Amanda Latona, above, and Aidan O'Brien, below, are this year's winners of the image model search. Photo by Christine H. Wetzel.

Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" will take the Oscar for best film, nudging "Dreamgirls," according to Las Vegas oddsmaker John Avello.

Co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, "The Departed" is the 3-1 favorite, with "Dreamgirls" at 4-1, according to Avello, who runs the sports and race book at Wynn Las Vegas. His odds are for entertainment purposes only.

Forest Whitaker is a heavy choice to win best actor for his role in "The Last King of Scotland."

Helen Mirren has a narrow edge over fellow Brit Judi Dench for best actress. Mirren is a 4-1 pick for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen," while Dench is 5-1 for "Notes on a Scandal."

CREATING AN IMAGE

They traveled far different career paths, but Amanda Latona's and Aidan O'Brien's recent decisions to try their luck in Las Vegas paid off quickly.

Latona, a 26-year-old lead singer for a local band, and O'Brien, a heavy equipment mechanic from Ireland, were the winners in the final event of the Review-Journal's image model search on Friday at Fashion Show mall.

Latona, a former Miss Junior Florida who later dated J.C. Chasez of the Backstreet Boys, moved here six months ago with Groove Kitty, currently featured at Mandalay Bay's Coral Reef Lounge.

O'Brien, 29, traveled the world before moving to Las Vegas seven months ago with his wife and three children "to see what could happen here."

The judges were Ken Henderson of Best Agency, AOL celebrity blogger Robin Leach, Melanie of the "Melanie and Tom" morning show at KSNE-FM, 106.5 (Sunny), photographer Jerry Metellus, and hair stylist William Whatley.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

A celebration of Ruth Brown's life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the First Church of Religious Science, 1420 E. Harmon Ave., across Maryland Parkway from UNLV. The rhythm and blues icon died Nov. 17 in a Henderson hospital. ...

President Bush referred to longtime Caesars Palace pianist David Osborne as "my favorite piano picker" at the White House on Friday during a farewell party for outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Osborne, who has entertained presidents for the past five administrations, performed at three White House holiday parties a week ago.

SIGHTINGS

Leonard "Dr. Spock" Nimoy, having steak at Stack (Mirage) on Friday night. ... Flamingo headliner Tony Braxton at Fix (Bellagio) on Friday, having dinner with her husband, Keri Lewis. ... Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil, hosting a Harley-Davidson fashion show at Pure (Caesars Palace) on Friday. ... Zoe Saldana ("Pirates of the Caribbean"), with her two sisters and boyfriend at Tao (Venetian) on Friday. ... David James Elliott (Cmdr. Rabb on "JAG") at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood. ... Bull riding great Tuff Hedeman, meeting and greeting fans at Gilley's (New Frontier) on Friday. ... Jamie Foxx, shooting baskets at the Hardwood Suite (Palms Fantasy Tower) Thursday during his stay there.

THE PUNCH LINE

"(President Bush) is now at his lowest approval rating ever. Twenty-four percent. And if a presidential election were held today -- John Kerry would still find a way to lose." -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.