The Oscars are considered the ultimate crown of excellence for movie stars in Hollywood and around the world. Over 3000 of these coveted statuettes have been awarded since its inception in 1929 and this celebration of distinction has continued over the years. The 91st Academy Awards (Oscars 2019) aims to reward the best films and performances of the year 2018.
The nominees for the various categories were announced in January 2019 and despite the fact that there would be no host for the ceremony, the show must go on. We take a closer look at some of the interesting details about the 2019 Oscars; the place, the hopes of rewards and all the rest.
Where will the 2019 Oscars take place?
The venue for the 2019 Oscars is the Dolby Theater located in the Hollywood and Highland Center shopping and entertainment complex. It is located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. Since opening in November 2001, the theater has hosted the annual Academy Awards and the 2019 Oscars would be no exception.
Who will win the main categories?
While a few of the nominees who made the 2019 Oscars cut are hoping to add to their trophy cabinets, several others are looking to get their very first golden statuette. Two films The Favorite (2018) and Roma (2018) led the nominees list with a total of 10 nominations each. We now take a closer look at the nominees of the main award categories.
The Academy Award for Best Picture
This award goes to the producer of the film and is considered the most prestigious honor of the ceremony. For the 2019 Oscars, four biographical films were nominated in this category including BlacKkKlansman (2018), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Green Book (2018) and Vice (2018). Other films nominated in this hotly contested category include the historical film The Favorite (2018), the drama film Roma (2018), and the romantic drama film A Star is Born (2018).
Last but not least of the nominated films is the superhero film Black Panther (2018) which was a box office monster. Black Panther made history as the first superhero film to be nominated in this category and a win for the film would mark a perfect culmination, following the film’s record box office run.
The Academy Award for Best Actor
Interestingly, 4 of the 5 nominees for this highly sought after category earned their nominations for their works in various biopics; Christian Bale for portraying Dick Cheney in Vice (2018), Willem Dafoe for portraying Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate (2018), Rami Malek for portraying Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), and Viggo Mortensen for his starring role as Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga in Green Book (2018).
Bradley Cooper also earned this nomination for his starring role in the hit musical, A Star Is Born (2018). For the youngest of the nominees, Rami Said Malek, this is his very first Oscar nomination. Others have all received multiple nominations in the past. Except for Christian Bale who won his first Oscar in 2011.
The Academy Award for Best Actress
This category is also hotly contested as none of the 5 nominees have ever won an Oscar in the past. This is the first outing for Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio who was nominated for her lead role in the highly acclaimed film, Roma (2018). It’s also a first nomination for English-born actress Olivia Colman who was nominated for her performance in the landmark film, The Favorite (2018).
On the contrary, for the American actress Glenn Close who was nominated for her performance in The Woman (2018), it is the 7th Oscar nomination of her career but she has not yet registered any victory. Other nominees in the category are music star-turned-actress Lady Gaga, who was nominated for her lead role in A Star Is Born (2018) and Melissa McCarthy who was nominated for portraying Lee Israel in the biopic Can. you ever forgive me? (2018).
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Just like the Best Actor category, this category has also witnessed many biographical film nominations. Moreover, this is a first nomination for 3 of the 5 candidates in total in this category; Adam Driver for his role as Philip “Flip” Zimmerman in the crime biopic BlacKkKlansman (2018), Sam Elliott for his performance in the musical A Star Is Born (2018), and Richard E. Grant for his role as Jack Hock in the biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018).
American actor Mahershala Ali, who won the same category in 2017, was nominated for his portrayal of Don Shirley in the hit biopic, Green Book (2018). Likewise, Sam Rockwell, the American actor who won the award in 2018, was nominated for playing George W. Bush in the comedy biopic, Vice (2018).
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Just like the previous ones, this category also has its own peculiarities. The historic film The Favorite (2018) has 2 nominees for this category; Emma Stone for her portrayal of Abigail Masham and Rachel Weisz for her role as Sarah Churchill. Both actresses have won the Academy Award in the past, each hoping to expand their number of golden statuettes.
There are also 2 first-time nominees in this category; Mexican actress Marina de Tavira for her role in the drama film Roma (2018) and Regina King for her performance in the romantic drama film, If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).
Meanwhile, Amy Adams was nominated for her performance in the highly acclaimed biopic Vice (2018). Interestingly, this marks a 6th Oscar nomination for the talented actress who is hoping to register her first win.
The Academy Award for Best Director
This category could easily pass for the most diversified according to the nationalities of each of the candidates. In addition, 3 of the 5 nominees are former Oscar winners while the other 2 hope to land their very first statuette.
Highly acclaimed Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón was nominated for his work on the film Roma (2018) while Polish-English director Paweł Pawlikowski was nominated for his work on the historical film Cold War (2018). Yorgos Lanthimos, a Greek-born filmmaker and director, was also nominated for his directorial duties on the highly acclaimed film, The Favorite (2018).
American director Spike Lee was nominated for his work on the crime biopic BlacKkKlansman (2018) while his compatriot Adam McKay was nominated for his work on the comedy biopic Vice (2018).