Document text
Preview: 89th Oscars has a strong, diverse field This image released by Lionsgate shows Ryan Gosling, right, and Emma Stone in a scene from, "La La Land," which received 14 nominations in the 89th Academy Awards. [AP photo] Thursday Feb 9, 2017 at 12:01 AM By Chris Honore for Revels If you love the movies, then it’s likely that you’ve seen more than a few of the films nominated for this year’s 89th Annaul Academy Awards. So mark the date: Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, to be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. But even if you’ve only seen a few of the nine movies chosen, there is still ample time. Plus Oscar night is, well, quite a night. The glitterati will be there, emerging from black stretch limos, walking the red carpet, dressed to the nines in designer everything, pausing for interviews and posing for photos. It’s a strange phenomenon this celebrity culture of ours that is so much a part of the American experience. We, along with most of the world, elevate movie stars (what a great name) to larger-than-life fame and status because they entertain us by taking us out of our own lives and into a magical, often surreal place called the movies. The actors, often speaking words written by someone else, transform themselves. And when done well, using their remarkable gifts, they take on identities so seamlessly that for two hours we forget who they really are. In fact, we don’t know who they are, not really, only that they can be someone other than themselves. Which brings us to that one singular night each year in which the denizens of Hollywood celebrate their craft with high glitz and music, all of it swirling around that iconic, androgynous golden statue so coveted and so elusive. This year, Hollywood has a deep bench of remarkable films, actors, directors and writers, making it difficult to pick just one in the many categories. Consider that the musical “La La Land” alone has 14 nominations, equaling the record of “Titanic” or “All About Eve.” Las Vegas odds-makers would counsel that this film — with its captivating music, lyrics and story — should win Best Picture. However, it faces strong competition that might surprise. Start with the fact that the Academy nominated six black actors in four different films — “Loving,” “Fences,” “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight” — a record, and decidedly moving past the last two years of #OscarsSoWhite. So, let’s begin with Best Picture: It’s a diverse and powerful lineup, starting with “Manchester by the Sea,” “Fences,” “Hidden Figures,” “Moonlight,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Lion,” “Arrival,” “Hell or High Water” and “La La Land.” All are exceptional, wonderfully written and acted. Best Actress in a Leading Role: Isabelle Huppert (“Elle” from France), Natalie Portman (“Jackie”), Emma Stone (“La La Land”), Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins”) and Ruth Negga (“Loving”). Best Actor in a Leading role: Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”), Denzel Washington (“Fences”), Andrew Garfield (“Hacksaw Ridge”), Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”), and Viggo Mortenson (“Captain Fantastic”). Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis (“Fences”), Naomi Harris (“Moonlight”), Nicole Kidman (“Lion”), Octavia Spencer (“Hidden Figures”) and Michelle Williams (“Manchester by the Sea”). Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”), Jeff Bridges (“Hell or High Water”), Lucas Hedges (“Manchester by the Sea”), Dev Patel (“Lion”) and Michael Shannon (“Nocturnal Animals”). Best Director: Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”), Mel Gibson (“Hacksaw Ridge”), Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”), Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”) and Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”). Best Animated Feature: “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Moana,” “My Life as a Zucchini,” “The Red Turtle” and “Zootopia.” Best Original Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”), Yargos Lanthimos (“The Lobster”), Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”) and Mike Mills (“20th Century Women”).