And again. Not that this is a bad thing.

Stealing the show were Marisa Tomei's pale gray Versace, with a whirlwind of overlapping origami pleats from waist to floor, and best actress winner Kate Winslet: Always classically elegant, she was perfectly coiffed and dressed in an Yves Saint Laurent one-shoulder slate blue and black gown. Her makeup was soft and natural, and her hair was swept back in a soft bun.

Heidi Klum once again played up her beauty and body in an eye-popping Roland Mouret red gown with a sweeping streak of red silk cutting diagonally across those clavicles, a high slit up the side and diagonal cutouts on the side. She accessorized with pink coral and diamond earrings and a matching armful of bracelets.

Red, white and black were the dominant colors, and oversize neckwear was the dominant accessory. Halfway through the preshow red-carpet procession we realized that all these baubles were also in competition. The multicolored bib neckpiece worn by Amy Adams was the heftiest. She wore it with a structured red and black Carolina Herrera strapless dress, but the necklace would have looked better with a simpler gown.

Timeless, classic strapless gowns didn't disappoint. First-time nominee Anne Hathaway looked gorgeous in a strapless silver beaded Armani Privé gown with diagonal rows of progressively larger paillettes.

Beyoncé's black and gold strapless fishtail hem gown was striking, as was Natalie Portman's hot pink, surprisingly simple Rodarte strapless chiffon gown with swirling draping and beading on the bodice. Best supporting actress winner Penelope Cruz wore a perfectly fitted vintage fairy-tale white gown with beads and cascades of chiffon from Pierre Balmain.

In zoot suit chains, a white Jean Paul Gaultier jacket, collar open, black vest, and shorter reddish hair, best actor nominee Mickey Rourke stayed true to his off-the-grid self, and he wore the night's most priceless necklace - a clear square locket with a picture of his recently deceased Chihuahua, Loki.

Surprise! Meryl Streep got dressed up! Her taupe Alberta Ferretti off-the-shoulder gown, though a dull color, was as glamorous as she gets, and her classic formal upsweep was just right.

Another surprise: Hollywood's most photographed couple, and double nominees, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, played it safe on the big night. Color-coordinated in black and white - he in a classic tux, she in an understated sweetheart strapless Elie Saab gown, their choices were elegant, if not terribly exciting.

Understated might have been the better choice for Miley Cyrus, who appeared to take advice from Liberace's ghost last night, showing up in a heavily embellished silver tiered scalloped-edged gown that was too much for a teenager.

Everyone expects Sarah Jessica Parker to make fashion-forward choices, but popping out of her pale Cinderella Dior haute couture gown wasn't the best idea. Though we did like the belt.

Newcomer Freida Pinto solidified her red-carpet mettle in an eye-popping blue John Galliano beaded chiffon gown with one beaded lace sleeve, her hair casually pulled back in a low bun, with soft natural makeup.

The big No! of the night belonged to the great Sophia Loren, who got it wrong in oh so many ways - orange makeup that stopped at the neck, a bad bridesmaid's pale yellow chiffon gown with unfortunate ruffly cap sleeves, and illusion net sleeves added up to the biggest cringe-worthy moment of the night.

E-mail Sylvia Rubin at srubin@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page E - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle