After delays caused by devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, the 97th Academy Awards nominations will proceed on Thursday morning at 8:30 AM ET. Despite the challenges, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences aims to honor the resilience and creativity of the film industry.

The nominations will be announced through multiple platforms, including Oscar.com, Oscars.org, social media, Disney+, Hulu, and ABC’s Good Morning America. Actors Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott will present the nominations.

Wildfires and Their Impact on Hollywood

Initially scheduled for January 17, the nominations were postponed after the wildfires on January 7 ravaged areas like Pacific Palisades and Altadena, causing historic destruction. The Academy extended the voting window to accommodate those affected.

Despite calls to cancel the Oscars, Academy leaders insisted the March 2 ceremony must go on to support Los Angeles’ economy and symbolize the industry’s resilience. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang stated the event will reflect recent hardships while celebrating unity in global filmmaking.

However, the usual glitz of award season has been scaled back:

• The annual nominees’ luncheon was canceled.
• Other events were postponed or downsized.
• Original song performances will not take place this year.

Comedian Conan O’Brien, whose home narrowly escaped the fires, is set to host the event.

What to Watch for in the Nominations

1. A Wide-Open Best Picture Race

Unlike past years, no clear favorite has emerged. Four films have secured nominations from major guilds:

• “Anora”
• “Conclave”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “A Complete Unknown”

They are expected to be joined by:

• Golden Globe-winner “The Brutalist”
• Blockbuster musical “Wicked”
• Sci-fi sequel “Dune: Part Two”

Other contenders for the 10 spots include:

• “A Real Pain”
• “The Substance”
• Potential surprises like “Sing Sing,” “September 5,” or “Nickel Boys”

Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” is expected to dominate with the most nominations, possibly setting a new record for non-English language films.

2. Best Actress: Tough Competition

This year’s Best Actress category is packed with talent. Likely nominees include:

• Demi Moore (The Substance)
• Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
• Mikey Madison (Anora)
• Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)

The fifth spot is up for grabs among:

• Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
• Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
• Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl)

Notably absent might be heavyweights like Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) or Angelina Jolie (Maria).

3. History in the Making?

Karla Sofía Gascón, the star of “Emilia Pérez,” could become the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Oscar. In the film, Gascón plays a drug lord who transitions into a woman, a dual role that has captivated audiences.

Reflecting on the possibility of making history, Gascón said:

“If it happens, I’d be so grateful. If it doesn’t, I’ll go back to my life. I’ll play with cats, see my family, and work on other projects.”

4. The Controversial “The Apprentice”

One of the boldest films of 2024, “The Apprentice,” explores former President Donald Trump’s early career in real estate under attorney Roy Cohn. With Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn, both are on the fringe of Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations. Trump, unsurprisingly, labeled the filmmakers “human scum.”

5. Will Best Director Be All Male Again?

The Best Director category has seen progress in recent years, but this year might revert to an all-male lineup, including:

• Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
• Sean Baker (Anora)
• Edward Berger (Conclave)
• Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
• James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)

Potential female contenders include:

• Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light)
• Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)

Big-budget filmmakers like Jon M. Chu (Wicked) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two) could also break into the mix.

The Road Ahead

The nominations announcement will set the stage for an Academy Awards season shaped by resilience, creativity, and hope in the face of adversity. Stay tuned for Thursday’s reveal and the surprises it may bring.

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At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, two bold and unconventional films — Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist and Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez — emerged as the night’s top honorees, each pushing boundaries in their respective genres.

Big Wins for The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez

The Brutalist, a 215-minute postwar epic by Corbet, took home the prestigious Best Film – Drama award, solidifying its place as one of 2024’s most ambitious projects and positioning it as a major contender at the upcoming Academy Awards. The film also earned Best Director for Corbet and Best Actor for Adrien Brody. Corbet, reflecting on the film’s unconventional nature, shared, “I was told this film was un-distributable. No one wanted a 3.5-hour movie about a mid-century designer in 70mm. But it works.”

Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez, a genre-bending Spanish-language trans musical by Jacques Audiard, triumphed in the Best Film – Comedy or Musical category. The film also earned multiple honors, including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña, Best Song for “El Mal,” and Best Non-English Language Film. The movie’s transgender star, Karla Sofía Gascón, delivered an emotional speech, saying, “The light always wins over darkness… You can imprison us, beat us, but you can’t take away our soul, existence, or identity.”

Surprising Actor Wins

The actor category saw several surprises, with Julianne Moore securing her first Golden Globe after 45 years in the industry. Her performance in The Substance, a film about a Hollywood star’s attempt to regain her youth through an experimental process, beat out frontrunner Mikey Madison of Anora. Moore, visibly moved, said, “I’m just in shock… Thirty years ago, a producer told me I was a ‘popcorn actress.'”

Another unexpected winner was Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, who claimed Best Actress – Drama for her role in I’m Still Here, a true-story drama about a family coping with the disappearance of a political dissident in 1970s Rio de Janeiro.

Sebastian Stan also won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical or Comedy for A Different Man, where he portrays a man undergoing a physical transformation. Reflecting on the challenges of making such films, Stan remarked, “These are tough subjects, but they’re necessary. We can’t be afraid to look away.”

Nikki Glaser’s Globes Debut

Comedian Nikki Glaser hosted the ceremony, opening with a witty promise: “I’m not here to roast you.” Glaser delivered a fresh and entertaining monologue, marking a major improvement over last year’s host, Jo Koy. While the humor may not have reached the legendary heights of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Glaser’s performance was well-received. She also delivered a memorable line to Hollywood’s elite: “You could really do anything… except tell the country who to vote for. But it’s OK, you’ll get ’em next time… if there is one. I’m scared.”

A Win for Wicked

The evening also honored Wicked, Jon M. Chu’s record-breaking adaptation, which has grossed nearly $700 million at the box office. Chu, accepting the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, called for “a radical act of optimism” in art, emphasizing the power of uplifting storytelling.

Culkin and ‘Conclave’ Take Top Honors

Kieran Culkin, already a Golden Globe winner for Succession, secured another win for his role in A Real Pain directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Culkin, who called the Globes “the best date night” for him and his wife, thanked her for putting up with his “mania.”

Peter Straughan’s screenplay for Conclave, a papal thriller, took Best Screenplay, while the wordless animated parable Flow won Best Animated Film, triumphing over mainstream blockbusters like Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross claimed the Best Score award for their work on Challengers.

TV Highlights

Television took center stage with several repeat winners. Shōgun, the Emmy-winning series, claimed four awards, including Best Drama Series and acting awards for Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, and Tadanobu Asano. Hacks also took Best Comedy Series, with Jean Smart winning Best Actress, while The Bear earned Best Actor for Jeremy Allen White. Baby Reindeer triumphed as Best Limited Series.

Other notable TV winners included Ali Wong for Best Stand-Up Performance, Jodie Foster for her role in True Detective, and Colin Farrell, who was honored for his transformative performance in The Penguin. Farrell humorously remarked, “I guess it’s prosthetics from here on out.”

The 82nd Golden Globes were a night of unexpected victories, strong performances, and powerful statements from both film and TV. From boundary-pushing films like The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez to surprise actor wins and thought-provoking moments, the ceremony marked a significant step in the ongoing reinvention of the Globes after its turbulent history.

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