Hollywood is buzzing with excitement. That's because the Oscars will be handed out Sunday evening. "The Revenant" seems to be a favorite, but favorites don't always win the golden trophy.
Image: picture alliance/AP/Invision/D. Moloshok
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Our top ten for the Oscars
Who will win the golden Oscar trophies? Who will take the Oscar for best actress, best documentary, best director? Here's how we think the evening will turn out.
Image: picture alliance/AP/Invision/D. Moloshok
Best Picture
With a whopping 12 nominations, "The Revenant" tells the story of a trapper in the cold areas of North America - and is the big favorite in this year's Oscars. It would be a good choice in the category Best Picture even in the face of some strong competition.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/20th Century Fox
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The drama "Spotlight," about a team of journalists who uncover a pedophilia scandal involving priests, could win in this category. It was also nominated in for Best Picture - but there, all bets are on "The Revenant."
The Best Picture award does not always also go the best director. But if "The Revenant" director Alejandro González Iñárritu were not only to win Best Picture but also be honored as Best Director, it wouldn't come as a surprise.
Image: 2015 Twentieth Century Fox
Actress in a Leading Role
It is impossible for "The Revenant" to win in this category, as there are almost no women in the film. However, with Cate Blanchett ("Carol"), Charlotte Rampling ("45 Years") and three other nominees, there are some really strong women in this category. Blanchett is our favorite.
Leonardo DiCaprio might actually win in this category this time. No other (Oscars) topic has been discussed as much in recent weeks. Playing the vengeful trapper in "The Revenant," DiCaprio deserves the trophy. Despite everything written about him, especially in the tabloids, he really is a good actor.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Buck
Cinematography
With amazing scenes brought to the big screen by camera operator Emmanuel Lubezki, "The Revenant" is a nominee here as well. Lubezki deserves an award, as does Ed Lachman for his beautiful camerawork on "Carol" (pictured).
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/W. Webb
Music (Original Score)
These two might have a reason to celebrate on Sunday. The older one is the legendary Italian composer Ennio Morriccone, nominated for the soundtrack he wrote for the Western "The Hateful 8" by director Quention Tarantino. Our favorite in this category.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/ T. Fabi
Animated Feature Film
In this category, anything is possible. Among the nominees, "Inside Out" is the most commercially successful film. Our proposal: the enchanting "Memories of Marnie" from Ghibli, the Japanese studio. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, it tells the story of a 12-year old girl with asthma. In March, the film will appear on DVD in Germany.
Image: Universum Film
Documentary (Feature)
The music documentary "Amy" about the short and tragic career of the singer Amy Winehouse deserves an Oscar. There is some tough competition in this category, however - like the political documentary "The Look of Silence" about the history of Indonesia.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Dunham
Foreign Language Film
On Sunday in Los Angeles, maybe this young man will hold an Academy Award in his hands. Hungarian director Laszlo Nemes has already won a Golden Globe for his masterpiece, the Auschwitz drama "Saul fia." The Franco-German-Turkish co-production "Mustang" also has a chance.
Image: Getty Images/NBCUniversal/P. Drinkwater
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If the Oscars were awarded according to who was mentioned most in the media, there would be a clear winner: Leonardo DiCaprio. Hardly any other actor has been talked about as much with regard to these awards. Nominated four times in the past, he hasn't been able to take the golden trophy home - yet. Many are saying that now it's his turn.
12 nominations for "The Revenant"
Much of the media coverage has been about the category "Best Actor," even though the movie "The Revenant" has an extraordinary total of 12 nominations, a rare distinction. Winning in them is not a foregone conclusion, however. The revenge story by Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu could also go home empty handed on Sunday evening. That has happened in the past: a big favorite, dethroned by outsiders.
If Iñárritu were to receive an Oscar for category of best film or even for best director on Sunday, that would be probably be an even bigger surprise than DiCaprio missing the top prize again. The Mexican director has already won four of the sought-after trophies for his film "Birdman." Oscar triumphs in two consecutive years would really be a sensation.
Full of surprises
As every year, the 88th Academy Awards is full of speculation beforehand. The Oscars has surprised the world many times.
