The atmosphere was far different at the Academy Awards that took place on this date in 1942.
Advertisement
“You know the academy is going to get what it paid for”, says Michael Dennis, a Philadelphia filmmaker and creator of the Reelblack.com movie website, who’s known Rock since his student days at NYU when Dennis produced a short documentary on the before-he-was-famous Brooklyn-raised comic.
Red carpet coverage of the 88th Annual Academy Awards begins at 7 p.m. ET this Sunday on ABC.
Break out the tuxedos and practice your red carpet strut because it’s Oscars weekend.
Where can I watch it?
Chris Rock’s Oscar Record: Is the 1999 Ceremony a Preview of What to Expect on Sunday?
Rock made a surprise appearance last week at a Judd Apatow-hosted night at Los Angeles’ Largo comedy club to test out his monologue.
Guests at the first American Black Film Festival Honors are ready for Chris Rock to shake up the Oscars.
‘There is no joke that he can crack, ‘ said Tyrese Gibson.
“The Academy also rewards a body of work in a sense, I’m not sure that is always viewed as fair but that’s the reality and he deserves it this year and I think the safe money is on him getting it”.
‘The statement that you make is that you step down’. “I can do some serious damage”‘.
Despite the controversy over the lack of ethnic diversity in the acting categories, the movie mogul thinks that the ceremony will be “one to remember”.
“You want it to be big rating because of him”. The nominations brought to fore racism debate and pointed at the lack of diversity as no black actor was nominated in the top Best actor/actress categories.
Alright, so who will win stuff? The Academy has not nominated a single actor of colour in the past two years. His performance in the cold and brutal The Revenant is stunning – but has he over-played his hand? He wasn’t just making a one-sided argument about race and diversity in Hollywood, he said while the establishment can do better in terms of creating opportunity, we can do better too in terms of making films.
Win or lose, it’s going to be Leo that everyone is talking about – but there are some other awards being handed out that night.
Brie Larson is the Oscar favorite for her performance in “Room”, which took in only $12.6 million.
Advertisement
So Chris Rock has been fairly silent regarding his role as Oscars host for Sunday’s awards, starring in promos and only making a few passing mentions in a TMZ street chat. Musical performers will include Lady Gaga, Sam Smith and the Weeknd, who are all nominated for original song in a film.
