The 80th Academy Awards got underway here on Sunday with violent thriller 'No Country For Old Men' scooping an early best supporting Oscar for Spanish star Javier Bardem.
Bardem became the first performer from Spain ever to win an acting Oscar for his portrayal of a psychopathic hitman in Joel and Ethan Coen's dark film, which is the heavy favorite to take the best picture prize later Sunday.
"This is pretty amazing, it's a great honor for me to have this," Bardem told guests in his acceptance speech. "Thank you to the Coens for being crazy enough to think that I could do that and put one of the most horrible haircuts in history on my head," he added, referring to the bizarre coiffure given to his character in the film.
In other early awards, Disney-Pixar's "Ratatouille", about a Parisian rat who attempts to become a master-chef, won the best animated feature Oscar.
Earlier, dark clouds and rain failed to put a dampener on the movie industry's biggest party of the year as stars descended on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony at the Kodak Theatre.
Streets around the venue were cordoned off as authorities draped a security blanket over the neighborhood where guests arrived on a red carpet that has been shielded by a waterproof canopy.
Among the first stars to arrive was Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney, accompanied by girlfriend Sarah Larson, nominated in the best actor category for his role in the legal thriller "Michael Clayton."
"It's a fun one this year, because it's a film we're all really proud of. So it's easy to be here," Clooney said.
The Oscars are expected to be carved up between several violent movies, with the eight-times nominated "No Country for Old Men" heading the field and its directors, the Coen brothers, eyeing a place in history.
Oscar host Jon Stewart quipped about the crop of "Oscar-nominated psychopathic killer movies" in his opening monologue.
"Does this town need a hug? What happened? 'No Country For Old Men?' 'Sweeney Todd?' 'There Will Be Blood?' All I can say is, thank God for teen pregnancy. I think the country agrees," Stewart said in a nod to best picture nominee "Juno."
The Coens could set a new record if they sweep all four categories they have been personally nominated in -- best picture as producers, director, adapted screenplay and editing.
It would be the first time ever that anyone has won four Academy Awards for the same film in one year, although Walt Disney scooped four Oscars for different projects in 1953.
On paper, "No Country for Old Men's" biggest rival is the eight-time nominated oil industry epic "There Will Be Blood," which is joined in the best picture category by legal thriller "Michael Clayton," historical drama "Atonement" and comedy "Juno."
But after scoring a sweep of the movie industry's professional awards -- seen as key Oscar indicators -- "No Country for Old Men" looks unstoppable.
Pundits say the expected success of "No Country for Old Men" indicates the willingness of the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Science's 5,829 voters to reward quality film-making regardless of the level of violence.
Beyond the contests for best picture and best director clear front-runners have emerged in most of the acting categories.
Daniel Day-Lewis is regarded as a shoo-in to win the second best actor statuette of his career for playing an oil baron in "There Will Be Blood," ahead of Clooney and Tommy Lee Jones for "In the Valley of Elah."
The best actress award is expected to be a straight fight between British veteran Julie Christie, who plays a woman grappling with Alzheimer's in "Away from Her," and France's Marion Cotillard, nominated for her startling portrayal of tragic chanteuse Edith Piaf in "La Vie En Rose."
This year's Oscars are taking place after months of uncertainty following the Hollywood screenwriters strike that wreaked havoc with the entertainment industry's awards season.
The Golden Globes were canceled after stars vowed to boycott the event in support of striking writers and fears of a similar no-show had plagued the Oscars until the strike was called off earlier this month.