Oscar uncertainty reigns with no predictable winners

With just a few hours to go before the 97th Academy Awards, uncertainty looms over several major categories, a stark contrast to last year's Oppenheimer dominance. A major shake-up has come from resurfaced tweets by Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón, which have drastically impacted the film's awards prospects.

Once expected to sweep, Emilia Pérez is now unlikely to win Best Picture or Best Director, leaving room for contenders like Anora, A Complete Unknown, and The Brutalist to battle for top honors.

In the Best Actress race, Demi Moore (The Substance) remains the frontrunner despite Mikey Madison (Anora) gaining momentum after recent wins at the BAFTAs and Independent Spirit Awards. Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) could snatch Best Actor from Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), mirroring past upsets in Oscar history.

Best Supporting categories appear more predictable—Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) is poised to take Best Supporting Actor, while Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) remains the favorite for Best Supporting Actress despite the film's controversies.

With Anora gaining last-minute traction, Sean Baker could take Best Director, though some argue that snubbed filmmakers like Luca Guadagnino (Challengers) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two) deserved recognition.

As the Oscars approach, the race remains unpredictable, setting the stage for a dramatic awards night.