Ten things to look out for on Oscars night

HOLLYWOOD, United States: again, and this time in force: Eddie Redmayne leads the pack as a favourite for best actor as astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in ‘ The Theory of Everything’, but other nominees include Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley (‘ The Imitation Game’), Felicity Jones (‘The Theory of Everything’) and Rosamund Pike (‘ Gone Girl’).

Fashion alert

The parade of stars on the Oscars red carpet is, for some, almost as big a show as the Academy Awards themselves. Who will wear what? What colours will be in (and out)? Will anyone make a fashion statement on the scale of Bjork in her swan dress at the 2001 Oscars? Or Lady Gaga emerging from her egg at the 2011 Grammys? Watch out, Gaga is due to perform at this year’s Oscars...

Name game

‘ Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘ Pulp Fiction’ icon John Travolta is among a star-studded line-up of presenters -- but he will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s mangling of ‘Frozen’ songstress Idina Menzel’s name (it came out as “Adele Dazeem”). Read those lips.

Mexican repeat?

Can Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu repeat fellow Mexican Alfonso Cuaron’s best director triumph last year -- and maybe go one better? Inarritu is frontrunner in the category for his dark comedy ‘ Birdman’, which is also tipped for best picture honours. Cuaron won best director last year for ‘ Gravity’, but missed out on the evening’s top prize.

Finally Moore?

Veteran Julianne Moore, a selfdeclared “late bloomer” at the age of 54, is hoping to make it fifth time lucky, after four previous Oscar nods. She is the frontrunner for best actress for her portrayal of a linguistics professor suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s in ‘ Still Alice’.

Politics?

Probably the most famous political moment in Oscars history came in 1973 when Marlon Brando won for ‘ The Godfather’ -- and refused the award, sending up on stage a native American woman to protest at the abuse of her kin by the film industry. Possible causes this year -- the recent surge in police killings of African Americans? The lack of any black acting nominees? The Charlie Hebdo attacks? Watch those acceptance speeches.

Snowden flick

Talking of politics, a movie about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden could generate some debate: ‘ Citizenfour’ by US filmmaker Laura Poitras is a frontrunner for best documentary. Watch out for her speech, if she wins.

In memoriam

Each year the show includes a segment dedicated to Hollywood greats who passed in 2014. This year, Tinseltown’s biggest loss was comic actor Robin Williams, who committed suicide in August. Others mourned include ‘ The Graduate’ director Mike Nichols and actress Lauren Bacall, along with Britain’s Richard Attenborough and Bob Hoskins. — AFP