiplash and The Grand Budapest Hotel are building unexpected momentum. We'll see...
Terence Howard stumbles awkwardly (autocue problems; banging the mic stand) while announcing the remaining Best Picture nominees, Whiplash, Selma and The Imitation Game.
Best Documentary Feature category give David Oyelowo and Jennifer Aniston the stage time they deserved. And the Oscar goes to...
WINNER: CITIZENFOUR, Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, and Dirk Wilutzky.
Not for the first time tonight, NPH undercuts a serious moment with a stupid joke. After CitizenFour director Laura Poitras gives a poignant speech, the host smugly guffaws, "Edward Snowden couldn't be her tonight, for some treason." Geddit? Terrible. Is he ad-libbing?
Octavia Spencer intoduces John Legend and Common (pictured, left) to sing the Best Song nominee, Glory, one of only two categories in which Selma features. Rousing, heartfelt rendition; crowd rises for prolonged SO.
John Travolta and Idina Menzel get big laughs reliving last years 'Adele Dazeem' moment. John's a bit touchy-feely! They have the honour of awarding the Best Song to...
WINNER: 'GLORY' from SELMA, Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn.
Common rips into the night's best speech, uniting the world through the fight against injustice in countries everywhere. John Legend backs it up with his own impassioned words.
Scarlett Johansson, elaborately attired, fronts for what seems to be a tribute to The Sound of Music 50th anniversary. And they say the Academy is an anchronistic institute for old white people!
The job falls to Lady Gaga to make it relevant. This show DOES NOT need a Sound of Music medley tribute right now... In fairness, Gaga nailed it. 'The incomparable' Julie Andrews materialises and recalls the impact of the film. Seems the production number was a primer for the Best Original Score category (wasn't The Sound of Music based upon a stage production?).
WINNER: Alexandre Desplat, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.
Great funnyman Eddie Murphy kicks off the Screenplay categories with Original work nominees.
WINNER: BIRDMAN, Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo
Alejandro takes centre stage, likely aware Linklater has firmed as favourite for the Director award.
Oprah Winfrey glides onstage, to deliver Adapted Screenplay trophy.
WINNER: THE IMITATION GAME, Written by Graham Moore.
Moore uses the platform to encourage tolerance, truth and self-belief, opening up about his teen suicide attempt.
Shrugging off NPH's vaguely racist intro, Ben Affleck steps up for Best Director announcement.
WINNER: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, BIRDMAN
Genuine cries of shock as Iñárritu pips Linklater at the post. The Mexican is humbled before his peers, acknowledging the fellow nominees. Linklater's expression is one of "Oh, well..." SCREEN-SPACE has been open about its ambivalence to Boyhood, but it is a shame that Linklater may go home empty-handed.
Cate Blanchett primes the crowd for the Best Actor award. Keaton, Redmayne or Cooper in a shock..?
WINNER: Eddie Redmayne, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING.
Suddenly, I want to watch Tropic Thunder.
Matthew McConnaughey steps up to reveal Best Actress winner. Getting the feeling it will be the Year of the Afflicted in the lead acting categories...
WINNER: Julianne Moore, STILL ALICE.
Deserving and popular choice.
NPH returns to a running gag about his predictions, locked in box the whole show. It seemed silly four hours ago; now, with the big award pending and everyone's arse numb... well. Turns out its a bit, that doesn't really make sense. Best forgotten.
Sean Penn to announce the Best Picture. Can Boyhood salvage something...?
WINNER: BIRDMAN, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers.
Cast and crew take the stage, each making sure Michael Keaton gets some moment in the spotlight. Given the mike, he says, "Look, it's great to be here, who am I kidding. This is great fun."
