Author: Brooks Barnes / Source: New York Times
• The 91st Academy Awards ceremony, which is hostless for the first time in 30 years, begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
• Here’s the complete list of nominees, and fill out your Oscars ballot.
• The Carpetbagger makes his predictions.
• A breakdown of this year’s Oscars beefs.
LOS ANGELES — It will be the disruptive foreign film.
Nope, the segregation-era road-trip movie has it locked up.
It’s going to Spike Lee’s Ku Klux Klan-infiltration flick.
Or could the Marvel blockbuster actually pull it off?
Forget the office Oscar pool. For the first time in memory, Hollywood truly has no idea what movie will win best picture at the Academy Awards. “Roma,” “Green Book,” “Black Panther” and “BlacKkKlansman” are all plausible victors, studio executives say. The prize could also go to a dark-horse contender — “Bohemian Rhapsody,” perhaps — because of a voting system in which best picture nominees are ranked one through eight, and the second- and third-place positions can carry as much weight as first place.
Usually one movie dominates at pre-Oscar galas, signaling where the race will end up. But not this year. “Roma,” mostly seen on Netflix, was named best film by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. “Green Book” collected the big trophy at the predictive Producers Guild of America ceremony. The powerful Screen Actors Guild threw its weight behind “Black Panther.” “BlacKkKlansman” has aggressively campaigned.
[Spike Lee’s Tribute to Prince at the Oscars.]
Adding to the atmosphere of uncertainty is the Oscars broadcast itself. For the first time in 30 years there will be no host — Kevin Hart stepped down amid new scrutiny on his past anti-gay ramblings on Twitter. And the academy has bounced from one fracas to the next during preparations. Will the 91st ceremony at the Dolby Theater ultimately go smoothly, as producers have promised? Or will the telecast go down as Rob Lowe and Snow White: Part 2?
It’s anyone’s guess.
Guests are arriving on the carpet
… And our Carpetbagger, Kyle Buchanan, is ready and waiting to chat with the stars and moviemakers before they head in. You can follow his tweets here.
An especially competitive year in the actress categories
Improving roles for women across Hollywood has led to a particularly competitive year in the best actress and supporting actress categories.
After wins at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, Glenn Close, nominated for playing a subjugated spouse in “The Wife,” is the favorite to win best actress. There is a feeling among many people in Hollywood that Close — the most Oscar-nominated living performer never to win — is overdue for her turn on the stage. This is her seventh nomination. But hot on her heels is Olivia Colman, a first-time nominee for playing a lonely Queen Anne in “The Favourite.” Colman won the Bafta.
Professional prognosticators are split on supporting actress. Variety’s awards columnist expects voters to support Regina King, nominated for her forceful mother in the art-house drama “If Beale Street Could Talk.” The Hollywood Reporter, on the other hand, called this race for Amy Adams, singled out for playing Lynne…
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