Hollywood is gearing up for tonight's Academy Awards with a glittering night predicted for The Return of the King.
The third and final Lord of the Rings film is all but certain to take home the best picture Oscar.
Peter Jackson is favourite to win best director for his work in bringing the Tolkien trilogy to the big screen.
Some industry insiders are tipping Peter Weir, director of seafaring epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, to pull of a surprise victory.
Hardest-fought category at the ceremony in Los Angeles will be best actor.
It is too close to call between Bill Murray, for his role in Lost In Translation, and Sean Penn, for his performance in Mystic River.
A split vote may leave the way open for Johnny Depp, whose OTT turn in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl earned him an unexpected best actor prize at last week's Screen Actors Guild awards.
Charlize Theron is favourite to scoop best actress for her critically-acclaimed performance in Monster.
But if 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes wins the award, it will be the story of the night.
The schoolgirl is the star of New Zealand film Whale Rider and is the youngest actress nominated for the award. This was her first ever acting role.
Renee Zellweger is favourite to win best supporting actress for Cold Mountain and Tim Robbins is tipped to win best supporting actor for Mystic River.