The 98th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted for the second consecutive year by Conan O’Brien, is poised to become one of the most suspenseful Oscar nights in recent memory. With two cinematic powerhouses locked in an exceptionally tight race for Best Picture, this year’s gala promises unprecedented drama until the final envelope is opened.
Ryan Coogler’s vampire period horror ‘Sinners’ has shattered records with 16 nominations, positioning itself to challenge the all-time Oscar wins record jointly held by ‘Ben-Hur,’ ‘Titanic,’ and ‘The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King.’ The film’s blues-inflected racial allegory could make Coogler the first Black director to win the Best Director honor in Oscar history. ‘He’s only the seventh Black director ever nominated,’ noted Variety’s awards expert Clayton Davis. ‘The love for Coogler among voters is undeniable.’
However, Paul Thomas Anderson’s revolutionary thriller ‘One Battle After Another’ remains the season’s persistent frontrunner with 13 nominations. The film about a retired revolutionary searching for his teenage daughter represents Anderson’s chance to finally claim Oscar gold after 11 previous nominations without a win for acclaimed works including ‘There Will Be Blood.’
The acting categories present even greater uncertainty. Timothee Chalamet, initially considered a lock for Best Actor for ‘Marty Supreme,’ has seen his chances diminish following controversial comments about ballet and opera. This has opened the field to Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance in ‘Sinners,’ Leonardo DiCaprio’s work in ‘One Battle,’ or even Ethan Hawke in ‘Blue Moon.’
Supporting categories feature equally compelling contests. Sean Penn seeks his third acting Oscar for ‘One Battle,’ competing against international favorite Stellan Skarsgard (‘Sentimental Value’) and veteran Delroy Lindo, earning his first nomination at 73 for ‘Sinners.’ The supporting actress race could reward horror villain Amy Madigan (‘Weapons’), revolutionary portrayer Teyana Taylor (‘One Battle’), or Wunmi Mosaku’s Hoodoo healer in ‘Sinners.’ Only Jessie Buckley as Shakespeare’s wife in ‘Hamnet’ appears assured in her category.
The ceremony will feature musical performances including a tribute to the late Robert Redford by rumored performer Barbra Streisand and a live rendition of ‘Golden’ by the voices behind ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ fictional girl group HUNTR/X. The Oscairs will air live on ABC and Hulu from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre at 4:00 PM PST.