The race for the Oscar is nearing the end as the gala tries to win back fans

As the hours draw near, anxiety mounts in Hollywood as to whether "CODA", "the power of the dog" or "Belfast" will win the Oscar for best film this Sunday and whether viewers will tune in to watch the gala.

the western "the power of the dog" was positioned as a favorite, bringing Netflix closer to the long-awaited award; But the race for the film Academy Awards has taken some turns in recent weeks.

"CODA"an inspiring drama about a deaf family, gained more popularity and some industry critics see "Belfast"black and white childhood memory of Kenneth Branagh, as a compelling rival.

"It is a race between two or three horses"said Variety magazine editor Clayton Davis, emphasizing the advance of "CODA".

"We’ve had two tough years. And ‘CODA’ is positive, it makes you feel good. I think the Academy voters are in that mood.".

"It’s a tight fight"agreed The Hollywood Reporter columnist Scott Feinberg.

Even though "the power of the dog"by Jane Campion, is adored by many, "is a little more divisive" and "not everyone likes it"which is a disadvantage.

"CODA"an independent drama, benefits from initially being perceived as the weakest candidate, even though it was bought and released by giant Apple, an Academy voter said.

"Some Academy members I spoke with are still refusing to vote for a Netflix production for best picture. But Apple is also a streaming service (…) an ironic touch"he added, asking not to be identified.

"smart money"

In a year when the big blockbusters finally opened theaters and rivals in the streaming war expanded their offerings, the acting categories are contested by some of the biggest names in the industry.

Will Smith is the big favorite for best actor for his role as the father of Venus and Serena Williams in "King Richard: A Winning Family"a category in which Javier Bardem also competes, for "Being the Ricardos".

the star of "CODA"Troy Kotsur, who is deaf, has swept the supporting actor awards this awards season, melting hearts as a father who wants to support his daughter’s musical aspirations but relies on her to communicate with the outside world.

The race for best actress is much closer. Feinberg felt that "anyone" of the candidates could win, but claimed that Jessica Chastain’s portrayal of a real-life televangelist in "Tammy Faye’s eyes" is the one that has "more possibilities".

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Davis agreed, although he said there are "much love for Penelope Cruz"which could surprise the drama of Pedro Almodóvar, "parallel mothers".

Ariana DeBose is expected to win the award for best supporting actress for the remake of the musical "Love without barriers"though its revered director, Steven Spielberg, faces stiff competition from Campion for best director.

epic sci-fi movie "Dune" It will probably be the one that wins the most statuettes for its dominance in the technical categories.

The "tiktok generation"

The Oscar ceremony returns this year to the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, after pandemic protocols moved it to a downtown Los Angeles train station last year.

The ABC television network expects the highest ratings of the years before the pandemic to be recovered.

The 2021 gala was watched by just over 10 million viewers, a 56% decrease compared to 2020, which was already a record low audience.

Efforts to win back viewers include new award "fan favorite" which will be voted on online by the public, introduced after blockbusters such as "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and the James Bond tape "no time to die" received only a handful of nominations.

"I think the Oscars are finally trying something new, seeing how they can reach a new audience, this new TikTok generation.".

Among the novelties, there is the controversial decision to pre-record the awards ceremony in eight categories.

Pre-announced winners for best sound, best score and other less stellar Oscars will have their speeches edited on the broadcast. But there is a perceived snub that has caused controversy in the industry.

"I understand that the Academy is working under tremendous pressure, but I think they have made a mistake."told AFP Denis Villeneuve, director of "Dune".

The time gained will go towards longer musical performances and talks by hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall.

Beyoncé will perform her song from the film "King Richard: A Winning Family"Billie Eilish, the one from the 007 saga, and the Colombian Sebastián Yatra, the one from "Charm"all nominated.

Even so, improving audience ratings will be "a very hard task"Feinberg said. "If (…) they stay the same or go down even more, they have a very big problem".

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