To present the award for best director, Tom Hanks takes to the stage and with little ado announced the winner - Brokeback Mountain's helmer Ang Lee. Hardly a shock given what was tricky material and could have proved disastrous, Lee turned this into one of the most well-received films of the year.

Hanks leaves, Jack Nicholson (three-time winner) takes to the stage to announce the award for best picture. The nominees: Goodnight and Good Luck, Munich, Brokeback Mountain, Capote and Crash.

And the Oscar goes to...Crash. Despite Brokeback having taken the award at the BAFTAs, the Globes and the Producers Guild of America, Paul Haggis' drama of racial tensions has come out on top as the best motion picture of the year.

Released long ago last summer, Crash was possibly the greatest mix of issues and entertainment to come out of Hollywood in the year - a worthy contender whose success here is refreshing if unexpected.