Hollywood: The wait is finally over. After a grueling awards season defined by multimillion-dollar campaigns and shifting frontrunners, the 98th Academy Awards arrive this day. All eyes are on the Dolby Theatre as two cinematic titans—Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners—prepare for a historic head-to-head battle for Best Picture.

This year’s ceremony, hosted for the second consecutive time by Conan O’Brien, promises more than just gold statues. With heavy security flanking the streets of Los Angeles due to global political tensions, the atmosphere inside is equally electric. Both lead films are within striking distance of breaking the all-time record of 11 Oscar wins, currently held by Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

A clash of auteurs

Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ has already etched its name in the history books with a staggering 16 nominations. The supernatural thriller follows gangster twins returning to a haunting, segregated 1930s Deep South. If Coogler takes home the trophy, he will become the first Black filmmaker to win Best Director in the Academy's nearly century-long history.

Standing in his way is Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’. A gritty political thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio as an off-grid revolutionary, the film has been the season's steady pace-setter. Despite 11 career nominations for classics like There Will Be Blood, Anderson has never won an Oscar—a fact many voters feel is long overdue.

"It’s time," one anonymous Academy voter told AFP. "I voted for Anderson because of his incredible body of work, though Coogler is equally deserving."

Acting categories: Too close to call

While Best Actress seems locked for Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), the other categories are pure chaos:

  • Best Actor: Once considered a "lock" for his role in Marty Supreme, Timothée Chalamet’s momentum has stalled following controversial remarks about ballet and opera. This has cleared a path for Michael B. Jordan, who recently bagged the SAG Award for his dual role in Sinners.
  • Supporting Actor: Veteran Delroy Lindo (Sinners) is facing off against two-time winner Sean Penn (One Battle) and international favorite Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value).
  • Supporting Actress: A three-way toss-up between Teyana Taylor, Wunmi Mosaku, and horror standout Amy Madigan.

Performances and tributes

The night won't just be about speeches. Expect high-octane musical sets from the voices behind Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters performing "Golden," and a soulful rendition of "I Lied to You" led by Sinners star Miles Caton.

The Academy will also pause for a somber In Memoriam segment, paying tribute to the legendary Robert Redford and filmmaker Rob Reiner. Rumors suggest Barbra Streisand may make a rare appearance to sing a tribute to Redford, her iconic The Way We Were co-star.

The ceremony airs live on ABC and Hulu starting at 4.30 AM IST (4 PM PT; 23:00 GMT).
AFP