The 97th Annual Academy Awards: A Glimpse into Future Trends
The 97th Annual Academy Awards is set to be a thrilling event, with records potentially being broken and unexpected winners emerging. Here are some key moments and trends to watch for during the telecast, which begins at 4:00 PM PT/7:00 PM ET on ABC and HULU.
Best Picture Contenders and Historical Significance
Anora: A Double Win for Cannes and Oscars?
Front runner Anora has a unique opportunity to become only the third film in history to win the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or and also go on to win the Best Picture Oscar. Previously, this feat was achieved by Parasite in 2019 and Marty in 1955. If Anora pulls it off, it will join a prestigious list of films that have achieved this double win.
Emilia Perez: A Record-Breaking Nomination
Emilia Perez is not just the international film with the most nominations ever with 13, it is also in rarefied air in Oscar history with that number. Only 22 films have ever received 12 or more nominations, and all but four went on to win Best Picture. Of the 12 films with 13 nominations, only three failed to win Best Picture. If Emilia Perez loses, it will join a very select group of films that have received numerous nominations but failed to win the top prize.
Conclave: A Best Picture Without a Director Nomination?
Should Conclave win Best Picture, it will be only the seventh time a film has done that without a corresponding Best Director nomination. This phenomenon has become more recent, with films like Argo, Green Book, and CODA pulling off the feat. This trend suggests that voters are looking at their Best Pictures differently these days, focusing more on the overall impact of the film rather than the director’s individual contributions.
Potential Oscar Winners and Their Impact
Sean Baker and Jacques Audiard: The Most Frequent Trips to the Dolby Stage
Anora’s Sean Baker has four opportunities to be called to the Oscar stage with nominations for Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, and Editing. Should he win, it would be comparable to Parasite director Bong Joon Ho’s haul on his big Oscar night. Emilia Perez’s Jacques Audiard goes one better, with nominations for Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, and Song. If France wins the Best International Film, Audiard would receive the Oscar, but the Academy does not officially count individuals as the winner of that prize.
Best Actor: The Race for the Youngest Winner
The Best Actor category is not just a race between front runner Adrien Brody of The Brutalist and surging A Complete Unknown star Timothee Chalamet. It’s also a race for the title of youngest Best Actor winner ever. Brody has held the title since March 23, 2003, when he won at age 29 for The Pianist. If Chalamet upsets him, he will not only take a second Oscar win away from Brody but also inherit the title of youngest winner ever in this category.
Donald Trump: A Presidential Presence at the Oscars?
Should Sebastian Stan prevail in Best Actor for playing the younger version of Donald Trump in his highly acclaimed performance in The Apprentice, we can probably expect Trump, now President, to try to crash the party via his Truth Social platform. This could lead to another memorable moment, similar to last year when Trump criticized Jimmy Kimmel, who proceeded to read the whole rant on the live broadcast.
Supporting Roles and Family Legacies
Best Supporting Actor: A Historic Moment for Russia?
Anora’s Yura Borisov could become the first Russian actor to win since 1965 when Lila Kedrova took Best Supporting Actress for Zorba The Greek. Additionally, Jeremy Strong in The Apprentice is facing off against heavy favorite Kieran Culkin, who has been a ‘real pain’ for Strong’s Oscar hopes after Culkin also beat him at the Emmys.
All in the Family: A Legacy of Oscar Nominations
Isabella Rossellini won her first Oscar nomination for Supporting Actress for Conclave, joining a very elite club of mothers and daughters both nominated in the category. This includes Diane Ladd, Judy Garland, and Ingrid Bergman, who have all made their mark on Oscar history. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of these families in the film industry.
International Contenders and Underdogs
Brazil: A Historic Night for Brazilian Cinema
It could be a very big night for Brazil, which is aiming for its first-ever win as Best International Feature Film for I’m Still Here. Fernanda Torres is up for Best Actress, becoming the second Brazilian actress to be named in the category after her mom, Fernanda Montenegro. Oscar night is also Carnival in Brazil, and the country is planning to project the ceremony in the streets, hoping for a historic victory.
Latvia: The Little Country That Could
Disney and DreamWorks Animation veteran director Chris Sanders got his fourth Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature with Universal release The Wild Robot. They go up against Latvia, the little Eastern European country that could, which earned Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis his first nomination for the undercat in the category, Flow, as well as a first-ever nomination for Latvia as International Feature Film.
Sound Mixing and Scriptwriting
It’s a Habit: Andy Nelson’s Sound Work
The Sound Mixer/Editor Andy Nelson received his 25th nomination for his Sound work, this time for Wicked, the biggest total for any living person other than John Williams with 54 nominations in the music categories. He has won twice, showcasing his enduring impact on the industry.
From Sing Sing to Dolby: Clarence Maclin’s Journey
Clarence Maclin was sentenced to 17 years in prison for robbery. He turned his life around and plays himself in Sing Sing, now a nominee in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. If he wins, he could become the first Sing Sing former inmate to win an Oscar, highlighting the transformative power of storytelling and redemption.
FAQ Section
Q: What are the key moments to watch for during the 97th Annual Academy Awards?
A: Key moments include the potential double win for Anora, the record-breaking nominations for Emilia Perez, the Best Picture win for Conclave without a director nomination, and the historic moments for Brazil and Latvia.
Q: Who are the front runners for Best Actor?
A: The front runners for Best Actor are Adrien Brody of The Brutalist and Timothee Chalamet of A Complete Unknown. Chalamet could also become the youngest Best Actor winner ever.
Q: What is the significance of the Best Supporting Actor category?
A: The Best Supporting Actor category features Yura Borisov, who could become the first Russian actor to win since 1965, and Jeremy Strong, who is facing off against heavy favorite Kieran Culkin.
Q: What are some of the international contenders to watch for?
A: Brazil’s I’m Still Here and Latvia’s Flow are both aiming for historic wins, with Brazil hoping for its first-ever Best International Feature Film win and Latvia earning its first-ever nomination in the category.
Q: What is the significance of Andy Nelson’s nominations?
A: Andy Nelson has received his 25th nomination for Sound work, making him one of the most nominated individuals in Oscar history, second only to John Williams.
Q: What is the story behind Clarence Maclin’s nomination?
A: Clarence Maclin was sentenced to 17 years in prison for robbery but turned his life around. He is now a nominee in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for his work in Sing Sing.
Did You Know?
Did you know that only 22 films have ever received 12 or more nominations, and all but four went on to win Best Picture? Emilia Perez is one of the films with 13 nominations, making it a strong contender for the top prize.
Pro Tips
Pro Tip 1: Keep an eye on the Best Picture category, as it often features the most unexpected upsets and historic wins.
Pro Tip 2: Pay attention to the international contenders, as they often bring unique stories and perspectives to the Oscars.
Pro Tip 3: Look out for first-time nominees, as they can bring fresh energy and excitement to the ceremony.
Reader Question
Which film do you think will win Best Picture this year, and why? Share your predictions in the comments below!
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