As A-list celebrities make their way down the red carpet, many will have already won the limelight with their fashion choices, even if they’re not walking away with an Oscar later in the night.
The event will be telecast live on Star Movies and telecast on JioHotstar at 4:30 AM IST.
Comedian and TV host Conan O’Brien will return to host the show for the second consecutive year after hosting last year’s event. Several major stars are scheduled to present the awards tonight, including past winners Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña. They will be joined by presenters such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Javier Bardem, Maya Rudolph, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Anne Hathaway, Will Arnett and Paul Mescal. India’s very own ‘desi girl’ Priyanka Chopra will also become the host of the show.
Security at the ceremony at the Dolby Theater was heightened after tensions escalated recently this year after the United States, under Donald Trump, launched military action against Iran. Organizers are working with the FBI and LAPD to maintain theater security.
Music will also play a major role in tonight’s event. Two of the five nominees for Best Original Song will be performed live, including “I Lied to You” from ‘Sinners’ and “Golden” from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’. ‘Sinners’ will feature performances by Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq alongside Misty Copeland, Buddy Guy and Eric Gales, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li, with additional appearances by Brittany Howard, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith.
Meanwhile, Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna will perform “Golden” as part of a showcase celebrating the folklore behind the animated hit.
To kick off the event, the Best Director race features Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler, both competing for their first Oscars. Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ is the favorite, and Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ leads the nominations with a record 16.
The Best Actor race will also be one of the closest of the night’s contests, with Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet both in tough competition for their first Academy Awards. Chalamet was seen as the frontrunner for his performance in ‘Marty Supreme’, although the momentum has shifted in recent weeks.
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley is expected to win for her role in ‘Hamnet’. Support categories, however, remain highly competitive. Amy Madigan is a slight favorite for best supporting actress for “Weapons,” although Teyana Taylor for “One Battle After Another” and Wunmi Mosaku for “Sinners” are also considered strong contenders.
For Best Supporting Actor, Sean Penn is seen as the front-runner, albeit with little campaigning, although Stellan Skarsgård for ‘Sentimental Value’ and Delroy Lindo for ‘Sinners’ remain in the mix.
This year’s event also introduces a new category to recognize Best Casting.
The night will also include the traditional In Memoriam portion, honoring several film personalities who have died in the past year, including Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Rob Reiner, Catherine O’Hara, Robert Duvall, Val Kilmer, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, James Van Der Beek and Claudia Cardinale.
Stay tuned to this ETimes LIVE blog for all live updates from the red carpet, top fashion moments, celebrity appearances, winners list and more.
