Get out the popcorn — Hollywood’s biggest night is upon us.
Get out the popcorn — Hollywood’s biggest night is upon us.
Jimmy Kimmel will return to the stage as host for the second consecutive time on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for a hotly contested best picture season that includes frontrunners like “The Shape Of Water,” “Call Me By Your Name,” “Get Out” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” among the nine nominees.
Also making their return to the stage are Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, who made headlines last year after an unprecedented Best Picture mix-up.
The two presenters accidentally announced “La La Land” as the winner, but it actually went to “Moonlight” after they were handed the wrong envelope by a PwC accountant backstage.
Hopefully, things go smoother this time around.
“I want it to happen again,” Kimmel joked of their now famous mistake.
On the heels of the prominent Times Up and #MeToo moment at the Golden Globes in January, Kimmel previously said in interviews that he would not address the topic at the Oscars. However, in an interview with Vanity Fair on Thursday, he changed his stance, saying he would make mention of the important movement during the show.
And it wouldn’t be surprising if the movement to help eradicate sexual harassment and assault in show business — and in other industries — will also be addressed by presenters and winners on-stage and on the red carpet.
Annabella Sciorra, Ashley Judd and Salma Hayek, three actresses who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, are scheduled to present at the ceremony.
Meryl Streep, who was widely criticized for not speaking out against pal Weinstein, also might take this opportunity to address the disgraced producer — especially if she takes home the Oscar for Best Actress for “The Post.”
This is the first Academy Award ceremony where Weinstein won’t be grinning in the front row. After news broke in October 2017 that he sexually harassed and assaulted dozens of actresses, the producer was banned from the Academy.
Weinstein was mentioned and thanked at least 34 times in Oscar speeches from 1993 to 2016 — which is reportedly more than any winner has thanked God.
Casey Affleck, who won Best Actor for “Manchester By The Sea” in 2017, will not be presenting to this year’s winner as has been tradition because of past accusations of sexual misconduct. Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster are reportedly replacing Affleck, according to Variety.
Unlike the Golden Globes where actresses wore black and actors donned pins that read “Times Up,” the Oscars have no clear dress code or nod to the movements.
The Time’s Up pins led to sexual misconduct accusations about Best Actor in a Comedy winner, James Franco, to be published in the Los Angeles Times. Comedian Aziz Ansari was also judged for wearing the pin after an accusation that he made a date uncomfortable with his sexual advances was published online.
There is no clear choice for who will take home Best Picture on Sunday, though “The Shape of Water,” the sea monster love story directed by Guillermo Del Toro, is swimming in nominations with a whopping 13. The timely storyline of “Three Billboards,” about a mother trying to avenge her daughter’s rape and murder, is also a serious contender.
Jimmy Kimmel doesn’t think he needs to speak out about everything
Critics are holding out hope that Jordan Peele’s groundbreaking thriller centered on racial tensions in America, “Get Out,” could earn the coveted trophy for Best Picture.
Trailing in second with the most nominations is Christopher Nolan’s World War II picture “Dunkirk,” with eight nods, and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is up for seven nominations.
“Three Billboards” star Frances McDormand is the most likely nominee to take home the gold statue for Best Actress for her performance. She’s competing against Sally Hawkins (Shape of Water), Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird), Margot Robbie (I, Tonya) and Streep (The Post).
The Oscars will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Sunday, with red carpet and backstage coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. A livestream will also be available on the Academy’s website and Facebook, as well as on ABC.com and the ABC app. ABC is also presenting Countdown to the Oscars Live! for three hours leading up to the big event, which is available to stream on the ABC Facebook page.
E! will begin its red carpet coverage at 5 p.m. with hosts Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic. It’s unclear if recent sexual harassment allegations against Seacrest will impact the coverage — or celebrities’ willingness to speak with him.
For the second year in a row, Kimmel is the host of Hollywood’s biggest night. The ABC late night host used his time on stage last year to continue his fake feud with pal Matt Damon, thought Damon is not scheduled to appear this year.
Kimmel said he had an easy choice as to what Best Picture selection to poke the most fun at.
“The Shape of Water is about a woman who has sex with a sea monster. So probably that one — that’s got to be right at the top,” he said.
The funnyman told Vanity Fair that things will be pretty similar to last year, just with different jokes. He said he and his team will be writing more material up until the show starts.
The nine best picture nominees are, “The Shape of Water,” “Get Out,” “Call me By Your Name,” “Three Billboards,” “Dunkirk,” “Lady Bird,” “The Post,” “Darkest Hour” and “Phantom Thread” — said to be Daniel Day-Lewis’ final acting performance.
Gary Oldman is a favorite to win for his portrayal of Winston Churchill, despite his recently dug up past where he assaulted his ex-wife with a telephone. Many movie lovers are more hopeful that up-and-comer Timothée Chalamet will take home the Oscar. Chalamet, 22, is the youngest best actor nominee in more than 75 years.
Speaking of record-breakers, Greta Gerwig is the fourth woman to be nominated for both best director and best screenplay for “Lady Bird” and the only woman to be nominated this year.
