Christoph Waltz, 'Brave' win early Oscars

Best Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence for her role in "Silver Linings Playbook" arrives at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

"The story was so top secret that the film's director was unknown to the Academy!" MacFarlane quipped.

Presidential drama "Lincoln" went into Sunday's three-hour plus ceremony with a leading 12 nominations, including a directing nod for double Oscar winner Steven Spielberg.

But its front-runner Best Picture status has been dented by the six-week victory streak enjoyed at other Hollywood awards by "Argo".

The thriller, once considered an underdog when Affleck was overlooked in the Oscar directing category, is now thought to have the edge.

Best Picture, the top prize, will be announced at the end of the roughly three-hour live ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

If "Argo" does prevail, it will be the first movie to win Best Picture without its director even getting a nomination since "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1990.

Musical "Les Miserables," comedy "Silver Linings Playbook," shipwreck tale "Life of Pi," Osama bin laden thriller "Zero Dark Thirty," slavery Western "Django Unchained," indie film "Beasts of the Southern Wild," and "Amour" round out the contenders for the best film of 2012.

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, ANNE HATHAWAY WAIT

After several years of nominating little-seen movies, this year's nine Best Picture contenders have pulled in more than $2 billion in tickets worldwide.

Oscar producers hope the popularity of the leading movies, together with a show packed with musical numbers and a James Bond movie tribute, will make for a big TV audience for broadcaster ABC.