The Oscars are coming

It’s safe to say that excitement will be swelling in Los Angeles. In six days’ time, a galaxy of stars from the world of film will descend upon Hollywood and grace the red carpet for this year’s Oscars. The blogosphere is awash with speculation as to which film will win the Best Picture award. One poster on the Movie Whores website comments…

I think it will go to either Atonement or No Country For Old Men, with No Country For Old Men a likely win. Michael Clayton and Juno are too modest in scope to catch the Academy’s attention, and There Will Be Blood is too jarring and weird to seize the day.

If I was a betting man, I’d put my money on Atonement winning the coveted award. However, you can never predict what film’s going to win what at the Oscars. Back in 2005, everyone thought Brokeback Mountain was going to take the title of Best Picture but Crash won the much sought-after award instead. Maybe we should all expect the unexpected at this year’s ceremony?

Finally, BBC Online has put together 80 facts to celebrate this year’s Oscars. Here are the five facts I found to be the most interesting…

At the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, 270 guests attended and tickets cost $5.

Bugs Bunny scooped his one and only Oscar in 1959.

In 1986 Steven Spielberg’s The Colour Purple amassed 11 nominations but failed to win a single statuette.

The US invasion of Iraq led to a muted ceremony in 2003, with heightened security and politically-tinged acceptance speeches.

In 2004 The Return of the King became the only film ever to have won every single Oscar it was nominated for.

Who said blogs weren’t informative?