The Oscars has done its best to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on this year's awards. The delay to next Sunday was intended to maximise the number of films submitted after a year of closed cinemas and increase the chances of a "normal" ceremony.
It has been announced that the event, which will take place at Los Angeles's cavernous Union Station, will feel more like a movie than a TV show. It will feature a much smaller red carpet and a downsized guest list.
However, despite efforts to make it happen, this year's awards seem destined to be forever subtitled "the pandemic Oscars" after cinema as we know it ceased to exist.
That does not mean there haven't been some great films released – we just haven't had to go as far to watch them. With five of this year's eight Best Picture nominees debuting either exclusively or, alongside a limited cinema release, on streaming platforms, the pandemic could deliver the most coveted Oscar of all for an online platform.
Here are our predictions for this unusual year’s top prizes.
Best Picture
Netflix and company have struggled to be treated as equals by the Academy Awards, but with cinemas incapacitated for the past year and streaming sites riding to the rescue, the Oscars have had little choice but to welcome them with open arms.
David Fincher's Mank could win over the Academy's Netflix sceptics with its reminiscences of Hollywood's golden era, but in terms of buzz, Chloe Zhao's Nomadland looks like the front runner. The film has already picked up the equivalent Golden Globe and Bafta, and the fact it hit a few cinemas alongside its Hulu release could please purist voters.
Lee Isaac Chung's Minari has an outside chance of pulling off a surprise, but two South Korea-linked Best Picture winners in a row may be too many, even for a diversity-hungry Academy Awards.
The other nominations are making up the numbers.
Prediction: Nomadland
Best Director
It's hard to see anyone but Zhao landing the director's gong, particularly if Nomadland rightly takes Best Picture. The positive publicity generated by this year's surprise two female nominees for Best Director won't have gone unnoticed by positive-headline-starved Academy voters.
With three features under her belt to date, Zhao also comes with a degree of directorial gravitas that Promising Young Woman's debutante director Emerald Fennell lacks.
There should be no suspicion of tokenism if Zhao does win, either. She made the best film of the past year, and she'll fully deserve to take her place alongside Kathryn Bigelow to become only the second woman to have picked up this award in the Academy's 93-year history.
Prediction: Chloe Zhao
Best Actor
After a torrid few years of criticism over its white, male nominees, the Oscars PR team must have done cartwheels when they saw this year's Best Actor nominees. Not a single white American makes the list, with Chadwick Boseman, Riz Ahmed and Steven Yeun leading the diversity charge.
Gary Oldman and Sir Anthony Hopkins are, admittedly, white, but they're also British. Diversity of sorts?
In any other year this would be an incredibly difficult call, with sterling performances all round. But with Boseman's untimely death from colon cancer last year giving added poignancy to his heart-rending performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, it's hard to envisage any scenario other than a posthumous award for the star.
Prediction: Chadwick Boseman
Best Actress
Another strong field, this time with no extenuating circumstances to make choosing a winner any easier.
Nomadland's Frances McDormand is probably a slight favourite and could add to her Oscars for Fargo and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Viola Davis will run her close for the prize, though, and with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom surprisingly omitted from the Best Picture list, some voters may feel the urge to make amends here.
Andra Day can't be written off after picking up the Golden Globe for her role in The United States vs Billie Holiday, while Carey Mulligan and Vanessa Kirby seem to be outsiders, albeit deserved ones.
Prediction: Frances McDormand
Best Supporting Actor
To receive two nominations in the same category says a lot about the quality of a film (it last happened in 2018, when Sam Rockwell beat co-star Woody Harrelson for his role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri).
On that basis, we are making this a two-horse race between Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, who are both nominated for their performance in Judas and the Black Messiah. Of the two, Kaluuya probably edges it, and the Golden Globes judges seemingly thought so, too, when they gave him their award last month.
Sacha Baron Cohen has an outside chance, having proved he can do much more than comedy with his role in The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Prediction: Daniel Kaluuya
Best Supporting Actress
If this award were based on headlines generated, Maria Bakalova would have already collected it for her Rudy Giuliani-baiting turn in Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm. Lewd, part-improvised comedy isn't usually the kind of thing the Academy rewards, however, so we'll have to look elsewhere for our winner.
Glenn Close, who is nominated for Hillbilly Elegy, is surely due an Oscar – she is the most nominated actress ever to have not picked up an award – but plenty of people noted that when she received her seventh nomination for The Wife two years ago. Her 2019 conquerer, Olivia Colman, is up against her again this year, so could history repeat itself?
Amanda Seyfried could benefit from nostalgia-loving voters wanting to award Mank something, while Minari's Youn Yuh-Jung seems an outsider among the big names.
Prediction: Olivia Colman
Best of the rest
In terms of regional interest, Farah Nabulsi's The Present seems most likely to bring an award to the Arab world in the Live Action Short category.
Kaouther Ben Hania's The Man Who Sold His Skin is in the mix for Best International Feature, but it's competing with Best Director-nominated Thomas Vinterberg's Mads Mikkelsen-starring Another Round, so may face an uphill struggle.
Disney's Soul will add to its Best Animated Feature Globe, and Nine Inch Nails's Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross will take Best Score for the same film.
Oscar nominations in key categories:
Best Picture
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Minari
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Mank
Judas and the Black Messiah
The Father
Sound of Metal
Best Director
Chloe Zhao (Nomadland)
Thomas Vinterberg (Another Round)
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Lee Isaac Chung (Minari)
David Fincher (Mank)
Best Actor
Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)
Steven Yeun (Minari)
Gary Oldman (Mank)
Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal)
Anthony Hopkins (The Father)
Best Actress
Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)
Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)
Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman)
Andra Day (The United States vs Billie Holiday)
Best Supporting Actor
LaKeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah)
Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami)
Sacha Baron Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)
Paul Raci (Sound of Metal)
Best Supporting Actress
Amanda Seyfried (Mank)
Olivia Colman (The Father)
Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)
Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy)
Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari)
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
Aggro%20Dr1ft
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Harmony%20Korine%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Jordi%20Molla%2C%20Travis%20Scott%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ashima%20Chibber%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rani%20Mukerji%2C%20Anirban%20Bhattacharya%20and%20Jim%20Sarbh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up
Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm
On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm
The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm
Romang, June 28 at 6pm
Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm
Underdog, June 29 at 2pm
Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm
A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE CARD
The line-up as it stands for the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia on April 27
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns
Casket match
The Undertaker v Rusev
Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Bludgeon Brothers v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship
Sheamus and Cesaro v Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
United States Championship
Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
Singles match
Triple H v John Cena
To be confirmed
AJ Styles will defend his WWE World Heavyweight title and Cedric Alexander his Cruiserweight Championship, but matches have yet to be announced
A%20Little%20to%20the%20Left
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMax%20Inferno%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20Mac%2C%20Nintendo%20Switch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Andor
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tony%20Gilroy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDiego%20Luna%2C%20Genevieve%20O'Reilly%2C%20Alex%20Ferns%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%205%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
