It’s not easy to play a reserved, repressed character in an emotionally engaging way, but Helen Mirren did in “The Queen,” making a rather dull, wealthy matron into a person even a commoner can identify with. Her acceptance speech is a model: concise, generous to her filmmaking partners, and thoughtful in its thanks to Her Royal Highness. Coming as she did from a staunchly anti-royalist family, the sympathy she brought to the part, and her gracious expression of gratitude to the monarch, is a lovely touch.

So, Colin Covert was right– Forest Whittaker took the prize. However, Will Smith, wife Jada (in Carolina Herrera) and son Jaden still look like they deserve a prize for something. We’ll give them, best dressed family. No contest.

Leonardo DiCaprio, “Blood Diamond” - If there’s an upset, it’s Leo, piggybacking this performance on top of his strong showing in “The Departed,” he’s had a good year. Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland” - He’ll win, and Lawrence Fishburne and Samuel L. Jackson will start getting fewer starring roles. Will Smith, “The Pursuit of Happyness” Peter O’Toole, “Venus” Ryan Gosling, “Half Nelson” - Probably the best acting of the year, but he’s got a long career ahead of him.

Thelma Schoonmacher, a wonderfully classy lady who visited Walker Art Center a number of years ago for a tribute to her film editing work, wins her third Oscar for “The Departed.” She also won for “The Aviator” and “Raging Bull.” One of Scorsese’s great strengths, it seems to me, is his ability to make supremely talented people want to work with him again and again. His partnerships with De Niro and DiCaprio and screenwriter Paul Schrader pushed each of them to new heights.

Enough of our jibber jabber. Tell us who is the worst dressed at the ceremony. If we missed one of your choices, please comment below.

Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada” - She was stupendous, but her screen time wasn’t enormous. Helen Mirren, “The Queen ” - She will win and she will not have one of those psychotic meltdowns young American actresses are prone to. She will be dry and witty and thank everyone briskly and look elegant. And then in the after interviews someone will ask her where she got that LA gangbanger tattoo beside her thumb. Penelope Cruz, “Volver” - Subtitles. Nope. Kate Winslet, “Little Children” - Great performance, too much skin exposed in the movie. Undignified, the AARP contingent will say. Mirren used to take her clothes off in every role when she was younger. Now she’s wearing a kilt and a cardigan and she’ll win. Judi Dench, “Notes on a Scandal” - Are you kiddign me? she’s not even showing up for the ceremony.

Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada” - She was stupendous, but her screen time wasn’t enormous. Helen Mirren, “The Queen ” - She will win and she will not have one of those psychotic meltdowns young American actresses are prone to. She will be dry and witty and thank everyone briskly and look elegant. And then in the after interviews someione will ask her where she got that LA gangbanger tattoo beside her thumb. Penelope Cruz, “Volver” - Subtitles. Nope. Kate Winslet, “Little Children” - Great performance, too much skin exposed in the movie. Undignified, the AARP contingent will say. Mirren used to take her clothes off in every role when she was younger. Now she’s wearing a kilt and a cardigan and she’ll win. Judi Dench, “Notes on a Scandal” - Are you kiddign me? she’s not even showing up for the ceremony.