A?gracious Scorsese received a warm standing ovation for his best director award, his first win in six attempts. He even jestingly asked presenters Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas to "double-check the envelope."
"I'm so moved. So many people have been wishing this for me - strangers even. I?go into doctors' offices, elevators and they tell me, 'You should win one!?You should win one!'" said Scorsese. "To them I?say thank you. Friends of mine that are here tonight and over the years and my family, thank you. This is for you."
Scorsese, who lost in previous years for such classic films as "Taxi Driver,"?"Raging Bull"?and "Goodfellas,"?was considered the odds-on favorite to win.
So was Helen Mirren, who won the best actress award for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen."?Mirren's win came as no surprise: The British-born actress won nearly every major award given out this year, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA, as well as being named as the best actress by 20 national film societies around the country.
Forest Whitaker, another pre-show favorite, prevailed in the best actor category with his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland." He faced some last-minute competition by 74-year-old actor Peter O'Toole, playing a lascivious old actor who courts a younger woman in "Venus."
"My wife was saying, 'Whatever happens, happens.' And I told her, will you stop it with the whatever happens stuff!"?Whitaker told an E!?Television reporter after the show.
O'Toole's loss made him 0-for-9 in Oscar attempts:?A?bad scorecard but certainly not the worst. The record-holder for Oscar futility, sound engineer Kevin O'Connell, extended his losing streak Sunday night to 19 nominations without a win. O'Connell, along with two other colleagues, were nominated in the sound mixing category for their work on Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto,"?but lost to another trio of engineers from "Dreamgirls."
Also winning for "Dreamgirls" was Jennifer Hudson, who took home a best supporting actress trophy for her scene-stealing performance as Effie White. Hudson, who chose to celebrate her nomination last week at the Progressive Baptist Church in her hometown of Chicago, went from "American Idol" loser to Oscar winner in just two years.
"I?can't believe this. Look what God can do," she said in an emotional acceptance speech. "Thank you for helping me keep the faith, even when I?didn't believe."
Hudson was seen as another lock in her category, as was co-star Eddie Murphy, who was nominated for best supporting actor. However Murphy fell victim to one of the evening's many upsets, as Alan Arkin prevailed for his role in "Little Miss Sunshine" as a foul-mouthed grandpa with a taste for heroin.
"Acting for me has always been a team sport," said Arkin in his speech. "I?cannot work at all unless I feel a spirit of unity around me."
Arkin, who turns 73 next month, was previously nominated as best actor in 1967 and 1969 for "The Russians Are Coming?The Russians Are Coming" and "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter."?This was his first win.
"Dreamgirls"?was also upset in the best original song category, where it held three of the five nominations. It was beaten by Melissa Etheridge's "I?Need To Wake Up"?from Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."?Gore may have lost the White House in 2000 but he was victorious Sunday night, as his documentary on global warming also won best feature documentary.
"We need to solve the climate crisis," said the former Vice President, "It's a moral issue, not a political issue. We have everything we need to get started with the possible exception of the will to act. That's a renewable resource. Let's renew it."
Many speculated Gore would officially announce his bid for the White House during Sunday's ceremony, but, when asked by actor Leonardo DiCaprio onstage if there was anything he'd like to announce, Gore responded, "I'm just here for the movies."
Other upsets peppered the ceremony, including the best foreign laguage film, where "The Lives of Others"?topped favorite "Pan's Labyrinth," and "Happy Feet" over powerhouse Pixar's "Cars" as best animated feature.? The global drama "Babel" had seven nominations but won just one (for best score by composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who received the same prize a year ago for "Brokeback Mountain").
Named best drama by the Golden Globes in January, "Babel" had a slight edge over "The Departed"?in the wide-open best picture race going into the weekend. Violent films like Scorsese's mob saga usually don't fare well with Academy voters, but, to the surprise of many, this year proved different.
"That was more of a surprise to me,"?Scorsese told E!?Television during the Vanity Fair party, referring to the film's win for best picture compared to his own for directing. "We never thought of awards when making the film. It was a very tough film and at times it could be a disturbing movie, so I?didn't think it would win best picture."
Scorsese said he had a hint that he finally had won as his longtime friend and colleague Steven Spielberg gave him "a look" just before announcing his name.
"I've been used to not winning so I just make the movies," said Scorsese, adding that he did not mind the long wait because an earlier Oscar might have changed the types of movies he was making. "I'm glad it's taken this long. It's been worth it."
Sunday's show, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, was seen by 39.9 million people, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's up from the 38.8 million who watched last year's ceremony.