Seven things to look out for during the Oscars

The awards season is almost over, which means the Academy Awards are about to begin. In case you’ve been MIA on the pop culture and film scene during the past few months, don’t panic. Here are some things to watch for during this year’s Oscars ceremony.  

1. Ellen
This will be Ellen DeGeneres’ second time hosting the Awards. Her first time hosting, in 2007, went so well that she received an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.”

2. Science Fiction
This year, two science fiction films are nominated for Best Picture, “Her” and “Gravity.” Science fiction hasn’t historically had a huge presence at the Oscars, but this year is different. Not only are these films nominated, but “Gravity” has been an awards frontrunner all season. It’s nominated for 10 awards including Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Director and Best Picture.

3. June Squibb
Oscar history could be made this year if Squibb wins for her role in “Nebraska.” The 84-year-old actress will be the oldest Academy Award winner if she takes the prize for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

4. Robert Lopez
If Lopez wins Best Original Song for “Let It Go” from “Frozen,” he will be only the 12th person to have an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, commonly referred to as EGOT. The last person to do so was producer Scott Rudin in 2012.

5. “American Hustle” Nominations
For the second year in a row, a David O. Russell film has been nominated in every acting category. Last year’s “Silver Linings Playbook” and this year’s “American Hustle” both received nominations in all four acting categories. Before Russell, the last time this happened was in 1981 when Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Maureen Stapleton were all nominated for “Reds.” Even crazier, all four of the actors nominated this year have been nominated before for a Russell film.

6. Lupita Nyong’o (lew-PEET-tuh en-YON-go)
This Yale School of Drama graduate is nominated in Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “12 Years a Slave.” If her Yale degree isn’t impressive enough, this movie was her first feature film. She also acted in the short film “East River” in 2008. And, to top it off, she has been nailing red carpet fashion again and again. She is definitely a new actor to keep an eye on.

7. Despicable Me 2
This sequel has been nominated for Best Animated Feature, though it’s predecessor wasn’t. This is probably not because the sequel was better than the original, though, just that there weren’t as many good contenders for the category this year. “Frozen” is definitely the favorite to win the award.