Fire-hit Hollywood awaits Oscar nominees, with ‘Emilia Perez’ in front

This year’s Oscar nominations will be unveiled Thursday in an announcement delayed by the
devastating Los Angeles wildfires, with transgender cartel musical “Emilia
Perez” expected to lead a highly competitive field.

Voting deadlines had to be extended this month, as the US entertainment
capital and home city of the Academy Awards was devastated by multiple blazes
that have killed more than two dozen people and forced tens of thousands to
flee.

Nominees will be unveiled virtually, and in subdued circumstances, as a town
that typically fixates on the Oscars race has more pressing matters to
handle.

Even so, the glitzy Oscars ceremony itself is still set for March 2, and the
stars and studios who have spent months and millions of dollars campaigning
will learn if they have made the coveted final shortlists.

“Emilia Perez,” French director Jacques Audiard’s Mexico-set musical, in
which a narco boss transitions to life as a woman and turns her back on
crime, seems certain to pick up best picture and multiple song, score and
sound nods.

“It’s going to rack up a big number,” Pete Hammond, awards columnist for
movie trade outlet Deadline, told AFP.

Nominations for its star Karla Sofia Gascon — who would become the first
openly trans acting nominee — and Zoe Saldana appear set too.

Their more famous co-star, Selena Gomez, has been criticized for her Spanish-
language dialogue and could miss out.

Even so, the Netflix film could become the most nominated non-English-
language movie ever — a record held by “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and
“Roma,” each with 10.

“It’s so strong in all of the categories that it could get nominated in,”
said Hammond.

Competition atop the nomination list will likely come from Vatican thriller
“Conclave,” epic immigrant saga “The Brutalist” and show-stopping musical
adaptation “Wicked.”

Sci-fi sequel “Dune: Part Two,” indie darling “Anora” and Bob Dylan biopic “A
Complete Unknown” are also expected to do well.

– ‘Political statement’ –

Academy Award nominations are fiercely contested by Hollywood’s biggest
stars, and this year’s race for best actress appears especially intense.

A-listers like Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman went all-out with their
performances in “Maria” and “Babygirl,” respectively, but many pundits
believe they will miss out.

Comeback queen Demi Moore charmed the industry with her Golden Globes
acceptance speech for body horror-satire “The Substance,” and seems a lock
for a nomination along with Gascon and “Anora” star Mikey Madison.

“It’s those other two slots that could go any which way,” said Hammond,
pointing to Brazil’s Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”) and Britain’s
Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”) as popular alternates.

“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo is also in the mix.

For best actor, Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”) is a firm favorite, along with
Timothee Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”) and Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”).

This year could finally bring first Oscar nods for rom-com veteran Hugh
Grant, who is radically different in horror “Heretic,” and former 007 Daniel
Craig, for literary adaptation “Queer.”

Or the Academy could ruffle a few feathers in the new White House by
selecting Sebastian Stan for his unsettling transformation into a young
Donald Trump in “The Apprentice.”

The movie drew threats of lawsuits from Trump’s attorneys, particularly for a
scene in which the new US president is shown raping his wife.

“It could be a political statement” to nominate Stan, said Hammond.

– ‘Lost homes’ –

The Los Angeles wildfires have cast a somber shadow on this year’s Oscars,
and the chaos and displacement they caused could also directly impact Academy
voting patterns, Hammond said.

“We know so many members that have lost homes (in Los Angeles)… some will
just not have voted” at all, said Hammond.

He predicted the upheaval at home could increase the influence of the
Academy’s many overseas voters, who often opt for more artsy fare from
outside of the US-centric Hollywood orbit.

“They’re the furthest away from it, and it will be business as usual for that
group,” he said.

“Though I don’t particularly think ‘Emilia Perez’ needs any help,” Hammond
added.

The nominations announcement will begin Thursday at 5:30 am (1330 GMT) in Los
Angeles. (BSS/AFP)