Actual Drama at Sunday Night’s Academy Awards: No One Has a Clue Who’ll Win

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 might 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.