On Stage and Behind-the-Scenes at the Oscars®

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were the last to arrive but created the biggest stir on the red carpet at the Oscars®. Jolie made the most of the daring thigh-high slit in her Versace gown, jutting her leg out and making sure the whole world got a good look.

She struck the same pose onstage while presenting the Best Screenplay award, adjusting her stance to get it just right. And it didn't go unnoticed. The screenwriters from The Descendants, who won the Oscar®, poked fun at her, mimicing the pose.

Jolie looked a little hurt at the mockery. The Hollywood Reporter said her eyes "looked a bit moist."

But now everyone's doing it. We asked our viewers how they felt about Jolie's pose:

25% thought it was charming. 75% found it in poor taste.

Back on the red carpet, George Clooney had girlfriend Stacy Keibler on his arm. INSIDE EDITION's Deborah Norville said to Keibler on the red carpet, "What's it like for you Stacy, being on this red carpet on this night with this man?"

"It's so exciting. I'm trying to take it all in," said Keibler.

Clooney said, "Yeah, it's fun. This is my fourth time at the Oscars® and I enjoy it."

Hollywood's nicest leading man took plenty of time to sign autographs. INSIDE EDITION also spotted Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock giving a thrill to fans sitting in the bleachers.

Best Actress nominee Viola Davis turned heads when she arrived without the wig she usually wears.

Davis told Norville, "It felt like this was time to do it. The red carpet is daunting enough and I think when you're armed with confidence, and a boldness about who you are and you don't apologize for it, it is the best weapon."

It was her husband, actor Julius Tennon, who encouraged the natural look. Tennon said, "I'm so proud. It's been a wonderful year."

And as expected, Sasha Baron Cohen showed up as his new movie persona, The Dictator, flanked by two stunning models dressed as his personal bodyguards.

Playing the joke for all it was worth, he said he was carrying the ashes of the late North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Il, and spilled them all over Ryan Seacrest during the E! red carpet coverage

Seacrest was not a happy camper as he brushed the dust off his tuxedo. Security guards hustled Cohen away.

Jennifer Lopez even tried to help clean Seacrest up.

He spoke out about the incident on his KISS fm radio show Monday.

"The guy is not coming as The Dictator to not do nothing. I was surprised, but not surprised," said Seacrest.

Seacrest posted a video on his website, heading home after his Oscar® duties with the Dictator's dust still all over his shoes.

So what was in the urn? Turns out, it was pancake mix.

Natalie Rotman of the Associated Press told INSIDE EDITION, "He had to ask for permission to attend as The Dictator. I don't know if he'll be allowed back again."

INSIDE EDITION cameras captured big stars greeting each other with hugs and kisses. Gwyneth Paltrow was happy to see her godfather, Steven Spielberg. Michelle Williams whispered with her friend. George Clooney posed with fellow Best Actor nominee, Demian Bichir. And we caught up with Glenn Close and her co-star from Albert Nobbs, Janet McTeer.

Close said, "I think we've made a movie that really resonates with people, and that people are very, very touched by."

We were also happy to speak to mother Dolores Hart who, once a beautiful young starlet, starred with Elvis Presley. But she left Hollywood to join a monastery. Now 73, she was the subject of the documentary, God Is The Bigger Elvis.

Norville asked, "Look around at all of the trappings. For a nano second, is there anything here you look at and you say, 'That could have been my life.' " 

Hart replied, "No. I love Hollywood and I love the drive to act, but it's not something I could want for myself."

Everyone's favorite Oscar® host Billy Crystal was back. So how did he do?

Melissa Leo told Norville, "He's wonderful, fun, engaging. I think that after somebody's done something for so long, that experience brings something to it that is just probably the best quality."

Crystal kicked off the show with one of his signature parodies about the Best Picture nominees. Now the reviews are in, and they're kind of mixed. "Billy Crystal Shines", says the New York Daily News. But the Washington Post complains Crystal was "boring" and told "terrible jokes."

Another comic highlight came when Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis appeared in matching white tuxes, crashing cymbals, to present the Best Original Song award.

And Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy from Bridesmaids played a drinking game on stage, chugging a drink of alcohol when someone said the word "Scorsese."

Best Supporting Actress winner Octavia Spencer needed a little help getting up the stairs, and then earned the night's first standing ovation, as the tears flowed.

"I'm freaking out," said Spencer.

She tried to say more on the thank you cam backstage, but was still too emotional.

"I can't do this. I'm sorry," said Spencer.

It was a win for the history books when 82-year-old Christopher Plummer became the oldest person ever to take home an acting Oscar®.

She's been nominated 17 times, more than any other actress, but Meryl Streep has only won twice. So would she win her third statue for playing Margaret Thatcher? She did indeed win.

"When they called my name I had this feeling that I could hear half of America saying, 'Oh no. Come on. Why her again?' But whatever," said Streep.

On the thank you cam backstage, Streep said, "I'm really happy, and I'm going to drink a lot tonight."

Silence proved to be golden for The Artist. The silent film won Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin who got a little carried away in his acceptance speech. He actually dropped the F-bomb, but the censors didn't catch it because he was speaking French. He apologized backstage.

INSIDE EDITION caught up with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who took a gamble that paid off big time when he bought the rights to distribute The Artist.

Weinstein told Norville, "When The Artist was a thought, and when people weren't publicizing the movie, I came to you and you helped us. And now everybody's doing it. So to INSIDE EDITION and all your fans I'm 100% sincere, it's the beginning that counts, not the ending. So, the reason we're here is because people believed in the movie."