Dark films and politics loom over Academy Awards

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) - The "green" limos are ready and graceful gowns begged, borrowed and bought. Hollywood is ready for a glittering Oscar Sunday, but the films that will be honored are expected to be darkly pessimistic and the comedy sharply political.

Having hired America's leading political satirist, Jon Stewart, as master of ceremonies during a presidential campaign, Oscar organizers hope to spice up Hollywood's big night with jokes that will be repeated around the water cooler Monday.

Oscar producer Gil Cates has promised an award ceremony filled with big stars including George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Broadway songstress Kristin Chenoweth and teen idol Miley Cyrus to cheer the crowd. Still, rainy weather may conspire against the festivities and dampen the red carpet that had been expected to explode with color.

Hollywood can't say this Oscar season has been an ebullient one as a three-month screenwriters strike, which ended earlier this month, caused awards shows to be canceled or drastically curtailed.

Oscar watchers say this year's best film nominees reflect the mood of the 5,800 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The two frontrunning movies for the best film honor are violent, a third nominee tells of corporate and legal greed, a fourth of family betrayal and the fifth teen pregnancy -- that's the funny one.

"No Country for Old Men," directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen features an insane killer played by Javier Bardem as its main character. It has eight nominations overall, and has earned the favor of critics and Hollywood's talent guilds.

DAY-LEWIS VS. CLOONEY

Best actor frontrunner Daniel Day-Lewis commands the screen in "There Will Be Blood" as a sadistic oil man at the turn of the early 20th Century. It also has eight nominations.

Rival best actor nominee George Clooney wins respect as a fixer of problems in a New York law firm.

"Atonement" tells of a passionate romance derailed by a lie between sisters, and "Juno" charts the life of a pregnant 16-year-old, played by best actress nominee Ellen Page, who plans for her baby's adoption.

Optimistic "Juno" has been the biggest box office hit among the best picture nominees with more than $125 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales. "No Country" has topped $60 million" and "There will be Blood" more than $30 million. "Atonement" and "Michael Clayton" took in about $46 million each.

Time magazine film critic Richard Schickel noted there is an increasing disconnect between films that attract viewers and award-nominated movies that stir critics and industry groups like the academy.

Yet at Saturday's Spirit Awards, the independent film world's equivalent of the Oscars, the honor of best film was given to director Jason Reitman's "Juno," which ultimately has a message of hope for the future.

Joining "Juno" star Page in the Oscar race for best actress are favorite Julie Christie for Alzheimers drama "Away From Her" and French actress Marion Cotillard playing troubled singer Edith Piaf in "La Vie En Rose."

Among supporting actress nominees are Cate Blanchett for "I'm Not There," Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" and veteran Ruby Dee for "American Gangster."

The best actor race looks to be a toss-up between Day-Lewis and Clooney. (Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Todd Eastham)