We are reluctant to parp our own trumpet by pointing out that, in the online incarnation of The Irish Times, this writer predicted 21 of the 24 Oscars correctly.

Only the two screenplay awards and best animated feature defied our crystal ball.

This is, however, worth mentioning as it demonstrates how unsurprising the Oscars have become.

Julianne Moore, Patricia Arquette and JK Simmons were all at unbackable odds. After three months of precursor awards and yards of online speculation, few shocks remain to be sprung.

Elsewhere there was much spreading of love.

This is the first year since 1998 (when there were only five nominees) that each of the riders in the best picture race has won an Oscar. The Grand Budapest Hotel cleaned up in the craft awards. Poor old Boyhood, once seen as the behemoth to beat, ended up with just one Oscar.

It’s a cruel game.

The full list of winners at the Oscars

Best picture: Birdman

Actress in a leading role: Julianne Moore (Still Alice)

Actor in a leading role: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)

Supporting actress: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)

Supporting actor: JK Simmons (Whiplash)

Directing: Alejandro G Inarritu (Birdman)

Original screenplay: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo (Birdman)

Adapted screenplay: Graham Moore (The Imitation Game)

Costume design: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Makeup and hairstyling: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Foreign language film: Ida

Documentary (short subject): Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Live action short film: The Phone Call

Visual effects: Interstellar

Animated short film: Feast

Animated feature film: Big Hero 6

Production design: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki (Birdman)

Film editing: Tom Cross (Whiplash)

Documentary feature: Citizenfour

Original song: Glory (Selma)

Original score: Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel)