The glitziest night of the year – the Oscars – has finally arrived.
While many predict that Sam Mendes’ 1917 film will take a great many gongs later tonight, there will no doubt be some surprises.
Here’s what to look out:
The Parasite effect
One of the most historic victories of the evening could go to the South Korean black comedy Parasite. It has kept pace with some of the Best Picture Oscar frontrunners, and somehow gotten around – what its director Bong Joon-ho calls – the “one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles.”
A non-English-language film has never taken home the Best Picture award, the movie industry’s greatest prize.
Joon-ho has quite a bit of support within Hollywood and the Academy. Could this be the year that the Oscars go global?
A celebration of Diversity?
The Oscars has had to deal with a tonne of criticism over its diversity (or lack thereof).
This year’s awards feature just one non-white acting nominee, with Cynthia Erivo for Harriet. And no women were shortlisted for best director – which leaves the total number of women ever nominated in the category at just five (and that’s over 92-years of the awards).
The awards themselves (produced by two women) appears to want to readdress that.
While there is no guest host once again, celebrities getting on to the stage include a wide range of nationalities – many of them women – including Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, and Gal Gadot.
There will be lots and lots of music
This year’s Grammy’s were celebrated for some truly spectacular song and dance numbers, and the Oscars would do well to compete.
Organizers have signed up the soon-to-be James Bond singer Billie Eilish to perform, along with Janelle Monae.
Elton John will also take to the stage, to perform his nominated song ‘I’m Gonna Love Me Again’ from his semi-biographical film, Rocketman.
And Eimear Noone will make history, as the first-ever female conductor of the in-house orchestra during the event.
A tribute to Kirk and Kobe
Each year the Oscars pays tribute to those Hollywood has lost over the last 12 months.
This year will be particularly gloomy, given that both Kirk Douglas and Kobe Bryant passed away in the run up to these Oscars.
Organizers have said that both will feature in the ‘in memoriam’ section. And watch out for frequent mentions in the winner’s speeches, too.
Brad Pitt’s award speech
Brad Pitt can do no wrong this awards season. And the only thing more impressive than his supporting role in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood has been his one-liners during his speeches.
During the BAFTA’s he said, “Hey Britain. Heard you just became single – welcome to the club” to posting his Screen Actors Guild award on Tinder later that night.
Brad Pitt has quickly become one of the funniest men in Hollywood. Here’s hoping he’s got a few good one-liners leftover for later tonight.
The Oscars kick off at 5pm in Los Angeles, which is 5am here in the UAE. You can watch the Oscars on OSN Movies – the coverage will run from 5am until the last winner is announced.
