VANITY FAIR Awards Extra!

CONTENTS

20 Supporting Eminence

BY YOHANA DESTA PHOTOGRAPHS BY SHARIF HAMZA

Regina King's awards-circuit dominance comes on the back of a three-decade acting career that's cut a singular path between TV and film. With If Beale Street Could Talk, King has shown once again why the spotlight has always been hers.

26 Star Crafts

From the out-of-thisworld effects in First Man to the whimsical production design of Mary Poppins Returns, a look at some of the year's standout achievements in craftsmanship.

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32 Long Time Coming

BY NICOLE SPERLING PHOTOGRAPH BY ART STREIBER

Sam Elliott has driven a long, hard road to his Oscarnominated turn in A Star Is Born. For him, the work is part of the journey.

34 How Do You Solve a Problem Like the Oscars?

BY NICOLE SPERLING ILLUSTRATIONS BY ZOHAR LAZAR

"Popular-film Oscar" debacle? Hosting crisis? Ratings dips? Hollywood's biggest night has been riddled with challenges this year. Is there still time to right the ship?

40 Cause and Effect

BY NICOLE SPERLING PHOTOGRAPH BY DUSTIN AKSLAND

With three more Oscar nods this year, Participant Media has proven that its socially minded approach to filmmaking can pay off.

42 Golden Moments

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GREG WILLIAMS

One of the biggest stops leading up to the Oscars is the Golden Globes. Take a look at what Hollywood's brightest were up to behind the scenes during the big night.

52 What Do the Academy Awards Owe Spike Lee?

BY K. AUSTIN COLLINS

Driving Miss Daisy's dominance at the 62nd Academy Awards came with a career-defining snub for

CONTENTS

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director Spike Lee and his film Do the Right Thing. A look at the historic race that year, and the parallels to be drawn this year.

58 Monster Ballad

BY MAURA JOHNSTON PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY HELLOVON

High among A Star Is Bom's many accomplishments is the musical's standout duet, "Shallow." The song seems destined for Oscar glory, but can it do one better and save radio rock?

60 Glenn, Closer

BY JULIE MILLER

With her hit The Wife, Glenn Close is finally getting the film recognition she's long deserved.

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66 The Champagne Trail

BY H. W. VAIL

Awards season takes actors on a long and seemingly endless road to the big night. At least there's cocktails!

COLUMNS

8 Historic Possibilities

BY RICHARD LAWSON PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES TAYLOR

With newcomers and veterans ready to take the year's top prize, the outcome is anyone's guess.

12 Pencils Down

BY JOANNA ROBINSON

Eye-popping digital effects draw crowds, but what

about going back to basics? Why some studios are being rewarded for a more grounded approach.

14 Ready for Their Close-Up

BY LAURA BRADLEY

While female representation in Hollywood is still lacking, the best-featuredocumentary category has become a forerunner in honoring women. From RBG to Free Solo, meet the women behind some of the year's most gripping stories.

18 Lights, Camera, Fetch!

BY KATEY RICH

This year's awards fare saw a robust mix of four-legged

supporting players. A guide to the non-human performers who had their big breaks.

ET CETERA

6 Opening Credits

68 Oscar-opoly

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