The 90^th annual Academy Awards will be happening this Sunday, March 4. With this coup de grâce of the film awards season in the near future, some readers, especially the more casual observers, might find an explanation and summation of possible conversation pieces helpful.

This last year in film has seen many fantastic movies and major news stories. Movies like “It” and “Logan” confirmed that R-rated films could be box office hits. “Logan” in particular showed that the R-rated superhero movie is viable.

Other movies based on traditionally oppressed groups found strong voices. “Get Out,” a surprise smash hit, deals with racial issues between blacks and whites in America. It made $254 million on a budget of just $4.5 million for the movie’s production.

“Wonder Woman” is a superhero movie starring a female that also did well in the box office. In the sub genre of superhero movies, which is almost entirely dominated by male characters, this is a big deal.

Two other bits of movie news that readers should know before heading to Oscars parties is about increased monopoly and sociopolitical movements. For starters 21^st Century Fox was purchased by Disney for, as Forbes reports it, $52.4 billion. This is one of the biggest industry deals ever done.

This means that Fox’s Marvel assets, like the X-Men, will be able to interact with characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is something that fans have been advocating for. However, this also means that Disney will grow its control over the film market. It also means increased ticket prices since there will be less competition in the market to incentivize lower prices.

The “Me Too” movement began in the film industry with accusations of sexual harassment against long-time movie producer Harvey Weinstein. It attempts to normalize and make it safer for victims of sexual harassment, especially those who serve powerful people, to share their stories of abuse. The movement has, since its cinematic beginnings, influenced politics in America and other institutions throughout the world.

One movie to expect conversation over is “The Shape of Water.” It got 13 nominations which is the most of any film this award season and an early indication that the academy liked it as a whole. It is partially the brain child of director Guillermo del Toro who is known for a gothic artistic vision. In it, a lonely mute janitor at a secret government facility in 1960s Baltimore develops a bond with a humanoid amphibian being kept there. Their attempt at escape with the help of other supporting characters makes up most of the plot.

The Drury Mirror interviewed Drury student, and local film buff, Jacob Maher who saw many of the movies that got nominated and all of the best picture nominees.

“If I had to bet on a best picture winner I would say ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri’ just because the producers’ guild and the actors’ guild winners have a pretty high correlation with the Oscar winners. It has been sweeping the awards season for best picture,” said Maher.

He also thinks that “The Shape of Water” and “Dunkirk” could bring home the best picture win.

He thinks that Timothée Chalamet from “Call Me By Your Name” will win best lead male actor and Frances McDormand form “Three Billboards in Ebbing Missouri” will win best lead actress.

To find out if these predictions are correct, watch the Academy Awards this Sunday on ABC at 5:30 PM CT.