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Oppenheimer is preparing for a big evening
Three films stand at the top of the list of historic Academy Award victories spanning nearly 100 years.
The “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, “The Return of the King,” “Titanic,” directed by James Cameron, and “Ben-Hur,” starring Charlton Heston, each won a record 11 Oscars.
Christopher Nolan's biopic “Great Man” directed by Oppenheimer, about the creation of the atomic bomb under the supervision of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, launched the saga into the rarefied air.
Oppenheimer's film received rave reviews and was nominated for 13 awards, one short of the record set by “All About Eve,” “La La Land” and “Titanic.”
To reach Mount Olympus, this American Prometheus will need to score Oscar wins in other areas, such as sound or adapted screenplay.
“Oppenheimer” has already swept the Producers, Directors and Screen Actors Guild Awards for Best Picture, becoming the 11th film to win the triple award. Ten of those 11 went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture with only “Apollo 13” falling short.
Oppenheimer's film is a “lock” to win seven Oscars, including Best Picture, says our columnist Glenn Webb. However, there have been surprises, including in 1999 when “Shakespeare in Love” stole the best picture award from devastating director Steven Spielberg and his war epic “Saving Private Ryan.”
As Webb points out, “Oscar nerds will be on the edge of their seats.” Here are his Oscar predictions.
Kimmel returns on the biggest night in Hollywood
Oppenheimer's film and its success will be one of several topics featured at the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
The show begins on ABC at 4pm and is expected to last three and a half hours. Red carpet coverage begins at 10 a.m
Late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel is hosting for the fourth time.
Kimmel has endured some truly messy but dramatic Oscar moments, such as in 2017 when presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were handed the wrong envelope and incorrectly announced that La La Land had won Best Picture. The real winner was “Moonlight.”
He also brought stability to hosting last year, as the show tried to regain its footing after comedian Will Smith's infamous 2022 onstage slap of comedian Chris Rock in front of a stunned global television audience.
Kimmel agreed to host the show this year, in part because he'd seen some of this year's Best Picture nominees.
“I'm sitting in the movie theater watching 'Barbie' and thinking, 'Well, maybe I'll do this again,' because at least I have a point of reference with everyone,” he said.
Spoilers and potential performers highlight the evening
“Poor Things” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” also enter with huge ambitions, supported by 11 and 10 nominations, respectively. “Barbie,” the biggest hit last summer, also received eight nominations.
Jon Batiste is expected to perform scheduled performances of Oscar-nominated songs (“He Never Gone Away” from “American Symphony”); Becky G (“The Fire Inside” from “Flamin' Hot”); Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell (“What Are You Made For?” from “Barbie”); Scott George and the Osage Singer (“Wahzhazhe [A Song for My People]From “Moonflower Killers”); Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson (“I'm Just Ken” from “Barbie”).
Biggest stories of the week
(Godofredo A. Vasquez/Associated Press)
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First column
The First Column is the Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this week:
(Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images)
A series of explosions in Tierra Caliente — an area along the border of Jalisco and Michoacán states that has long been a hot spot for guerrilla warfare — represents an alarming escalation of violence in Mexico as criminal groups arm themselves with ever more sophisticated and lethal weapons. . The drug war in Mexico has become more like an actual war with the increasing use of land mines.
More great reads
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For your weekend
(Shelby Moore/For The Times)
Out
🥯 What better way to spend a Sunday than searching for the best bread in the area. We have our choices. 🌹 It's the second Sunday of the month, and that means the return of Pasadena's sprawling flea market at the Rose Bowl, opening at 5 a.m. 🐶 Arcadia's Arboretum is hosting its first “Barks & Brew” Festival, highlighting animal efforts Pet adoption. The event begins at 11 a.m. 🪁 The 50th annual “Kite Festival” in Redondo Beach is free and centered around celebrating the exotic kite, starting at noon.
stay in
Los Angeles Affairs
Immerse yourself in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage.
(Chloe Zola/For The Times)
We were together for six months, and even as we grew closer, met each other's families and became the couple known as “Scott and Kathleen,” I continued to call him Paul, my ex-boyfriend's name. At the grocery store, in front of friends, and when we're alone. With a dramatic shake of his finger, he'd issue the line “You didn't just call me Paul…again?” I would raise my hand to him, as if Scott were in charge.
Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team
Andrew J. Campa, Reporter
Carlos Lozano, News Editor
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