Yahoo Movies Oscars 2023: 10 biggest questions ahead of Academy Awards ceremony
Who will be snubbed and who will bag the coveted golden statues?
The 2023 Oscars — the 'Grand Finale' of this year's awards season — is finally upon us as actors descend upon Los Angeles for the 95th Academy Awards.
However, in a year where the nominees and winners have proven unpredictable, who is going to take home a coveted Oscar?
This is just one of the many questions that loom over the ceremony. After last year's shocking slap confrontation between Chris Rock and Will Smith, what exactly lies this time around?
Read more: See the full list of 2023 Oscar Nominations
The questions that need answers at the 2023 Oscars
How will they tackle 'The Slap'? Chris Rock getting slapped live on-stage by Will Smith became a debated topic for weeks after last year's ceremony.
It's old news now – dying once and for all with Chris Rock's Netflix special addressing it – but it'll be outright weird if it's not mentioned where it all started. How will new host Jimmy Kimmel address it?
Who will take home their first Oscar? This year sees a staggering number of acclaimed stars up for what could be their first Oscar. Colin Farrell, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis and Bill Nighy are among those who haven't won before – but could now.
Read more: Oscars 2023: How to watch the Best Picture nominees in the UK
Will someone have a lot to celebrate this season? Or will they all be snubbed for someone else?
Will Everything Everywhere All At Once dominate? EEAAO leads the ceremony with 11 nominations across the board. It's proven to be an awards darling this season – but has also missed out on major awards elsewhere.
They're firm favourites to win Best Picture – but after Baftas instead crowned All Quiet On The Western Front, it's far from a certainty.
Will All Quiet prove to be a silent killer? All Quiet On The Western Front has slowly but surely become a true contender in the game.
The adaptation based on World War I proved massive at the Baftas, knocking favourite Banshees Of Inisherin from their almost-certain Best Film post.
Could Andrea Riseborough surprise us? Andrea Riseborough turned the industry on its head by being nominated for lead actress in To Leslie, a film that only grossed £22k, thanks to a grassroots campaign.
Read more: Andrea Riseborough: How the British star gatecrashed the Oscars
Controversial, yes. But it's not impossible for her to win. However, when she's up against Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh, who've largely swept the boards in the category, she has a fight on her hands.
Can Brendan Fraser fulfil his destiny? There are a few fan favourites from this year's awards season, and one of them is Brendan Fraser.
In his first major role in decades, Fraser has become beloved, and is now up for best actor for his role in The Whale. He's already won at the SAGs and Critics Choice awards.
Read more: Why is everyone talking about Brendan Fraser?
He's up against juggernauts, but could the undeniably lovable Fraser complete his 'Franaissance' and take home the golden statue?
Could Stephanie Hsu win on her first try? Stephanie Hsu has been largely (and controversially) overlooked for EEAAO in favour of co-star Jamie Lee Curtis.
However, she finally got her due with an Oscars nom, and will go up for best supporting actress alongside Curtis, as well as Angela Bassett, Kerry Condon and Hong Chau.
Could Hsu actually win an Oscar in her first attempt? It's rare, but not unheard of.
Will there be another La La Land/Moonlight moment?: The awards ceremonies are known to run like clockwork... unless they don't.
2017's La La Land/Moonlight Best Picture moment – also overlooked by host Jimmy Kimmel – was a legendary accident. You can bet Kimmel won't want it to happen again.
Read more: Baftas 2023: Full list of winners as All Quiet on the Western Front dominates
(It's already happened at the Baftas this year, where Kerry Condon's win was initially announced as Carey Mulligan.)
Who will give the most memorable speech?: The winners speeches are the reason to tune in, and this year's nods have proven hilarious.
Angela Bassett proudly boasted she 'did the thing' in a nod to Ariana DeBose's Bafta rap when she won at the NAACPs, Michelle Yeoh threatened to beat someone up as they tried to play her out the Golden Globes, and Jennifer Coolidge brought the house down in a number of her wins for The White Lotus.
Will the winners play nice, or play funny?
Who will win Best Picture?: This is THE prize to win at the ceremony, but unlike previous years where a head-to-head between two gets established over awards season, this year is impossible to call.
All Quiet won at the Baftas, The Fablemans won at the Golden Globes, Tár won the AFIs while EEAAO won at the SAG, Hollywood Critics and Critics' Choice awards.
Read more: Oscars 2023: The Best Picture race is impossible to call
This is all to play for this year.
Watch: Florence Pugh, Hugh Grant, Andrew Garfield and more to present at Oscars
