SANTA MONICA, California — On an overcast Saturday by the beach, the stars came out for one last big tune-up before the main event that is the Academy Awards on Sunday night (February 22). And if everyone weren't so loose, relaxed and dressed down (the tuxedos stayed in the closet for the day), you might easily have mistaken the Independent Spirit Awards for its more refined and dignified older brother.

After all, Oscar hopefuls Mickey Rourke and Penélope Cruz were there, rubbing shoulders on the red carpet with Anne Hathaway and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Indeed some of the winners at Saturday's ceremony have a shot at repeating at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday, when Hugh Jackman takes the stage. Rourke took home Best Actor honors, beating Oscar rival Sean Penn. And "The Wrestler" itself won the top prize of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Oscar nominees Melissa Leo and Cruz took home the female acting prizes (for their lead and supporting work respectively).

Of course, there were also some Spirit guests who aren't expected to show up at the Oscars, including Mariah Carey, there to support "Precious" (previously called "Push") the critically hailed but thus far unreleased Sundance darling. Brushing aside questions about the Chris Brown/ Rihanna controversy, the pop icon was all smiles alongside director Lee Daniels, saying she was "just honored to be a part of ['Precious']."

And then there were some who, it seems, just have to be at an affair with a title that included the words, "Independent Spirit." Zooey Deschanel, no stranger to quirky roles big and small, felt right at home among her fellow film rebels, though she confessed, "I'm not a conventional rebel, which makes me even more rebellious! I'm more of a secret rebel. I'm so rebellious, it's all happening in my mind!"

Some claimed they restrict their independent spirit to other aspects of their life. "These days, I'm such a clean and healthy liver, but I'm a Boston driver always and forever," "Dollhouse" star Eliza Dushku confessed. "I get crazy out on the roads!"

Continuing on that theme was new mom Michelle Monaghan, who proudly shared a new skill she's added, thanks to an upcoming role: "I got my license to be a truck driver! That's probably about as rebellious as it goes for me," she laughed.

Meanwhile, it wasn't just Carey and She & Him crooner Deschanel representing the music industry on the packed carpet. The Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch was there in support of the Michelle Williams film, "Wendy and Lucy," which his company, Oscilloscope Pictures, distributed.

"I'm here to support it," Yauch said, admitting that he's a fan of all types of film. "I'm kind of all over the place. There's not one style of film that I like."

Will it be a curious night for "Benjamin Button"? Can "Slumdog Millionaire" grab Oscar gold? Will Brad Pitt surprise leading contenders Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn? MTV News has the Academy Awards covered every which way with news, interviews, photos and more. Check out a complete list of the Oscar nominees here and keep it locked on MTVNews.com until the statues are handed out on Sunday, February 22.

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