With only a week to go before the Oscars, the all-important Best Picture prize appears locked in a two-horse race between dark comedy "Birdman" and coming-of-age drama "Boyhood."
But as Hollywood counts down the days to next Sunday's show, some are suggesting that controversial blockbuster "American Sniper" could yet surprise, and best the two indie films.
"'Boyhood' and 'Birdman' are the frontrunners, and 'American Sniper' is the dark horse," Matthew Belloni, executive editor of industry journal The Hollywood Reporter, told AFP.
"I wouldn't be surprised if 'American Sniper' had a last-minute surge, because of how well it's doing at the box office," he added, referring to the movie's $365 million-plus global box office haul so far.
The Academy Awards have traditionally favored more independent, art-house fare for Best Picture, handed out at the climax of Hollywood's annual December-to-February awards season
Washed-up superhero star
"Birdman" -- about a washed-up superhero film star battling to revive his career on the stage -- is definitely more along its usual lines, as is "Boyhood," which took 12 years to make as the actors aged in real time.
Both have fared well in pre-Oscars shows, with "Boyhood" taking the Golden Globes' best film, while "Birdman' won a string of awards including top prizes at the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America.
But Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" has unexpectedly stirred up the race, grabbing headlines both for its massive box office success and a row over its portrayal an Iraq war warrior.
Filmmaker Michael Moore claimed it hero-worships former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, while Tea Party firebrand and former vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin said leftists were "not fit to shine Chris Kyle's combat boots."
The question is, how many of the 6,000-odd voting members of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the industry's elite body, will be swayed at this late stage?
They began casting ballots on February 6, and voting closes on Tuesday at 5:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday) -- after which only two PriceWaterhouse Coopers staff will know the results before the envelopes are opened on stage next Sunday.
While the Best Picture race is too close to call, several of the other key categories are seen as much easier to predict.
Julianne Moore is almost universally expected to win best actress for playing a professor suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease in "Still Alice."
Patricia Arquette is the favorite for best supporting actress as the mother in "Boyhood."
Best actor is between "Birdman" star Michael Keaton and Britain's Eddie Redmayne as astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything," while J.K. Simmons is tipped for supporting actor for jazz drama "Whiplash."
Belloni said his personal forecast for best director is Mexico's Alejandro Inarritu for "Birdman" -- with the best picture going to "Boyhood."
"So the Academy will split... much like it did last year," he said, referring to "12 Years a Slave" taking the best film prize in 2014, while "Gravity" helmer Alfonso Cuaron -- also Mexican -- took best director.
Uproar over all-white nominees
Talking of "12 Years a Slave," there was uproar last month when Oscar nominations were announced, over the fact that every single one of the 20 acting nominees are white.
While Martin Luther King Jr movie "Selma" is among the eight Best Picture nominees, eyebrows were raised that neither its British star David Oyelowo nor director Ava DuVernay were shortlisted individually.
"The real snub here is that David Oyelowo... I think a lot of people were surprised that he did not get a nomination for that," said Belloni.
More broadly, he said, Academy members "feel bad" that only white actors were nominated this year, but added: "I think the problem goes deeper than that.
"The Academy nominates the films that are put up for contention, and other than 'Selma' there really weren't films that featured minority actors in leading and hefty roles," Belloni added.
"It goes to the kinds of movies that are getting green-lit in Hollywood, and the kinds of people who are making those decisions. Hollywood has made strides in recent years to rectify the diversity problem, but it still exists."
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Feb 17 2015
![Could 'American Sniper' sneak up in two-horse Oscar race? Could 'American Sniper' sneak up in two-horse Oscar race?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-02/81422870318_295x200.jpg)
But Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" has unexpectedly stirred up the race, grabbing headlines both for its massive box office success and a row over its portrayal an Iraq war warrior.
![Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723677980_MounirNasraoui.jpg)
Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan
Mounir Nasraoui, bapa kepada Lamine Yamal, ditikam pada lewat Rabu di tempat letak kereta di bandar Mataro di timur laut Sepanyol.
Putin anggap rundingan dengan Ukraine tidak berguna
Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin menyifatkan, tindakan Ukraine yang menyerang orang awam memperlihatkan keengganan Kyiv menyelesaikan konflik peperangan dua negara dengan cara perdamaian.
Fadillah tiba di Peru, hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tiba Lima, Peru bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Tenaga (EMM) di bawah Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) yang berlangsung selama dua hari.
BNM denda Maybank RM4.32 juta, CIMB RM760,000 berikutan gangguan perkhidmatan berpanjangan
Bank Negara Malaysia mengenakan Penalti Monetari Pentadbiran (AMP) sebanyak RM4.32 juta ke atas Malayan Banking Bhd dan Maybank Islamic Bhd serta RM760,000 ke atas CIMB Bank Bhd dan CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd susulan gangguan beberapa perkhidmatan perbankan yang berpanjangan.
![Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723674988_pineapplesweetsme.jpg)
Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine
Auckland City Mission secara tidak sengaja telah mengagihkan gula-gula bercampur Methamphetamine yang boleh membawa maut melalui pek makanan.
