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Oscars 2017: What to Watch For Oscars 2017: Mahershala Ali Is Best Supporting Actor; Jimmy Kimmel Hosts
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• The Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC starting at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. • Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the Academy Awards on ABC. His opening monologue took gentle swings at President Trump and Hollywood. We’re following the show live.
• We’re photographing the best looks on the red carpet. Several celebrities are wearing A.C.L.U. ribbons. • “O.J. Made in America” wins the best documentary feature Oscar. Mahershala Ali wins best supporting actor for his role in “Moonlight.”
• Here were some of the best looks on the red carpet. Several celebrities are wearing A.C.L.U. ribbons.
• “La La Land” leads all movies with 14 nominations, tied for the most ever.• “La La Land” leads all movies with 14 nominations, tied for the most ever.
• The nominees are diverse. Will the winners be? LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Kimmel, his Everyman schtick carefully in place, opened the 89th Academy Awards on Sunday with a plea for viewers to bridge divides, followed by a jab at President Trump. It promised to be a whipsawing night, with Mr. Kimmel determined to deliver an effervescent, ratings-lifting show and Hollywood in a sour political mood and itching to tell the world about it.
• Meryl Streep’s anti-Trump speech was the talk of the Golden Globes. Will the Oscars have a similar moment? As he opened his monologue, Mr. Kimmel asked viewers, both conservative and liberal, to come together in a calm conversation. “If we could all do that we could make America great again, we really could,” he said, to applause.
LOS ANGELES — “Fasten your seatbelts: It’s going to be a bumpy night.” But Mr. Kimmel, appearing confident and calm — and with the audience now on his side — soon took sharper aim. In a reference to President Trump, Mr. Kimmel said, “Remember last year, when it seemed like the Oscars were racist?”
That sassy chestnut, made famous by Bette Davis in the 1951 best-picture winner, “All About Eve,” sums up the feeling in Hollywood heading into this year’s Oscars. Set for broadcast by ABC on Sunday night, the 89th Academy Awards telecast is expected to be a new flash point in the Trump-era culture wars. The night’s first award, best supporting actor, went to Mahershala Ali for his portrayal of a tender drug dealer in “Moonlight.” A tearful Mr. Ali thanked the film’s cast, crew and his own family. “Peace and blessings,” he said, avoiding a repeat of the pointed comments he made at previous awards shows about the Trump administration’s travel ban.
There is no larger platform for liberal views than the Oscars stage — more than 100 million people watch worldwide — and some winners will undoubtedly use their moment of glory to rail against President Trump and his policies, just as Meryl Streep did at the Golden Globes. In other words, expect the three-hour-plus telecast to move between frothy self-celebration and acrid finger-wagging. In an abrupt turn from a highbrow art film to mass-appeal blockbusters, the night’s next Oscar, for makeup and hairstyling, was given to “Suicide Squad,” followed by a win by “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” for costume design.
Diversity scorecard-keeping could bring additional turbulence. After two years when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was attacked as racist for overlooking black actors and films about African-American experiences, the current nominee list is remarkably diverse. But if films with black leads (“Hidden Figures”) are ignored in favor of ones with white stars (“Manchester by the Sea”), a new #OscarSoWhite fire may ignite. After two years when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was attacked as racist for overlooking black actors and films about African-American experiences, the current nominee list is remarkably diverse. But if films with black leads (“Hidden Figures”) are ignored in favor of ones with white stars (“Manchester by the Sea”), a new #OscarsSoWhite fire may ignite.
Ahead of the ceremony, the favorite to win best picture is “La La Land,” which received 14 nominations, a tie with “All About Eve” and “Titanic” for the most in academy history. Hollywood never tires of gazing in a mirror: “La La Land,” a musical love letter to the entertainment industry, would become the fourth show-business story in six years to win best picture, joining “The Artist,” “Argo” and “Birdman.”Ahead of the ceremony, the favorite to win best picture is “La La Land,” which received 14 nominations, a tie with “All About Eve” and “Titanic” for the most in academy history. Hollywood never tires of gazing in a mirror: “La La Land,” a musical love letter to the entertainment industry, would become the fourth show-business story in six years to win best picture, joining “The Artist,” “Argo” and “Birdman.”
