Oscar nominations 2017: What to look out for

This year's Oscar nominations are due out later, with La La Land likely to land as the clear frontrunner.

The modern musical romance has swept film fans off their feet, and its stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are expected to be among the nominees.

The question is - how many nominations will the film get in total, and can it equal the Oscars record of 14?

Titanic and All About Eve currently share that record, while Mary Poppins is the most nominated musical with 13.

This year's other contenders will include Moonlight, about a young black man dealing with his sexuality in drug-torn Miami; brooding domestic drama Manchester By The Sea; and cerebral sci-fi film Arrival.

In the acting categories, Jackie's Natalie Portman is likely to challenge Emma Stone for best actress, while Manchester By The Sea's Casey Affleck and Fences' Denzel Washington are tipped to give Gosling competition for best actor.

Other things to look out for:

Denzel Washington could be in contention for his third acting Oscar

• Will it be #oscarssowhite again?

Almost certainly not. After two years with no black acting nominees, this year we could see four or five - possibly Washington (who also directed Fences), Viola Davis (Fences), Naomie Harris (Moonlight), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) and Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures).

 

• Will it be #oscarssowhite again?

Almost certainly not. After two years with no black acting nominees, this year we could see four or five - possibly Washington (who also directed Fences), Viola Davis (Fences), Naomie Harris (Moonlight), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) and Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures).

Naomie Harris is thought to be the British actress with the best chance of a nomination

 

• Which Brits will be in the running?

Naomie Harris is flying the flag for British actresses, while male candidates could include Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge/Silence), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals), Dev Patel (Lion) - and Hugh Grant (Florence Foster Jenkins), who could get his first nomination. But there probably won't be anything for Ken Loach's benefits drama I, Daniel Blake.

Meryl Streep's chances have improved since her Golden Globes speech

 

• Will Meryl make history?

Meryl Streep will become the first person to notch up 20 acting nominations if she gets in for Florence Foster Jenkins. She was an outsider - but her odds have shortened since berating Donald Trump at the Golden Globes.

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