Steve Wulf

We look at the story behind the Best Picture nominee

We look at the Best Director nominee's work on ''The Queen''

We look the Best Actor nominee's role in ''Venus''

EW takes you back to the Academy Awards of 25 years ago

An actor-turned-auteur, a boxing champ, and a gold-mining daughter shine at 1981's Oscars

We look the Best Actor nominee's role in ''Venus''

EW takes you back to the Academy Awards of 25 years ago

An actor-turned-auteur, a boxing champ, and a gold-mining daughter shine at 1981's Oscars

The 1980 ceremony featured Johnny Carson as host and Oscar wins for Dustin Hoffman and Sally Field

''Funny Girl'', ''Lady Sings the Blues'' and ''The Jazz Singer'' are among the films which have won Academy Awards

They may make us laugh, but if comic actors want respect, they have to join the drama club. Just ask Oscar winners like Tom Hanks and Robin Williams.

In 1979, two Vietnam dramas fought it out, Carson hosted, Summer sang, and the Duke took his final Oscar bow.

In what's more than just a whiff of coincidence, history shows that actors with a nose for parts can raise their Oscar profile

In 1978, Oscar turned 50, popular faves (''Star Wars'') lost out to brainier fare (''Annie Hall''), and the ceremony was marked by rabble-rousing -- on stage and off

'Quills'

'The Contender'

Wins by 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' weren't the only nutty things to happen at the 1975 award show

'The Contender'

From Barbra Streisand and Courtney Love to Madonna and Cher, pop divas have romanced Hollywood to prove they're more than just one-note wonders