The expansion of the number of nominees in some of the major categories has made for a more inclusionary Oscars contest – kind of like NFL parity – but not necessarily a faster or more interesting awards show. Still, this year makes room, in the Best Picture category, for the likes of La La Land, Hidden Figures, and Manchester By the Sea, and Moonlight – so 2017 is a good vintage for offbeat films. And with Jimmy Kimmel as host, and with so much politics in the air, even the monologues and acceptance speeches could be livelier than usual this year.