The Oscars: Sausage fingers, severed fingers, oddball indies and billion-pound blockbusters
From sausage fingers to severed fingers and with oddball indies in contention alongside billion-pound blockbusters, Hollywood’s big night is here and this year there are cinematic treats catering to pretty much everyone’s tastes.
While more box office hits like Avatar and Top Gun have made the shortlist than usual, they aren’t the ones everyone’s talking about on the sand-coloured carpet in rainy Los Angeles.
Instead, Ireland’s hopes rest with a twisted take on the break-up of a male friendship.
The brilliant The Banshees Of Inisherin reunites two of cinema’s finest in Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, and looks strong with its nine nominations.
Banshees of Inisherin. Pic: Searchlight Pictures
Not that filmmaker Martin McDonagh is too bothered.
“I’m bad at public speaking, so I’m kind of half happy when we lose so I don’t have to go up there,” he told Sky News earlier this awards season.
“But no, it’s better to be in the mix than not to be in the mix.
“So it’s weirdly both exciting and scary at the same time.”
Brendan Gleeson, Kelly Condon and Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell stars in The Banshees Of Inisherin. Pic: Jonathan Hession/Searchlight Pictures via AP
It’s a year for first-timers with 16 of the 20 acting contenders having never been Oscar nominated before – including Ireland’s Paul Mescal and Britain’s Bill Nighy – with the latter embracing the stiff upper lip stereotype.
“I think it probably is regrettable and psychiatrists would probably say its deeply unhealthy,” Nighy said.
“But there’s also something kind of heroic about it and it’s funny that you weren’t allowed to express anything really.”
Bill Nighy in Living. Pic: Lionsgate
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As for his chances though? Critics claim it’s a “Butler vs Brendan” showdown.
Both gave transformative performances, with Austin Butler impressing as the king in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis, while Brendan Fraser is back after a spell away and has been visibly emotional at the strong reception he has received for his part in The Whale.
“The award stuff, it’s new to me, but we’re all frothy and happy and giddy and happy for this, with fingers crossed and best fondest hopes for success,” Fraser told Sky News.
“But who knows what the result is going to be.
“But I’m confident – I think that we’ve got a shot at making it to the finish line.”
Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Pic: Annette Brown/ Marvel Studios
Angela Bassett is the one to beat in the supporting actress category, where she could well provide Marvel’s first acting win for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
But Jamie Lee Curtis just might pip her to the prize on Sunday for her part in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Cate Blanchett in Tar: Pic: Florian Hoffmeister/Focus Features
And whether Michelle Yeoh can beat Cate Blanchett for best actress is a tough call, as it seems written in the stars – an awards prophecy if you like – that Blanchett’s Academy Award-winning films are released every nine years – she won for The Aviator in 2004 and Blue Jasmine in 2013 – so Tar (released last year) will probably deliver her a third.
Ke Huy Quan. Pic: Dana Pleasant/Invision/AP
And Ke Huy Quan, a supporting actor nominee who those of a certain age will remember from The Goonies, says he’s winning regardless.
Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Pic: A24
Quan, who is nominated for his part in Everything Everywhere All At Once, told Sky News: “Honestly, when I did this movie, when I decided to get back into acting, I didn’t think any of this was possible.
“I just wanted a job. I just wanted to be in front of the camera again.
“All these nominations are so, so great. It’s already a win for me.”
Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh and James Hong in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Pic: A24
When it comes to the big prize, don’t rule out All Quiet On The Western Front causing a noisy upset for best picture – after all, that’s what happened at this year’s BAFTAs.
But the film to keep your eye on is Everything Everywhere All At Once – the unlikely indie and multiverse-jumping sci-fi hit leading the pack with 11 nominations.
And if it doesn’t end up dominating the night, fans can take comfort that out there in another dimension, it will most definitely take home every award, somewhere at multiple times.
You can watch the Academy Awards on Sunday 12 March from 11pm exclusively on Sky News and Sky Showcase. And for everything you need to know ahead of the ceremony, don’t miss our special Backstage podcast, out now, plus look out for our special episode on the winners from Monday morning.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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Snoop Dogg becomes a co-owner of Swansea FC
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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