Hollywood’s Big Night

This coming Sunday is Hollywood's biggest night for the year. It’s Oscar time. After all the pomp and circumstance, predictions and analyses, it’s actually time to get down to business. This season there’s been no shortage of predictions. The odds on favorite to win Best Picture from most experts is The King’s Speech. Colin Firth and Geoffry Rush are likely to win acting awards as well. With 12 Oscar nominations, The Kings Speech, more than likely will be the big winner.

There have been several changes with this year’s Oscars Show. James Franco and Ann Hathaway are the youngest to ever host the Oscars. Missing from this year’s show will be the traditional movie montages. Producers are trying their best to reduce the total run time for the show. The Oscars will also feature several virtual sets which will represent different eras of film in the history of Hollywood.

Returning will be live performances for each of the nominated songs in the best song category. Oscars have once again nominated ten movies for Best Picture. I think this is a mistake. I understand why they are doing it. It give the Oscars the opportunity to not only embrace independent films but also to nominate big-budget, blockbuster movies like Toy Story 3 and Inception. It used to be special just to receive a nomination for Best Picture. Now it’s like everybody gets nominated.

The Oscars have always been the movie industry’s best opportunity to shine and to put their best foot forward. With dwindling attendance at the box office and DVD sales falling, Hollywood is looking for any opportunity they can find to promote itself. Traditionally some movies which are nominated or win an Oscar do receive an increase at the box office. That’s certainly been true in the case of The King’s Speech. Unfortunately, many of the movies have already finished their theatrical run, such as The Winter’s Bone, which could have benefited from the additional exposure.

I hope you enjoy the Oscars as you root for your favorites. Let’s hope the telecast is entertaining and engaging. Perhaps, the new changes will make a positive difference. Let’s face it. A three-hour plus broadcast can get a little old.

You can catch the 83rd Annual Oscar Awards this Sunday night starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.