But “Hidden Figures,” a more conventional studio film with an uplifting story about overlooked NASA heroines in the 1960s, could pull off an upset win, as could the critical darling “Moonlight,” an art-house film about a young, black, gay man growing up poor in Miami.But “Hidden Figures,” a more conventional studio film with an uplifting story about overlooked NASA heroines in the 1960s, could pull off an upset win, as could the critical darling “Moonlight,” an art-house film about a young, black, gay man growing up poor in Miami.
Some contests were seen as no contest at all, including supporting actress, where Viola Davis was favored to win an Oscar — her first — for playing a world-weary housewife in “Fences.” (She won best actress at the 2010 Tony Awards for playing the same role onstage. She was the one who decided to drop to the supporting category for the Oscars.)Some contests were seen as no contest at all, including supporting actress, where Viola Davis was favored to win an Oscar — her first — for playing a world-weary housewife in “Fences.” (She won best actress at the 2010 Tony Awards for playing the same role onstage. She was the one who decided to drop to the supporting category for the Oscars.)
But there were still lots of questions, both serious and silly.
Could two of the films that campaigned most heavily — “Arrival,” up for eight awards, and “Lion,” with six nominations — go home with nothing? Might the sound mixer Kevin O’Connell, who holds the record for the most Oscar nominations without a single win (21) finally emerge victorious for his work on the gory war film “Hacksaw Ridge”?
Which star will be the first to gobble the “lobster corn dogs” and “gold-dusted popcorn” served by Wolfgang Puck at the official after-party?
Here are five other matters to consider ahead of the show:Here are five other matters to consider ahead of the show:
The best actor race is extremely tight. Will the Oscar go to Denzel Washington, a seasoned, two-time Oscar winner who brought a passion project to the big screen? Or Casey Affleck, a 41-year-old comeback kid?The best actor race is extremely tight. Will the Oscar go to Denzel Washington, a seasoned, two-time Oscar winner who brought a passion project to the big screen? Or Casey Affleck, a 41-year-old comeback kid?
Mr. Affleck, at long last seeming to leave behind his lamentable 2010 film, “I’m Still Here,” was once seen as a lock. His nuanced performance in “Manchester by the Sea” was widely hailed as a triumph and won him trophies at stops including the Golden Globes. But Mr. Affleck was dogged by the fact that in 2010 he settled sexual harassment complaints tied to “I’m Still Here.” In late January, Mr. Washington, the director and star of “Fences,” staged an upset win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.Mr. Affleck, at long last seeming to leave behind his lamentable 2010 film, “I’m Still Here,” was once seen as a lock. His nuanced performance in “Manchester by the Sea” was widely hailed as a triumph and won him trophies at stops including the Golden Globes. But Mr. Affleck was dogged by the fact that in 2010 he settled sexual harassment complaints tied to “I’m Still Here.” In late January, Mr. Washington, the director and star of “Fences,” staged an upset win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
It’s rare for an actor to collect a Screen Actors Guild award and not go on to land an Oscar. But it is also rare for an actor to win three Oscars or more. Awards prognosticators are giving Mr. Washington the edge, but it remains anyone’s guess.It’s rare for an actor to collect a Screen Actors Guild award and not go on to land an Oscar. But it is also rare for an actor to win three Oscars or more. Awards prognosticators are giving Mr. Washington the edge, but it remains anyone’s guess.
