Oscars 2012: Red Carpet Arrivals

Angelina Jolie has dress a bit more conservative since becoming a first-time director with her 2011 Bosnian wartime love story, In the Land of Blood and Honey. 

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But at the Sunday's Oscars, she sizzled like a young starlet in a strapless black velvet Atelier Versace gown with a way-more-than-thigh-high slit. And she worked that slit like a red-carpet pro for the photographers, posing solo as well as doing the usual happy-couple stance with Brad Pitt.

But it is Pitt's night (he's nominated for best actor in Moneyball) after all. And he's going head-to-head with his pal George Clooney, also nominated for his starring role in The Descendants.

PHOTOS: Oscars 2012 Red-Carpet Arrivals

Win or lose, Clooney gets to go home with Stacy Keibler and Pitt heads back to the brood with Jolie. Lucky guys and lucky girls, right?

BTW, we hear that Jolie made the final call on what she would wear tonight by putting all the choices on pieces of paper stuffing them in a hat and picking, with all the family there. Sweet.

View More Oscars 2012: Red Carpet Arrivals Images 

Michelle Williams, nominated for a Best Actress award for "My Week With Marilyn," at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Emma Stone does the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. 

"The Help" star Jessica Chastain, nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Actor James Cromwell, whose movie "The Artist" is up for multiple awards, arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

 Christopher Plummer, who's nominated in the Best Supporting Actor for "Beginners," on the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

 Berenice Bejo, who's up for a Best Supporting Actress star for her work in "The Artist," arrives on the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

"The Help" star Viola Davis goes green as she waits to see if she'll win a Best Actress award at this year's Oscars.

Brad Pitt, up for Best Actor kudos for "Moneyball," with Angelina Jolie at the 2012 Oscars.

"The Artist"'s Michel Hazanavicius, up for a Best Directing Award, strikes a roguish pose at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

"Albert Nobbs" star and Best Actress nominee Glenn Close chooses feminine garb for the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Brian Grazer, this year's Oscars producer, at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

"The Dictator" star Sacha Baron Cohen caused a commotion on the red carpet at the 2012 Oscars -- but was it all staged?

Ellie Kemper, whose "Bridesmaids" is up for a Best Original Screenplay award, at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

"The Artist" star Jean Dujardin looks suave as he waits to find out if he wins Best Actor at the 2012 Oscars.

"Bridesmaids" star and writer Kristen Wiig, whose screenplay is up for an Oscar, works the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Maya Rudolph looking just plum thrilled to be on the red carpet.

"Bridesmaids" co-writer Annie Mumolo on the red carpet at the 2012 Oscars.

Tina Fey blacks out on the red carpet at Oscars 2012.

Meryl Streep, nominated in the Best Actress category for "The Iron Lady," is just golden on the Oscars 2012 red carpet. 

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" star and Best Actress nominee Rooney Mara on the Oscars 2012 red carpet.

Cameron Diaz does the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Natalie Portman on the Oscars 2012 red carpet.

Octavia Spencer, up for a Best Supporting Actress for her work in "The Help," works the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Gwyneth Paltrow takes it to the red carpet at Oscars 2012.

Penelope Cruz on the red carpet of the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Nick Nolte looks dashing as he waits to see if he picks up a Best Supporting Actor award at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Sandra Bullock lays it out in black and white on the red carpet at the 2012 Oscars.

"Bridesmaids" star Wendi McLendon Covey at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.