Oscar Buzz: In Year of Uncertainty, Pundits Have Gained Clout, for Better or Worse

At the Oscar Luncheon earlier this week, a young man sporting a gray suit and a dazzling smile rubbed shoulders with the likes of Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Jessica Chastain and Kristen Stewart. Unlike those luminaries, Amaree McKenstry-Hall isn’t an actor, but he is a star — of an Oscar-nominated film. A nonfiction one.

Claudia Eller Co-Editor-in-ChiefThe latest prediction from our film awards maven Clayton Davis is that coming-of-age drama “CODA” will run away with the best picture Oscar at the March 27 ceremony.I have to say that would be awfully fabulous given that everyone — me included — loves a little-engine-that-could underdog story, and this feel-good, scrappy movie filmed in a short amount of time certainly fits that bill. A remake of an award-winning French film, “La Famille Bélier,” the story, written and directed by Siân Heder, centers on the only hearing member of a deaf family (played by Emilia Jones) who’s torn between pursuing her passion for music and her fear of abandoning her family’s fishing business.

Academy Award nominees were honored at the annual Oscars luncheon on Monday, which celebrated the biggest names in this year's most-celebrated films. That meant stars like Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Bradley Cooper brushing elbows on the red carpet, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz enjoying a day date to celebrate their respective nominations, and plenty more star-studded moments.For star Marlee Matlin, this year's Oscars is a bit of a full-circle event.

far and away one of the most sought after and well-respected names in Hollywood. As a multi-talented Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmy-award winning actress, Kidman, 54, has conquered the entertainment industry on a global stage—carefully crafting a historical career.

Nicole Kidman was a no-show at Monday’s annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon.

LOS ANGELES -- The Oscar race may be heating up, but you wouldn’t know it to peek in on the nominees luncheon Monday in Los Angeles.Attendees packed into a ballroom at the Fairmont Century City for the annual luncheon, where nominees get to mingle and celebrate. It was a long awaited homecoming for many after a year away due to the pandemic.Before the lunch, nominees excitedly greeted one another.

Steven Spielberg is sharing his thoughts on the 2022 Oscars.

Will Smith looks sharp in a blue suit while arriving for the 2022 Oscars Nominees Luncheon held at Fairmont Century Plaza on Monday (March 7) in Los Angeles.

EXCLUSIVE: Voicing his concern and disappointment over the Motion Picture Academy’s controversial decision to move the presentation of eight categories to the hour before the actual ABC Oscar telecast begins at 5 p.m. PT on March 27, Steven Spielberg has become the most powerful voice yet to express his opposition to the idea.

Steven Spielberg managed (rather unsurprisingly) to breathe new life into a beloved classic with his extravagant retelling of the cult-favorite musical, whichdepicts a beautifully tragic tale of rivalry and forbidden love that unravels on the streets of Manhattan's Upper West Side. Anyone who missed it on the big screen can choose between Disney Plus or HBO Max and have a front row seat to Tony and Maria's love story from where you are now.  proved — much like its predecessor — to be a hit among Academy members, with Spielberg's vibrant remake racking up a total of 7 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

It was a night when the pundit-predicted Oscar-season frontrunners The Power of the Dog and Belfast came up empty, and longer shots like CODA and The Eyes of Tammy Faye won key races that promise to add a bit more suspense as we glide toward the Oscars.

Steven Spielberg managed (rather unsurprisingly) to breathe new life into a beloved classic with his extravagant retelling of the cult-favorite musical, whichdepicts a beautifully tragic tale of rivalry and forbidden love on the streets of Manhattan's Upper West Side. (the 2021 version) proved — much like its predecessor — to be a hit among Academy members, with Spielberg's vibrant remake racking up a total of 7 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Zack Sharf Denis Villeneuve recently told MovieMaker magazine that he is “deeply pleased” with “Dune” landing 10 Oscar nominations, second only to Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” as the most nominated film at the 94th Academy Awards. While “Dune” broke into the best picture race and landed nominations in every craft category, Villeneuve himself got shut out of the best director race.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentAfter Oscar nominations were announced Feb. 8, the buzz seems equally centered on who was nominated and who wasn’t.There’s an impressive roster of work in both categories.

Nicole Kidman is up for another Oscar but her daughters aren’t fazed.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorTo many, Dante Basco is known as Rufio in Steven Spielberg’s “Hook.” Reality TV fans will remember him on “Hell’s Kitchen,” but over the years he has turned his hand to producing, directing and writing.In “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers,” out now on-demand, he directs and stars, along with his brothers Derek Basco, Dionysio Basco, and Darion Basco, in the film structured as a series of vignettes following four brothers as their Filipino American family prepares for the ultimate Filipino event: a wedding.As the narrative intercuts between the wedding celebration in Pittsburg, Calif., and the vignettes that focus individually on the four siblings during the buildup to the big event, Basco worked with fellow Filipino American cinematographer Andrea Walter to deliver his vision. Says Walter, “Dante and I decided we wanted to give a different look for each brother.

Beyoncé has done it again! The superstar is officially an Oscar nominee, after breaking the record for most Grammy wins in history last year, the singer is now coming for the Academy Awards.

Keith Urban is having a proud husband moment. The “You’ll Think of Me” singer gave his wife, Nicole Kidman, a special shout-out after she was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for her performance as Lucille Ball in on Tuesday“CONGRATS on your OSCAR nomination today babygirl! SO proud of you & all that you poured into this dual role,” the 54-year-old singer tweeted. «Lucille AND Lucy.