The Round Up: The Oscars

Today's the day when the big names in film gather to be awarded for the hard work of bringing entertainment to our cinemas. It could be none other than the 87th Academy Awards, the Oscars! This year, it is to be hosted by the halrious Neil Patrick Harris at Hollywood's 3,300 seat Dolby Theatre. I am particularly excited about Neil Patrick Harris hosting, many saying he has big shoes to fill after Ellen Degeneres hosted last year however I think Harris will steal the limelight as the loveable magical character we know he is, promising "a hint of magic" at the ceremony which starts 23:00 GMT.

Those battling for this years Best Picture Award are eight big titles which have dominated not only our cinemas but every Academy Award this season. The contenders include:
-American Sniper
-Birdman
-Boyhood
-The Grand Budapest Hotel
-The Imitaion Game
-Selma 
-The Theory of Everything
-Whiplash 

Oscars experts expect top prize to go to either Birdman or Boyhood, Scott Feinberg (the Hollywood Reporter's Oscars expert) thinks Birdman is a safe bet. However, dark horse American Sniper has taken in £259 million at worldwide box office, making it the highest grossing film among the Best Picture nominees.

The British are taking the Oascar's by storm, leading the British charge is Eddie Redmayne who is
strongly tipped to win top prize with his astounding performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is also in the running for Best Actor with his role as Alan Turning in The Imitation Game. Other British nominees include Rosamund Pike, Felicity

Jones and a personal favourite, Kiera Knightly. Good luck to all waving the Great Britain flag at the Oscars.

 Here's to another Oscars, let's hope next years box office reaches the standards of the nominees tonight!