LOS ANGELES - Terrifying clown or ageing mobsters? Nostalgia for Tinseltown or the muddy trenches of a century-old war?
Hollywood hands out its highest honors on Sunday at an Oscars ceremony that could see a number of historic firsts and an all-white actor winner podium that has revived the #OscarsSoWhite debate.
Brad Pitt, Elton John, Charlize Theron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson and Martin Scorsese are among the A-List nominees, alongside the little-known cast of Korean-language drama "Parasite," which threatens to steal the thunder from Hollywood's biggest names.
All eyes are on the coveted best picture prize, which awards watchers believe is a three-way race between independent social satire "Parasite," British director Sam Mendes' immersive World War One movie "1917" from Universal Pictures, and Quentin Tarantino's love letter to show business, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," from Sony Pictures.
"The smart bet is definitely '1917,' but I do not rule out the possibility of something else winning, whether that be 'Parasite' or 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' or 'Jojo Rabbit'," Scott Feinberg, awards columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, said ahead of the show.
"Parasite," from best director nominee Bong Joon Ho, looks certain to win the newly named best international film category and is seeking to enter the history books as the first film in a foreign language to win a best picture Oscar.
Dark comic book movie "Joker" from Warner Bros, which has a leading 11 nominations, Netflix divorce drama "Marriage Story" and the streaming service's mob epic "The Irishman," race-car drama "Ford v Ferrari" from 20th Century Studios, and novel adaptation "Little Women" from Sony Pictures, round out the competition for the top prize.
The winners are chosen by the 8,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the show has no host for a second year.
Netflix boosted its Hollywood credentials by getting a leading 24 nominations this year, including for drama "The Two Popes," animated movie "Klaus," and documentary "American Factory." Yet the coveted best picture Oscar may elude it yet again on Sunday, awards watchers say.
A poor year for diversity, with Cynthia Erivo the only actor of color in the race and an all-male director field, has revived the #OscarsSoWhite debate of four years ago.
Erivo, who played slavery-era freedom fighter Harriet Tubman in "Harriet," is likely to lose out in the best actor race to Renee Zellweger, who has swept up awards this season for her performance as an ageing Judy Garland in "Judy."
"She gave an amazing performance," said Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman. "My jaw was just on the floor."
Pitt has stormed back as a leading Hollywood man after a period out of the public eye during his bitter divorce from Angelina Jolie, and is seen as a shoo-in for the supporting actor Oscar for his laid-back stuntman role in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
Joaquin Phoenix is the favorite to win his first Oscar for a disturbing performance as a loner clown who turns to violence in "Joker," while Scarlett Johansson is nominated for her roles in both "Jojo Rabbit" and "Marriage Story." No actor has won two Oscars on the same night
The Academy Awards will be televised live from Hollywood on ABC television, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT (0100 GMT on Monday) (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
source: news.abs-cbn.com
BEVERLY HILLS -- World War I movie "1917" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," set in 1960s Tinseltown, won the top movie prizes at the Golden Globes on Sunday on a night packed with upsets and hot-button issues at the start of Hollywood's awards season.
"1917" was named best drama and took best director, beating presumed front-runners "The Irishman" and "Marriage Story," both from Netflix Inc. The nostalgic "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" from Sony Pictures won for best comedy/ musical, and had the biggest Golden Globe haul, with three awards.
Martin Scorsese's high-profile and costly gangster epic for Netflix went home empty-handed on a disappointing night for the streaming service that could affect its Oscar chances in February.
Netflix took home just one Golden Globe in the movie race, for Laura Dern's supporting role as a ruthless divorce lawyer in "Marriage Story."
Apple Inc.'s new Apple TV+ streaming service, in its first award show, failed to make good on any of its three nominations for "The Morning Show."
British director Sam Mendes was named best director for his immersive "1917" from Universal Pictures, a dark horse with no big names that arrived in U.S. movie theaters only 10 days ago.
"That is a big surprise," said a stunned Mendes. "I really hope this means people will turn up and see it."
Joaquin Phoenix, who played a terrifying "Joker," and Renee Zellweger, who portrayed Judy Garland in "Judy," took the drama movie actor honors. Taron Egerton ("Rocketman") and Awkwafina ("The Farewell") were first-time winners in the comedy/musical field.
"We all know there is no ... competition between us," Phoenix told his fellow nominees, praising their "beautiful, mesmerizing work."
Tarantino won for the screenplay of his love letter to the industry, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," while Brad Pitt was a popular winner for playing a laid-back stunt double in the film.
"I wanted to bring my mom," quipped Pitt. "But any women I stand next to, they say I am dating."
GERVAIS GETS WICKED
British comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, hosting the awards ceremony for a fifth time, threw caution to the wind with expletives and jabs about the dominance of streaming platforms, diversity and Hollywood's sexual misconduct scandal, which drew mostly nervous laughter in the room of A-list celebrities.
Gervais noted that the room was packed with entertainment executives. "They are all terrified of Ronan Farrow. He's coming for you," he said, referring to the American journalist whose reports helped uncover the sexual misconduct scandal that has swept Hollywood over the past two years.
Gervais was not the only celebrity at the boozy dinner to get political.
Michelle Williams, winning limited TV series actress for "Fosse/Verdon," gave an impassioned speech about reproductive rights and encouraged women to vote.
She said she had built a career of her choosing and "wouldn't have been able to do this without employing a woman's right to choose. To choose when to have my children and with whom."
Others, including absent winner Russell Crowe, for television series "The Loudest Voice," spoke of the devastating bushfires in Australia and the dangers of global warming.
Patricia Arquette, winning for limited TV series "The Act," expressed fears over heightened tension in the Middle East following the U.S. killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.
In the television races, HBO's media dynasty show "Succession" and Amazon Studio's quirky British comedy "Fleabag" were the big winners.
British talent took multiple prizes. In addition to Mendes, they included "Succession" and "Fleabag" stars Brian Cox and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Olivia Colman for "The Crown," "Rocketman" actor Taron Egerton, and music duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin for original song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again."
source: news.abs-cbn.com
