© Reuters. An Oscar statue is roofed in plastic as preparations proceed for the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 9, 2024. REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci
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By Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Jamie Lee Curtis, Rita Moreno, Simu Liu and different stars gathered on Sunday to have fun the perfect performances in movie on the annual Academy Awards, a ceremony anticipated to show right into a toast to blockbuster atomic bomb drama “Oppenheimer.”
Discuss present host Jimmy Kimmel was set to return for the fourth time to emcee the movie {industry}’s highest honors from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The reside broadcast on ABC begins at 4 p.m. PDT (2300 GMT), an hour sooner than regular.
As stars started arriving to stroll the crimson carpet, a whole bunch of pro-Palestinian protesters angered by the Israel-Gaza battle shouted and slowed site visitors within the blocks surrounding the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. “When you’re watching, bombs are dropping,” one signal learn.
“The Oscars are occurring down the highway whereas persons are being murdered, killed, bombed,” mentioned 38-year-old enterprise proprietor Zinab Nassrou.
“Oppenheimer,” the three-hour drama directed by Christopher Nolan, led the sector with 13 nominations. The film was the frontrunner to win the celebrated greatest image prize, capping its sweep of different main awards this 12 months.
“If the perfect image is not ‘Oppenheimer,’ it will likely be one of many greatest upsets, if not the most important upset, within the historical past of the Oscars,” mentioned Scott Feinberg, govt editor for awards at The Hollywood Reporter.
After 2023 was marred by actors and writers strikes, the Oscars give Hollywood an opportunity to have fun two world hits. “Oppenheimer” and feminist doll journey “Barbie,” one other greatest image nominee, introduced in a mixed $2.4 billion in a summer time field workplace battle dubbed “Barbenheimer.”
Oscar producers mentioned they’ve deliberate unannounced cameos and different surprises to entertain audiences at dwelling.
“My greatest hope is that they undergo a variety of feelings with us, that they really feel happiness and pleasure, that we possibly make them shed a tear,” Government Producer Raj Kapoor mentioned. “After which they in some way really feel related and impressed to additionally reside their goals.”
Supporting actor nominee Ryan Gosling will sing the ’80s-style rock anthem “I am Simply Ken” from “Barbie.” Members of the Osage Nation will carry out the nominated “Wahzhazhe (A Tune for My Folks)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Cillian Murphy, the Irish actor who performed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer as he led the race to construct the primary atomic bomb, is taken into account the favourite for greatest actor. Murphy’s major competitors, in accordance with awards pundits, is “The Holdovers” star Paul Giamatti.
Greatest actress could go to Lily Gladstone of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the real-life story a couple of homicide plot to take over profitable Osage oil rights in Twenties Oklahoma. If she prevails, Gladstone can be the primary Native American actress to win an performing Oscar.
Gladstone’s rivals embrace earlier Oscar winner Emma Stone, nominated this 12 months for enjoying a lady revived from the lifeless at midnight and wacky comedy “Poor Issues.”
The supporting actor race options “Oppenheimer” star Robert Downey Jr., who performed the scientist’s skilled nemesis, and Sterling Ok. Brown from “American Fiction.”
Da’Vine Pleasure Randolph, praised for her position as a grieving mom in “The Holdovers,” vies for greatest supporting actress towards Danielle Brooks from “The Coloration Purple” and others.
“Barbie,” final 12 months’s No. 1 movie with $1.4 billion in world ticket gross sales, could also be shut out of the highest awards. Billie Eilish’s “Barbie” ballad “What Was I Made For?” is more likely to win the unique tune prize, Feinberg mentioned, and will snag the awards for costumes and manufacturing design.
For Nolan, the night time might convey his first directing Oscar, in addition to the award for tailored screenplay. The director of “The Darkish Knight” trilogy, “Inception” and different acclaimed movies has by no means had a film win greatest image.
The ceremony could finish with “the industry-wide coronation for Christopher Nolan,” Feinberg mentioned. With “Oppenheimer,” “he has he has made his very best argument but for why he’s worthy of this recognition.”