As the 96th Academy Awards approach, all eyes are on veteran actor Robert Downey Jr., who could walk away with his first Oscar for his role in the biopic "Oppenheimer." Downey Jr., already a household name after decades in the business, plays Atomic Energy Commission head Lewis Strauss in the film, which is up for a whopping 13 nominations, ABC7 News reports.
Downey Jr.'s strong performance has earned him the Best Actor in a Supporting Role nod, piling on to his previous nominations for "Chaplin" and "Tropic Thunder," the latter, of which he lost to Heath Ledger's posthumous win – in a rare twist of irony, for a Christopher Nolan film. This year he faces competition, yet after snatching up similar accolades at the Golden Globes, British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, his first Oscar may just be within reach. "Oppenheimer," directed by Nolan, is also the odds-on favorite for the coveted best picture prize, with the ceremony expected to be a celebration for the atomic bomb drama, The Korea Times adds.
The live awards show, hosted by the perennially quick-witted Jimmy Kimmel, is set to air on ABC at an earlier time slot. Between the star-exclusive sneak peeks and a range of show-stopping performances, this year's Oscars are primed to deliver an engaging night for viewers worldwide. Among the performances, Ryan Gosling is expected to channel his "Barbie" character with the hit song "I'm Just Ken," while members of the Osage Nation will deliver their nominated piece "Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)" from "Killers of the Flower Moon," notes The Korea Times.
Meanwhile, "Oppenheimer" lead Cillian Murphy is the favorite for Best Actor, rivaled by Paul Giamatti for "The Holdovers," While Lily Gladstone may make history as the first Native American actress to snatch the Best Actress trophy for her performance in "Killers of the Flower Moon," facing Emma Stone among others. In startling commentary, "If the best picture isn't 'Oppenheimer,' it will be one of the biggest upsets, if not the biggest upset, in the history of the Oscars," Scott Feinberg, executive editor for awards at The Hollywood Reporter, as per Korea Times.
For the star-studded event, Downey Jr. enters as a favored contender, with a past ripe with near-misses but never crossing the finish line of Oscar glory. After four decades in the industry, this role may finally cement his place among the pantheon of Oscar winners, something that For The Win suggests is "in short order" following his recent sweep of the season's awards. Should the stars align for Downey Jr. and Nolan's "Oppenheimer," the night could mark a turning point for both, with possible first-time wins in their distinguished careers, and a possibly long overdue industry-wide coronation for Nolan's directorial prowess.
