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And the winner is … Suspense builds for 87th Oscars

An Oscar statue is seen as preparations are made for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. The Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 22. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
An Oscar statue is seen as preparations are made for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. The Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 22. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) An Oscar statue is seen as preparations are made for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. The Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 22. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Oscar movies this year may be small, but they’re packing a lot of drama.

When the 87th Academy Awards kick off Sunday night at 8:30 EST, the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles will be buzzing with something the Oscars haven’t always had in recent years: genuine intrigue at who the night’s biggest winners will be.

The Oscars may also have another sight unusual to Southern California: rain. Light afternoon showers are expected, which could dampen red-carpet arrivals – though the carpet itself is under a glass tent.

With a co-leading nine nominations, Alejandro Inarritu’s backstage comedy “Birdman” flies in with the strongest wind at its back. It topped the acting, directing and producing guild awards, which are often strong predictors of what film academy members will vote for.