Oscars Take the Stage on Sunday with Best Picture Up for Grabs
The Academy Awards: The Highest Honours in the Film Business
The Academy Awards, the highest honours in the film business, take place on Sunday with no clear frontrunner among “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Conclave” and other movies contending for the prestigious best picture prize.
A Star-Studded Red-Carpet Ceremony
Timothee Chalamet and Demi Moore are vying for their first Oscars at the red-carpet ceremony in Hollywood. The show will air live on Walt Disney’s ABC network starting at 4pm Pacific time (0000 GMT on Monday).
A Mix of Jokes, Celebrations, and Serious Moments
Comedian and host Conan O’Brien said he planned to mix jokes, celebrations of filmmakers and serious moments, including tributes to Los Angeles as it recovers from January’s wildfires. He likely will address US politics but not dwell on it, he said.
A Year of Twists and Turns
This year’s Oscars race has featured twists and turns, and no movie has dominated the precursor film awards. That will keep the drama going until the end of Sunday’s show. Any of three films could score best picture, according to Oscars pundits. One is “Anora,” the story of a sex worker with a shot at a Cinderella story. The other two are “The Brutalist,” about a Jewish immigrant and architect chasing the American dream, and “Conclave,” which imagines the secret proceedings for choosing a pope.
A Strong Field of Contenders
Others in the best picture field include blockbuster musical “Wicked,” a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” and “A Complete Unknown,” the Bob Dylan biopic starring Chalamet.
Music and Surprises
Supporting actor nominee Kieran Culkin is the favourite for his role as a man who travels with his cousin to Poland to study family history in “A Real Pain.” Best actor could go to either Chalamet or “The Brutalist” star Adrien Brody, according to awards experts.
Best Actress: A Tight Competition
Best actress is widely expected to go to Moore for “The Substance,” though one pundit said the category could produce an upset win for Brazil’s Fernanda Torres of “I’m Still Here.” The academy has increased its international membership, which could favour Torres, said Ian Sandwell, movies editor at Digital Spy.
A Surprising Year for Music
Producers scrapped the annual tradition of having musicians perform each of the nominated original songs, saying they wanted to focus instead on the songwriters. They do promise many musical moments, including a performance by “Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and a tribute to music producer Quincy Jones, who died in November.
And the Winners Will Be…
Winners of the gold Oscar statuettes are chosen by the roughly 11,000 actors, producers, directors, and film craftspeople who make up the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Conclusion
The 95th Academy Awards ceremony promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event, with many talented individuals vying for the top honours. With a mix of comedy, tribute, and surprise, the show is sure to entertain and inspire audiences worldwide.
FAQs
* When and where can I watch the Oscars ceremony?
The show will air live on Walt Disney’s ABC network starting at 4pm Pacific time (0000 GMT on Monday).
* Who is hosting the Oscars ceremony? Conan O’Brien is hosting the ceremony.
* How many movies are contending for best picture? Four movies are in the running: “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” and others.
* Who is the favourite to win best actor? Timothee Chalamet and Adrien Brody are both in the running.