This year’s Academy Awards likely have been already decided in recent weeks, amid the cluster of pre-Oscars competitions.
You know, Golden Globes, Critics Choice, SAG, BAFTA, etc.
ABC will televise the ceremonies, set to begin at 1 p.m. Sunday (March 10) Hawaii time, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A pre-show ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m.
Our predictions in seven key categories:
- Best Picture – “Oppenheimer.”
- Best Director – Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer.”
- Best Actor – Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer.”
- Best Actress – Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
- Best Supporting Actor –Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer.”
- Best Supporting Actress – Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers.”
- Best Song – “What Was I Made For,” from “Barbie,” Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.
- Some observations:
Disclosures: I didn’t see “The Holdovers” – it was on island screens briefly – so I’ll go along with Da’vine Joy Randolph’s previously amassed trophies. In the same film, Paul Giamatti (one of my respected faves over time) has won a Globe, seemingly won’t be able to surpass the rollercoaster that “Oppenheimer” has been this season.
Upsets could happen: Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) was a fave in the Golden Globes, so could bump Gladstone, the first Native Ameriican nominee this year. While Randolph was an earlier winner in the SAG, America Ferrera’s long monologue in “Barbie’ was quite the essence of a supporting actress performance.
Longest running films this year: “Flower Moon,” 3 hours 26 minutes. “Oppenheimer”? 3 hours. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” 2 hours 48 minutes. Length could be a winning element.
Documentary snub: Why was Swift’s (pictured) concert film was ruled ineligible for Best Documentary consideration?: The Academy’s take: “Works that are essentially promotional or instructional are not eligible, nor are works that are essentially unfiltered records of performances.” Oh-kay. Still, the doc was tailor-made for Swift’s abundant talent.
More snub-bery: “Barbie” earned eight nominations but was absent in key actress and direction categories. Why? “Barbie” was nominated for Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Ferrera) and Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Goslyn), and two Best Song contenders, for a total eight slots. Everything considered, “Barbie” was a fun, stylish and popular box office hit. Pink and pretty, too, but it won’t win Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, or Best Supporting Actor, so let’s hope it cops a couple of techie awards. Its fame will have to settle for Best Song.
A galaxy of stars will be assembling: As is the tradition, last year’s Oscar winners will be on hand to present trophies to this year’s winners. So, anticipate seeing Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Other celebrities expected: Michelle Pfeiffer, Al Pacino are set to appear, along with Zendaya, Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Lange, Nicolas Cage, Mahershala Ali, Sam Rockwell and Luptia Nyong’o. More names should be added by show time. …
And that’s Show Biz. …