  Actress Angelina Jolie, right, and Brad Pitt, nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a leading role for his work in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," arrive for the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
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Sun Media’s Marie-Joelle Parent was in the bleachers on the red carpet last night. Here’s how the whole, crazy night unfolded in front of her:
8:26 p.m.: I'm now heading back through security, then back to the hotel. What a rush! What a night!
8:25 p.m.: I have now escaped the bleachers and I myself am on the red carpet, close to the platform where ABC's hosts were -- until they catch me. Now the wind has suddenly picked up! Just now! It's blowing hard out here.
8:22 p.m.: Total silence. The red carpet is done. All the stars are inside now. The place is clearing out, fast.
8:17 p.m.: Robert Downey Jr. didn't stop at the bleachers -- he just ran inside.
8:15 p.m.: Peter Gabriel is dressed like a minister, and says to us that it is strange to be here on red carpet as he always watches Oscars at home on the couch. He says he is working on a new CD.
8:12 p.m.: The dress of Evan Rachel Wood is the exact same colour as her skin -- so pale. Haven't seen anything like it.
8:10 p.m.: Kate Winslet bumped into Penelope Cruz and they walked inside the Kodak Theatre hand-in-hand.
8:08 p.m.: The crowd has been chanting, "SLUMDOG! SLUMDOG!..."
8:05 p.m.: Danny Boyle comes over to answer questions from me. He said he would love to shoot another movie in India.
8:02 p.m.: Heidi Klum and Seal come by. Like last year, she's dressed in red. Alicia Keys is right in front of me and no one seems to notice or care. Mickey Rourke is blowing kisses to the crowd.
8 p.m.: The moment everyone is waiting for -- Brad Pitt and wife Angelina Jolie come by the red carpet. Pitt is talking to mother of Taraji P. Henson, who's up for supporting actress for her role as Pitt's character's mother in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Brad and Angelina seem like they're in a bubble. He's holding her very closely. Both of them are dressed in black. They're the golden couple. The loudest cheers of the night are for them.
7:55 p.m.: Sophia Loren steps on her dress and nearly trips. She laughs it off.
7:52 p.m.: Meryl Streep is surrounded by all the kids from Slumdog Millionaire. They're all hugging her, asking for her autograph. She has tears in her eyes -- and is just as overwhelmed as they are. VERY touching moment.
7:50 p.m.: One of the kid actors in Slumdog Millionaire is talking to James Bond star Daniel Craig, and seemingly can't believe it. Meantime, Philip Seymour Hoffman looks terrible with that tuque on.
7:40 p.m.: Rob Pattinson is making the crowd go nuts! He just passed by giving his killer smile. Anne Hathaway is fixing her hair. I ask Sarah Jessica Parker what she's wearing, and she says kindly, "Dior Haute Couture." Her Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw would definitely love this dress.
7:37 p.m.: Penelope Cruz is standing next to me. Nobody seems to acknoledge. Her sister is with her.
7:35 p.m.: Queen Latifah will sing the classic Broadway song I'll Be Seeing You, she just said on the mic to the crowd.
7:30 p.m.: A slightly shy Sean Penn holds his wife Robin Wright Penn's hand very hard, as he tries to sneak his way in.
7:25 p.m.: Anthony Hopkins looking to in the best shape of his life. Meanwhile, pint-size Natalie Portman is pulling her dress up.
7:20 p.m.: Sara Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick are doing a red carpet together -- that's rare. Meantime, there are so many celebs packed in now, you don't know where to look anymore -- overwhelming. Huge traffic jam.
7:08 p.m.: Mickey Rooney, 88, is walking in verrrry slowly.
7:05 p.m.: A PR person waves a cardboard sign with the names of documentary directors and cast to the reporters in the bleachers, offering interviews. Nobody seems to care.
7 p.m.: The red carpet is completely crowded.
6:45 p.m.: Screams of "ZAAAAAAACCCCC!!!!!" resonate in my ears, as the girls behind me go crazy for High School Musical's Zac Effron.
The kids from Slumdog scream, "THANK YOU" into the mic to the crowd. So touching. It's their first plane trip ever.
Every actress is surrounded by at least 10 people, fixing their dresses at every step.
Zac just winked in my direction and blew a kiss to the fan behind me. She's on her cell phone to her friends, totally ecstatic.
6:30 p.m.: The circus begins. The Slumdog Millionaire cast is on the platform in front of me, all holding hands. Their facial expressions are touching. Freida Pinto is sporting a gorgeous blue gown.
Miley Cyrus has a couture, dazzling Cinderella dress. Her mom is following, holding her purse.
Anthony Hopkins talks on the mic about how he stays in shape.
6:20 p.m.: A choir is singing. The two guardians of the suitcases holding the Oscar-winner ballots pass by, strutting like movie stars, escorted by a body guard.
Wolfgang Puck just handed me his menu for the Governor's Ball: black truffle and ricotta pizza, lobster tail, caviar, 1,200 pounds of Maine lobster, 7,200 shrimp, 15 pounds of edible gold dust! 15 pounds of caviar, 1,200 bottles of Moet et Chandon champagne.
Salma Hayek just arrived on Hollywood Blvd.
6:05 p.m.: Miley Cyrus has entered the arena. More in a moment...
6 p.m.: Danny Glover is the first actor to show up. Says a lot about the status of his career right now, unfortunately...
5:45 p.m.: Just to tease us even more, Wolfgang Puck tells the crowd the menu for tonight Governor’s Ball. Lobster salad starts it off. He will cook for 1,600 people
The two only guys who know the winners tonight (from Pricewaterhouse Coopers) just walked by.
There are now helicopters EVERYWHERE up above.
5:40 p.m.: The cheerleader asks the crowd what everyone’s favourite movie is. Slumdog Millionaire gets the biggest cheer.
5:35 p.m.: You really feel like this little block of Hollywood Blvd. is the centre of the universe. The Goodyear blimp is now circling overhead.
5:15 p.m.: Here comes famous chef Wolfgang Puck with his crew. He's showing off his big chocolate Oscar replica to the photogs. He looks proud!
Very weird: The seat-filler fans behind me are not allowed to talk to reporters, nor will they say how the got their tickets. "It's confidential," answers the seat-filler coordinator.
5:10 p.m.: Here comes famous fashion guru Cojo, ready to criticize the gowns for ET. His outfit is quite interesting itself: glittery black suit, big bow, beaded necklace.Not necessarily a winner!
5:05 p.m.: Here comes Mary Hart sporting a flower dress. Fans behind me are screaming, "Mary, you are gorgeous!" She waves, wearing a big smile.
5 p.m.: I'm seated in the bleachers along the red carpet, right next to the entrance to the theatre. How tight is security here? You have to go through three metal detectors to enter the red-carpet area. You don't mess with them.
The fans in the bleachers (mixed with media) are already screaming, even though there's no celebrity is in sight yet. A cheerleader urges the crowd repeat its best scream. Yes, even that is calculated!
Television crews are everywhere. E! Channel has 20 cameras on the red carpet by itself. The TV crews are all dressed in black. They're on one side of the red carpet, with fans on the other. A-list and nominees are the only ones who'll be walking in front of the photographers. Other guests will pass behind.
So far the sky is grey but no rain, let's cross our fingers. They have removed the big tent they set up earlier in the week.
The red carpet is surrounded by yellow lilies and red roses. Helicopters are circling overhead.