Anger about Mr. Trump’s administration has been palpable in the movie capital in recent days. On Friday, a fired-up Jodie Foster helped lead an anti-Trump rally hosted by the United Talent Agency, just as the directors of the five foreign film nominees voiced their “emphatic disapproval of the climate of fanaticism and nationalism we see today in the U.S.” in a joint statement.Anger about Mr. Trump’s administration has been palpable in the movie capital in recent days. On Friday, a fired-up Jodie Foster helped lead an anti-Trump rally hosted by the United Talent Agency, just as the directors of the five foreign film nominees voiced their “emphatic disapproval of the climate of fanaticism and nationalism we see today in the U.S.” in a joint statement.
One way to gauge how feisty nominees are feeling about politics on Sunday will be to watch the arrivals preshow. If anyone wears a “persist” arm band (as Katy Perry did at the Grammys) or trundles along with a paintbrush and crayons (as one advocacy group urged to display support for federal arts funding) it will signal an in-your-face kind of night. On the red carpet (where some stars were shivering in the mid-50s weather), nominees like Ruth Negga, a best actress honoree for “Loving,” and Lin-Manuel Miranda, nominated for his “Moana” song, wore blue ribbons signaling support for the American Civil Liberties Union. But most celebrities seemed to avoid political barbs.
Some political allusions, whether glaring or opaque, are inevitable — not least because Hollywood believes in the power of storytelling, and its own power to reshape America’s sense of itself. But there is also a chance that Oscar attendees could roll back their criticism on Sunday. Adding more voices of opposition might only increase the sense that it has all become predictable white noise. As Jimmy Kimmel, this year’s Oscar host, told Vanity Fair of all the political barbs, “It can be a little much after a while.” Some political allusions, whether pointed or cryptic, are inevitable — not least because Hollywood believes in the power of storytelling, and its own power to reshape America’s sense of itself. But there is also a chance that Oscar attendees could roll back their criticism on Sunday. Adding more voices of opposition might only increase the sense that it has all become predictable white noise. As Jimmy Kimmel, this year’s Oscar host, told Vanity Fair of all the political barbs, “It can be a little much after a while.”
Now that the Oscar campaigns are over, some stars might also be thinking about red-state ticket buyers instead of liberal academy voters.Now that the Oscar campaigns are over, some stars might also be thinking about red-state ticket buyers instead of liberal academy voters.
Left to bridge the gap between people watching from their sofas in Kansas City and the theater filled with coastal elites will be Mr. Kimmel, who has said he will try to read the mood of the country on Sunday. He will have to stay on his toes: Mr. Trump could very easily cause Twitter chaos in the minutes before the show begins. On Sunday, some supporters of Mr. Trump used Twitter to advocate for ignoring the Oscar telecast. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas wrote:
(A White House spokeswoman said in an email that Mr. Trump was spending Sunday night hosting the National Governors Association’s annual dinner in Washington.)
Left to bridge the gap between people watching from their sofas in Kansas City and the theater filled with coastal elites, Mr. Kimmel spent little time trying to pretend the Oscars were anything but a liberal affair. When popping up after the first few statuettes were presented, he made a reference to the box-office success of “Doctor Strange,” the Marvel comics movie. Mr. Kimmel then joked that the character “was also named secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
The Oscars represent a big moment for Mr. Kimmel, whose late-night show trails those hosted by Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon in the ratings and who has been put forward by ABC for years as a possible M.C. only to lose out on the gig. But Mr. Kimmel has a few things going in his favor. Last year’s ceremony, hosted by Chris Rock, drew some of the worst ratings in Academy Awards history; there is probably nowhere to go but up. Ratings for the recent Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Grammy Awards all increased.The Oscars represent a big moment for Mr. Kimmel, whose late-night show trails those hosted by Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon in the ratings and who has been put forward by ABC for years as a possible M.C. only to lose out on the gig. But Mr. Kimmel has a few things going in his favor. Last year’s ceremony, hosted by Chris Rock, drew some of the worst ratings in Academy Awards history; there is probably nowhere to go but up. Ratings for the recent Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Grammy Awards all increased.
