Jeff Bridges is shaping up to be a serious contender for tomorrow night's Best Actor award after winning gongs at both the Golden Globes and Spirit Awards.
The actor, famous for his role as Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, quoted the character as he collected his Spirit gong for his performance in Crazy Heart, telling his wife in the audience: 'This is really going to tie the room together'.
He had earlier performed a song from the film at the ceremony.
Crazy Heart also won best debut film for first-time director Scott Cooper.
'He never directed a high school play before, but he did a great job,' Crazy Heart co-star Robert Duvall said.
Bridges thanked Duvall, a producer on the film, who got the project rolling after reading the script.
Bridges is now paying 1/8 with bookmaking firm Coral to collect an Oscar for his performance as a country singer trying to turn his life around.
He is among a host of odds-on favourites including The Hurt Locker (best film) and Sandra Bullock (best actress).
Oscars buzz is taking over Los Angeles today, as organisers finish preparing the Kodak Theatre and the stars turn out for pre-Oscars parties.
The red carpet has been laid out in front of the Kodak Theatre, topped with a plastic sheet in case of rain, and tourists have taken the opportunity to pose with the oversized statues that line the entry.
Inside, presenters Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin have been hard at work practising their lines.
At one point Baldwin looked troubled after seeing himself on a big-screen monitor at the back of the room.
'Well who wants to see that?' Baldwin quipped.
Among the pre-awards parties was Women In Film's gathering, where female Oscar nominees celebrated their achievements.
Held at a home in Bel Air, the intimate cocktail party honored women's contribution to the film industry and urged women on both sides of the camera to inspire the next generation of female filmmakers.
Sound-editing nominee Gwendolyn Yates Whittle smiled as she talked about attending a flurry of Oscar events this weekend and "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe chatted with Tracee Ellis Ross.
Also celebrating were Nia Vardalos, nominated costume designer Monique Prudhomme, Angie Harmon, Viola Davis and Michelle Rodriguez.
Preparations are also underway for the official Oscars after-party - the Governors Ball - where 4,600 guests will dine on mini canapes assempled with tweezers and chocolate Oscar statues made by 300 chefs and served by more than 600 waiters.