Hollywood’s biggest night poised to be historic

LOS ANGELES — Could Sunday be “Absolute Sinnerma”? Or will “One Battle After Another” prevail at the 98th Academy Awards?

Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” has already made history with 16 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Previously, the record was held by “All About Eve” (1950), “Titanic” (1997), and “La La Land” (2016) — each earned 14 nominations.

Sunday’s award show could be historic. “Sinners” needs to win 12 Academy Awards to become the most awarded film in Oscars’ history.

Currently, three films hold the record for the most Oscar wins: “Ben-Hur” (1959), “Titanic” (1997) and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003). Each took home 11 Academy Awards.

It should be noted that “The Return of the King” swept the 76th Academy Awards because it won in every category it was nominated. “The Turning Point” (1977) and “The Color Purple” (1985) each received 11 Oscar nominations but went home empty-handed.

“Sinners” is riding a momentum wave thanks to the Screen Actors Guild’s Actor Awards win last week that included Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan and Outstanding Cast. However, if history teaches us anything, it is that the SAGs don’t have the best record when it comes to predicting Oscar wins. Last year, only two SAG film acting winners, from the four categories, won Oscars.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” isn’t going out without a … well … battle. The film has been dominating the awards circuit and all precursor awards like the Directors Guild, Producers Guild, the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and the BAFTAs.

Thomas Anderson was previously nominated for Best Picture and Best Directing for “There Will Be Blood” (2007), “Phantom Thread (2017), and “Licorice Pizza” (2021). Sean Penn earned his sixth nomination and first in the Supporting Actor category. He previously won Best Actor for his leading roles in “Mystic River” (2003) and “Milk” (2008).

The consensus seems to be that come Sunday night, Thomas Anderson will walk away with the Oscar for Best Director. 

To say that this past year has been historic for movies would be an understatement. At this year’s Academy Awards, “The Secret Agent” and “Sentimental Value” became the 12th and 13th non-English films to be nominated for both International Feature Film and Best Picture in the same year. “Parasite” is the only film to have won both the International Feature Film and Best Picture Oscars.

Ladies, step right up. Women made history with a record 76 nominations this year. The previous record of 71 was set in 2023.

With their nomination for “Sirat,” Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas became the first all-women sound team to be nominated for a sound award. Autumn Durald Arkapaw is the fourth woman to be nominated for Cinematography for “Sinners.” Additionally, Chloe Zhao’s directing nomination is the 11th nomination for a woman, and she is the second woman to receive multiple directing nominations, following Jane Campion.

Zhao made history at the 93rd Academy Awards (2021) when she became the first woman of color to win Best Director for “Nomadland.”

Speaking of talented women … Will this finally be Diane Warren’s year at the Oscars? She’s been nominated 17 times and lost 16 times. This year, her 17th nomination, she’s nominated for Original Song for “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless.” In 2022, Warren received an honorary award.  

Amy Madigan, who is nominated for “Weapons,” is nominated for Best Supporting Actress, 40 years after her first nomination for her supporting role in “Twice in a Lifetime” (1985).

And don’t forget … this year we get a new category at the Academy Awards — Achievement in Casting. It’s the first new award category since Best Animated Feature Film was introduced in 2001. Once again, the consensus seems to be that “Sinners” will walk away with the news category Oscar.

The Oscars take place Sunday, March 15, and will air on ABC.