I’ll be looking for surprises – but I think they’ll be thin on the ground.
Of the big awards, Oppenheimer looks to have best director, best picture, best supporting actor and probably best actor in the bag.
If Paul Giamatti beat Cillian Murphy that would be a surprise – and a reward for an actor many believe should already have an Oscar.
Best actress is the interesting category. Will Academy voters have decided to give it to Poor Things’ Emma Stone or Killers of the Flower Moon’s Lily Gladstone? The first would be the “Hollywood favourite shows tour de force range” choice, the second would be the “making history” choice – Gladstone would be the first ever native American acting win.
I’ll also be watching out for how well The Zone of Interest does. The British film in German has five nominations and a real chance at the Oscar for best international film.
I’ll also be looking for show stealers. Will it be Ryan Gosling performing “I’m just Ken” or a tear-spouting, over the top acceptance speech?
As long as there’s nothing like a repeat of the Will Smith slap two years ago, the Academy will be happy.