And his rival Mr. Fallon set a low bar when he hosted the Globes, becoming a deer in headlights when a teleprompter malfunctioned at the start of that show.And his rival Mr. Fallon set a low bar when he hosted the Globes, becoming a deer in headlights when a teleprompter malfunctioned at the start of that show.
For viewers, the seemingly interminable Oscars show — Mr. Kimmel has warned this one will be “significantly longer” than three hours — really starts to drag in the middle, which is usually stuffed with awards for more technical achievements. But those categories (production design, sound editing, sound mixing, film editing, costume design) can hold important clues about the winner of the night’s biggest prize. For viewers, the seemingly interminable Oscars show — Mr. Kimmel has warned this one will be “significantly longer” than three hours — really starts to drag in the middle, which is usually stuffed with awards for more technical achievements. But those categories (production design, sound editing, sound mixing, film editing) can hold important clues about the winner of the night’s biggest prize. The loss by “La La Land” in the costume design category, for instance, may have exposed some weakness among voters.
If “La La Land” emerges with the costume design statuette, for instance, that is a sign that voters were over the (lavender) moon for the film. But if the musical can’t pull off wins in score and song, then it’s in trouble.If “La La Land” emerges with the costume design statuette, for instance, that is a sign that voters were over the (lavender) moon for the film. But if the musical can’t pull off wins in score and song, then it’s in trouble.
Of course, there are exceptions to this thinking: Last year, “Mad Max: Fury Road” did an almost clean sweep through these “below the line” categories, as the movie industry refers to them, and then stalled when it came to the money races.Of course, there are exceptions to this thinking: Last year, “Mad Max: Fury Road” did an almost clean sweep through these “below the line” categories, as the movie industry refers to them, and then stalled when it came to the money races.
The documentary and foreign film categories are considered two weak spots in the telecast simply because not enough people have seen them. (About 60 percent of Americans could not even name a single best picture nominee in a poll arranged by The Hollywood Reporter.)The documentary and foreign film categories are considered two weak spots in the telecast simply because not enough people have seen them. (About 60 percent of Americans could not even name a single best picture nominee in a poll arranged by The Hollywood Reporter.)
But the documentary and foreign film races were unusually spirited this year.But the documentary and foreign film races were unusually spirited this year.
Among nonfiction films, Ava DuVernay’s much-esteemed look at mass incarceration, “13th,” was campaigned for aggressively by Netflix; the civil rights-themed “I Am Not Your Negro” surged late in the season; and the nearly eight-hour, is-it-a-mini-series-or-is-it-a-film “O. J.: Made in America” won bellwether prizes. Inside betting had “Made in America” prevailing, but don’t count the others out. Among nonfiction films, Ava DuVernay’s much-esteemed look at mass incarceration, “13th,” was campaigned for aggressively by Netflix and the civil rights-themed “I Am Not Your Negro” surged late in the season. But the nearly eight-hour, is-it-a-mini-series-or-is-it-a-film “O. J.: Made in America” was named best documentary. In accepting the award, Ezra Edelman, the film’s director dedicated the award to Nicole Simpson, Ron Goldman and “the victims of police violence, police brutality, racially motivated violence and criminal injustice.”
Similarly, foreign film was a topsy-turvy contest. The German satire “Toni Erdmann” initially had the momentum. But Mr. Trump’s travel ban put the spotlight on Iran’s entry, “The Salesman,” whose director, Asghar Farhadi, said that he would boycott the ceremony in protest — a decision that probably pushed voters in his film’s direction.Similarly, foreign film was a topsy-turvy contest. The German satire “Toni Erdmann” initially had the momentum. But Mr. Trump’s travel ban put the spotlight on Iran’s entry, “The Salesman,” whose director, Asghar Farhadi, said that he would boycott the ceremony in protest — a decision that probably pushed voters in his film’s direction.