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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 , 2019

This file photo taken on July 2, 2018, shows the Statue of Liberty in New York City. — AFP

The eight contenders for the best picture Oscar

rom a superhero blockbuster to an offbeat royal comedy of manners to an intimate black-and-white ode to 1970s Mexico City, the contenders for this year’s best picture Oscar are as varied as ever. Here is a brief summary of the eight films vying for the most prestigious prize at FSunday’s Oscars ceremony:

‘Black Panther’ today’s America. Lee has notoriously been director Yorgos Lanthimos hired a trio of but the stars and the film’s team have vigor- nations, Oscarologists see the film as a lock Director Ryan Coogler took Hollywood by denied on Oscars night, including a snub 30 powerhouse actresses — Olivia Colman, ously defended it. for best original song (“Shallow”) but not for storm with his take on Marvel’s “Black years ago for his seminal work “Do The Right Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone — to bring to much else. Panther,” a visually stunning film about a Thing.” While he has an honorary Oscar, he life his feminist reimagining of the life and mythical, hidden, technologically advanced has never won a competitive Academy Award. reign of Britain’s Queen Anne. Colman plays ‘Vice’ African kingdom called Wakanda. The title the ailing, paranoid monarch, while Weisz Adam McKay brought his offbeat sense of character is also known as T’Challa, the heir to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ plays her best friend, advisor and (in the film) satire to the life of former US vice president Wakanda’s throne who takes over as king The biopic about legendary Queen front- lover Lady Sarah, and Stone appears as Dick Cheney for “Vice,” charting the rise of when his father is assassinated. But he is chal- man Freddie Mercury earned lackluster Abigail, Sarah’s distant cousin looking to George W. Bush’s veep from Montana to the lenged by Killmonger, a US black ops soldier reviews when it opened, but its surprise inclu- move up at court. What ensues is a dark, far- West Wing. Christian Bale earned widespread with nefarious intentions who also happens to sion — and wins — at the Golden Globes in cical yet affecting look at a queen in turmoil, praise for disappearing under extra pounds be T’Challa’s cousin. The film earned an January propelled it into Oscars contention. who falls victim to her scheming female com- and a mountain of make-up into the role — impressive seven nominations overall, and Rami Malek is a top contender for best actor panions. It earned 10 nominations, tying with and earned a Golden Globe and a Bafta for his made history by becoming the first comic for his portrayal of Mercury, and critics have “Roma,” and all three women got Oscar nods. efforts. Bale, along with co-stars Amy Adams book film to win a best picture nomination. It especially hailed his strutting, pitch perfect (Cheney’s wife Lynne) and Sam Rockwell won top honors at the Screen Actors Guild recreation of the band’s iconic Live Aid per- (Bush), received Oscar nominations, but the awards for best ensemble cast. formance in 1985. The film, which earned a film’s mixed reviews stalled its awards cam- total of five nominations, did not escape scan- paign for the bigger prizes. — AFP dal — it was directed by Bryan Singer, who is facing a raft of sexual misconduct allegations, some of them involving teenage boys. Singer was fired shortly before “Bohemian Rhapsody” wrapped, and has not been Best picture involved or even mentioned during the film’s awards season campaigns. But his name winners of the remains in the movie’s credits. past 20 years ‘Roma’ Alfonso Cuaron’s love letter to his child- he following is a list of the best hood — and the two women who guided him, Tpicture Oscar winners from the his mother and his nanny — has been the last 20 years, ahead of Sunday’s overwhelming favorite to win the top prize on in Hollywood :- Sunday. If it does win, it will be the first for- 2018 - “The Shape of Water” eign-language film to do so, and the first best 2017 - “Moonlight” picture winner for streaming giant Netflix. 2016 - “Spotlight” “Roma” tells the story of an indigenous 2015 - “Birdman” woman named Cleo — played by first-time actress Yalitza Aparicio — who works as a 2014 - “12 Years A Slave” housekeeper and nanny for a middle-class 2013 - “Argo” family in Mexico City during the 1970s. The 2012 - “The Artist” ‘Green Book’ movie, shot in a mixture of Spanish and the 2011 - “The King’s Speech” Can a classical black pianist and a rough- indigenous Mixtec language, is a personal tri- 2010 - “The Hurt Locker” and-ready Italian-American bouncer-turned- umph for Cuaron, already an Oscar winner for 2009 - “Slumdog Millionaire” ‘BlacKkKlansman’ driver become friends in the 1960s as they best director in 2014 for space epic “Gravity.” 2008 - “No Country for Old Men” Is this ’s year? The veteran travel through the segregated Deep South? director turned out a blistering drama based “Green Book” says yes. The civil rights dram- ‘A Star Is Born’ 2007 - “The Departed” on the real-life tale of a black cop in Colorado edy, based on the real-life experiences of At the start of Hollywood’s awards season, 2006 - “Crash” who decides to try to infiltrate the Ku Klux musician Don Shirley and Tony “Lip” “A Star Is Born” looked like the natural lead- 2005 - “Million Dollar Baby” Klan with the help of his white partner. The Vallelonga, is running behind “Roma” in most ing contender. The retelling of a classic 2004 - “The Lord of the Rings: The film — which earned six nominations — stars Oscar predictions for best picture honors. The Tinseltown tale — an addicted singer on the Return of the King” John David Washington (son of two-time movie — which explores race relations and wane, a young ingenue on the rise and their 2003 - “Chicago” Oscar winner Denzel) as Ron Stallworth and questions about identity — soars thanks to its doomed love affair in the balance — had 2002 - “A Beautiful Mind” Oscar nominee as his partner ‘The Favourite’ lead actors Viggo Mortensen (Vallelonga) and Oscars gold written all over it. It had mega- Flip Zimmerman. “BlacKkKlansman” unfolds A film with a decidedly female perspective Mahershala Ali (Shirley), who are both Oscar star power in actor-director Bradley Cooper 2001 - “Gladiator” in the 1970s, but the film ends with images of has not won best picture since “Million Dollar nominees. It endured its fair share of criticism and co-star Lady Gaga. It enjoyed massive 2000 - “American Beauty” rallies in Charlottesville two years ago, Baby” in 2005 and “The Favourite” would be and controversy, including over whether it is success at the box office. Critics loved it. So 1999 - “Shakespeare in Love” becoming a searing indictment of divisions in a welcome way to break that streak. Greek the latest in a stream of “white savior” movies, what happened? Despite earning eight nomi-