The past year in Hollywood was filled with intriguing developments: from the clash between Deadpool and Wolverine, to legal disputes involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, and the success of Inside Out 2 at the box office, while the sequel to Joker did not quite meet expectations.
As the Oscars race unfolded, it was amidst the grim aftermath of wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The awards season was not without its share of controversies, ranging from The Brutalist’s use of AI to Anora’s lack of an intimacy coordinator, with Emilia Pérez facing scrutiny over some past tweets.
With the Academy Awards just around the corner on Sunday, here’s a look at some of the intriguing facts, trends, and standout nominees from this year’s roster.
1. A Musical Reawakening
For the first time in over fifty years, two musicals are vying for the coveted Best Picture nomination. Wicked and Emilia Pérez mark a resurgence in the musical genre, with the category now expanded to accommodate more contenders. The last musical to clinch the Best Picture title was Chicago in 2003.
2. Adrien Brody’s Potential Record-Breaking Moment
Adrien Brody, the youngest recipient of the Best Actor award for his role in The Pianist in 2002, could make history once again with his nomination for The Brutalist. If he secures another win, he will join the elite group of actors with a perfect track record at the Oscars.
3. Timothée Chalamet’s Rising Star
Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown makes him a formidable contender against Brody in the Best Actor category. A win for Chalamet would not only break Brody’s record as the youngest winner but also shake up the competition.
4. Streaming Film’s Fate
Despite leading in nominations, Emilia Pérez faces a familiar challenge seen in previous streaming films that received multiple nods but fell short on wins. With stiff competition, Emilia Pérez might not sweep the Oscars, mirroring the fate of other streaming contenders.
5. Succession Stars in the Spotlight
Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong, both nominated for Best Supporting Actor, stand out as the only contenders without films in the Best Picture category. Culkin’s chances remain strong, with history showing precedence for such wins.
6. The Rise of Horror
“The Substance” makes history as the first body horror film to be nominated for Best Picture, underscoring a shift in the genre’s recognition at prestigious award shows.
The list of the other six top horror movies includes The Exorcist, Get Out, The Silence of the Lambs, Jaws, The Sixth Sense, and Black Swan. The Substance is a strong contender for best makeup and hairstyling, a category often overlapping with acting winners, which might benefit Demi Moore in a tight best actress competition. Isabella Rossellini’s eight-minute performance in Conclave is not the shortest in Oscars history, with Beatrice Straight winning best supporting actress for a 5-minute role in Network. Dame Judi Dench holds a slight lead with a 5-minute 52-second performance in Shakespeare in Love. The shortest nominee is believed to be Hermione Baddeley’s 2-minute 19-second role in Room at the Top. The Brutalist, with a runtime of 3 hours and 35 minutes including an intermission, could be the fourth-longest best picture winner after Gone With the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, and Ben-Hur. Colman Domingo, nominated for best actor in Sing Sing, marks his second consecutive nomination after Rustin. Bette Davis and Greer Garson share the record for five consecutive Oscar nominations in the 1930s and 40s, followed closely by Al Pacino, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Thelma Ritter, and Jennifer Jones with four back-to-back nods each. Several other actors managed three consecutive nominations. All five best actress nominees are from films also nominated for best picture, a rare occurrence not seen since 1977. The historic lack of overlap between the two categories has shifted in recent years with films featuring female leads gaining recognition. Sebastian Stan’s nomination for The Apprentice marks the eighth time an actor has been Oscar-nominated for playing a US president, with Sir Anthony Hopkins notably nominated twice for portraying different presidents. Robbie Williams’ biopic Better Man is nominated for best visual effects, and his music features in two other films in the running. Ralph Fiennes could be…
A promising sign for Conclave emerges with the potential for a record-breaking achievement by British actor Fiennes. In the past, whenever he was nominated for best actor for films like Schindler’s List and The English Patient, the respective films won best picture. If Conclave secures a win, Fiennes would hold the record for appearing in the most best picture winners, with The Hurt Locker being the other film in this category. However, the absence of Edward Berger in the best director category may pose a challenge for Conclave, as historically, only six films have won best picture without a corresponding director nomination. On a positive note, recent years have seen three such instances, including Argo, Coda, and Green Book, suggesting that this hurdle may not be as insurmountable as before. The omission of Berger from the nominations could be attributed to the fact that he did not write or co-write the screenplay, unlike the other nominated directors. The screenplay for Conclave was adapted from Robert Harris’s novel by British screenwriter Peter Straughan.
Notable songwriter Diane Warren, with her 16th best original song nomination for “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight, is eager for a win after never having won before. Could this finally be her year, especially with competition potentially divided among multiple nominees in the category? Warren’s ambition is evident as she humorously expressed her desire to win on social media. Meanwhile, the film Wicked faces an uphill battle for best picture due to its lack of directing and screenplay nominations, despite receiving nods in technical categories and acting nominations for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The last film to win best picture without corresponding wins in directing, screenplay, or acting categories was Rebecca in 1942.
Additionally, two nominees, Fernanda Torres and Isabella Rossellini, are following in their mothers’ footsteps as they pursue their own acting careers, inspired by their famous mothers’ accomplishments. Fernanda Torres is nominated for best actress, following in the footsteps of her mother Fernanda Montenegro, the first Brazilian nominee in the same category in 1999. Isabella Rossellini’s mother, Ingrid Bergman, achieved great success in acting and won multiple awards during her career.
In another intriguing development, the director of Anora, Sean Baker, has the potential to make history by winning four Oscars for the same film. Baker’s involvement in various aspects of the film’s production could see him clinch awards for best picture, editing, director, and screenplay, a feat unprecedented in Oscar history. While Walt Disney won four Oscars in one night in 1953, they were for different films. Anora’s potential victory could mark the second consecutive year that the director of the best picture shares the win with their spouse. Moreover, if Anora wins, it would be the first 18-rated film to claim the best picture award since The Departed in 2007.
Lastly, the cat in the animated film Flow
In a curious turn of events, a feline has become the center of attention in a local community, sparking a debate over its rightful name. Referred to as simply “the cat” by some, there is a growing sentiment among residents that the feline should be christened “Flow.”
Multiple sources have reported hearing whispers among the townsfolk, where claims of the cat’s moniker being “Flow” have been circulating. This talk has gained such momentum that some individuals have taken it upon themselves to name their own feline companions after the supposed name of the enigmatic cat.
“It’s quite fascinating to see how this cat has captured the imagination of the community,” remarked a local resident who preferred to remain anonymous. “The idea of calling it Flow seems to have struck a chord with many, leading to a wave of cats being bestowed with the same name.”
While opinions on the matter remain divided, there is a growing consensus that perhaps naming the cat “Flow” would be a fitting tribute to its mysterious allure. As discussions continue to swirl around the cat’s identity, the proposal to officially adopt the name “Flow” has gained traction, with proponents eager to embrace this new chapter in the feline’s story.
As the community eagerly awaits a resolution to this naming saga, one thing is certain – the cat known as “the cat” may soon find itself adorned with a new title, one that reflects the collective spirit and creativity of those who have been captivated by its presence. Will “Flow” be the name that stands the test of time, or will the feline remain shrouded in ambiguity, forever known as simply “the cat”? Only time will tell as the residents await the final verdict on this purrplexing predicament.