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza hadapi kekurangan mesin dialisis
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza menghadapi kekurangan peralatan dialisis dan bekalan perubatan yang teruk di Khan Younis.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas hilang kepercayaan A.S jadi pengantara gencatan senjata
Hamas hilang kepercayaan terhadap keupayaan Amerika Syarikat untuk menjadi pengantara gencatan senjata di Gaza.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas tidak ambil bahagian rundingan gencatan senjata baharu
Hamas tidak akan mengambil bahagian dalam pusingan baharu rundingan gencatan senjata Gaza yang dijadualkan di Qatar, pada Khamis.
Malaysia kecam pencerobohan Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu berkata perbuatan keji ini yang dilakukan di bawah perlindungan pasukan keselamatan Israel, merupakan pencerobohan serius terhadap satu daripada tapak paling suci Islam.
![WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723675747_Mpoxvirus.jpg)
WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Ini merupakan pengisytiharan kali kedua dalam tempoh dua tahun berikutan wabak yang bermula di Congo sudah merebak ke negara jiran.
![Oscar: Meriah dalam kepelbagaian, bagaimana peluang filem tempatan? Oscar: Meriah dalam kepelbagaian, bagaimana peluang filem tempatan?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/41619331938_minaridannomadland.jpg)
Oscar: Meriah dalam kepelbagaian, bagaimana peluang filem tempatan?
Perjalanan filem tempatan masih jauh untuk memperbaiki mutu filem tempatan dan membina rangkaian serta menyusun strategi pemasaran yang berkesan.
![Sean Connery pernah luahkan rasa menyampah terhadap watak James Bond Sean Connery pernah luahkan rasa menyampah terhadap watak James Bond](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/71604154724_TBSeanConnery.jpg)
Sean Connery pernah luahkan rasa menyampah terhadap watak James Bond
Dia pernah menolak tawaran Bekas Pengurus Machester United Matt Busy yang kagum dengan fizikal Sean untuk menjadi pemain bolasepak
![Teruk sangat ke filem AS? - Trump cemuh kemenangan filem Parasite di Anugerah Akademi Teruk sangat ke filem AS? - Trump cemuh kemenangan filem Parasite di Anugerah Akademi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-01/61578461361_trump.jpg)
Teruk sangat ke filem AS? - Trump cemuh kemenangan filem Parasite di Anugerah Akademi
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Donald Trump mencemuh Anugerah Akademi atas pengiktirafannya kepada filem Korea Selatan, Parasite sebagai filem terbaik di Oscars.
![Malaysia antara 93 negara hantar filem ke Oscar Malaysia antara 93 negara hantar filem ke Oscar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-10/81570496595_Oscarstatue.jpg)
Malaysia antara 93 negara hantar filem ke Oscar
Malaysia turut menyertai senarai itu dengan filem "M for Malaysia" arahan Ineza Rousille dan Dian Lee.
![Tiada siaran anugerah Oscars untuk Asia Pasifik Tiada siaran anugerah Oscars untuk Asia Pasifik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/71550802632_oscar.jpg)
Tiada siaran anugerah Oscars untuk Asia Pasifik
Oscars ke-91 berdepan pelbagai cabaran di mana individu yang sepatutnya menjadi hos, Kevin Hart, menarik diri susulan kontroversi Tweet beliau sebelum ini yang berbentuk diskriminasi.
![Gangguan seksual: Kevin Spacey didakwa lagi, kongsi video 'pelik' di YouTube Gangguan seksual: Kevin Spacey didakwa lagi, kongsi video 'pelik' di YouTube](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-10/41509356481_KevinSpacey.jpg)
Gangguan seksual: Kevin Spacey didakwa lagi, kongsi video 'pelik' di YouTube
Pelakon Kevin Spacey akan didakwa dengan pertuduhan yang dipercayai mempunyai kaitan dengan gangguan seksual.
![Filem '2001: A Space Odyssey' kembali dalam format IMAX Filem '2001: A Space Odyssey' kembali dalam format IMAX](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-08/61533303648_ASpaceOdyssey.jpg)
Filem '2001: A Space Odyssey' kembali dalam format IMAX
Proses pemindahan format filem epik sains fiksyen karya dan arahan Stanley Kubrick itu dibuat bawah pengawasan pengarah tersohor, Christopher Nolan.
![Actor Casey Affleck withdraws as 2018 Oscar presenter Actor Casey Affleck withdraws as 2018 Oscar presenter](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-01/61483926584_CaseyAffleck.jpg)
Actor Casey Affleck withdraws as 2018 Oscar presenter
Affleck, 42, was expected to present this year's best actress award in keeping with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tradition.
![#Oscars2016: Lapor Langsung Anugerah Akademi ke-88 #Oscars2016: Lapor Langsung Anugerah Akademi ke-88](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-02/71456713780_950x600.jpg)
#Oscars2016: Lapor Langsung Anugerah Akademi ke-88
Anugerah Akademi atau Oscar ke-88 berlangsung di Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles. Ia akan diacarakan oleh Chris Rock dan menyaksikan perebutan 24 kategori.
![Chris Rock bakal sentuh isu #OscarsSoWhite untuk monolog pembukaan Chris Rock bakal sentuh isu #OscarsSoWhite untuk monolog pembukaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/71453714740_ChrisRock.jpg)
Chris Rock bakal sentuh isu #OscarsSoWhite untuk monolog pembukaan
Chris Rock akan tetap menjadi hos walaupun beberapa selebriti bakal boikot acara itu kerana gagal iktiraf pelakon dan pengarah bukan berkulit putih.