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Ariana DeBose in »West Side Story«: These Oscars will be a big celebration of diversity
Photo: Niko Tavernise / imago images/Prod.DB
Champion Campion?
Jane Campion is the first woman in Oscars history to be nominated for Best Director twice.
In March 1994 she was in contention for The Piano but lost to Steven Spielberg (for Schindler's List) and had to settle for the Best Screenplay trophy.
A few weeks ago, she caused dissatisfaction with the statement that, unlike her, the tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams had never had to compete against men.
Nevertheless, her western »The Power of the Dog« is considered a favorite.
He leads the field with twelve nominations, if things go perfectly for the New Zealander, she can go on stage three times - namely as a screenwriter and producer.
Denzel vs. Will
Believe it or not, Denzel Washington has actually been nominated for an Oscar five different decades, starting in 1988 for his portrayal of political activist Steve Biko in Richard Attenborough's apartheid drama Cry Freedom.
Two years later he won Best Supporting Actor in the Civil War epic Glory.
Now the now 67-year-old is in the running with Joel Coen's Shakespeare adaptation »Macbeth«.
But Will Smith, who shines as the annoying and lovable godfather of Venus and Serena Williams in »King Richard«, could have the edge in the end.
Say gay!
A controversial law that prohibits teachers in Florida from addressing homosexuality in class is also causing protests from Hollywood stars.
It even caused violent shocks in the Disney group.
It is all the more important that Ariana DeBose and Kristen Stewart, two actresses who openly describe themselves as queer, have been nominated.
DeBose seems to have a very good chance of being best supporting actress with her great performance in "West Side Story".
Where is Rita?
But the Academy missed out on a real coup, a surefire storm of applause and never-ending standing ovations.
Rita Moreno, who became the first Latina to win an Oscar exactly 60 years ago for her portrayal of Anita in the first film adaptation of West Side Story, was not even nominated for the role of a wise lady in the remake.
Moreno, who turned 90 in December, would have beaten all age records, no actor or actress was ever older for an Oscar.
She didn't think she could be a star, Moreno said.
Everyone thought she was just a "Puerto Rican kid."
It would be very surprising if she didn't appear on stage at the Oscar show at some point.
The loser wears Gucci
For many it was incomprehensible, for some it was even a shock: just a nomination for Ridley Scott's a-woman-beats-rather-well-dressed-corpse epic »House of Gucci«.
However, these are in a category that fits the fashion world, namely for the best make-up and hairstyling.
But what about Lady Gaga, who struggled to put on an Italian accent for the female lead?
And what about Jared Leto, who hyperventilates in the film, even in close-up, as if he were standing on an opera stage and wanting to blow away the back row?
Director oldie Scott, 84, was also passed over.
Gucci may have to make up for its lack of stage presence on the red carpet.
Hollywood's multitasker or the magic seven
Kenneth Branagh, whose semi-autobiographical film "Belfast" could win seven times, is now the only artist in Oscar history to have been nominated in seven separate categories: Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay (all for "Henry V.«), Best Supporting Actor (»My Week with Marilyn«), Best Short Film (»Swan Song«), and Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture (both for »Belfast«.) But of course a man, who is only 61 still has goals.
Maybe Branagh should take an apprenticeship with the costume designers.
Game, set and match for Miranda?
There are four Grand Slam tournaments in the tennis world and few players have managed to win them all in one year.
There is a counterpart to this in the US entertainment industry, called EGOT.
The acronym stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, nominated for his song "Dos Oruguitas" in Disney's Encanto, can do it.
The 42-year-old already has an impressive collection of trophies, including a Pulitzer Prize, three Tonys and three Grammys.
The EGOT walkthrough wouldn't be all that surprising, since Whoopi Goldberg, Rita Moreno and Mel Brooks have all done it.
Brilliant even without words
Anyone who can still remember will be immediately touched: In 1987, Marlee Matlin, who was just 21 at the time, was the first deaf actress to win an Oscar for her performance in the film »God's Forgotten Children« and gave her acceptance speech without a word to speak: in sign language.
The recently deceased William Hurt, her screen partner in the film, had just opened the envelope with her name on it.
In the Apple TV+ film »Coda«, she plays the wife of Frank Rossi, a deaf fisherman played by Troy Kotsur.
He is the first deaf actor to be nominated for Best Male Supporting Actor.
In the age of inclusion, the Academy will want to know what he has to share with us.
Overall, »Coda« is very far ahead in the forecasts.
Either way, it would be huge if a streamer didn't bag the Oscar for best picture for the first time.
Again and again these Danes
The fact that Danish cinema can be quite experimental and innovative is no longer news, at least since Lars von Trier's first works and the Dogma movement.
But making a film that is nominated for Best Documentary and Animated Film and then for Best International Film is a feat.
The 40-year-old director Jonas Poher Rasmussen succeeded in doing this with »Flee«, the story of a homosexual Afghan who came to Denmark many years ago.
If you want to pass the time until the Oscars, you can count the awards that the film has already won since its premiere in Sundance at the end of January 2021.
parallel pairs
2022 is the Year of the Oscars at the Oscars: For the first time, two couples are nominated in all four acting categories: Kirsten Dunst (for »The Power of the Dog«) and her partner Jesse Plemons for the same film, both as supporting actors.
In addition, the Spanish dream couple Penélope Cruz & Javier Bardem, she for »Parallel Mothers«, he for »Being the Ricardos«.
Best of all, everyone can win, celebrate together, and have a great night performing Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Edward Albee's play about a four-person relationship war.
