89th annual Oscars airing Sunday night may get political

How political will this year’s Oscars get?

To look at the thresholds set by such recent events as the Golden Globe Awards (and very particularly, Meryl Streep’s acceptance speech for her Life Achievement Award) and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, chances are good that the movie industry’s top ceremony will invoke the general climate in America these days. And more than once.

And since Jimmy Kimmel isn’t shy about diving right into the subject, he’ll be in good company.

ABC’s late-night talk host will preside over the event for the first time, and he’s a logical choice since his network has — as it typically does — the Academy Awards, with the 89th edition airing Sunday from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. Also, he’ll be playing to a crowd that he largely knows and that knows him, since many nominees and other celebrities have passed through “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (several times in many cases) over its 14-years-and-counting history.

That should give Kimmel an immediate dose of goodwill for his Oscars opening monologue, which generally sets the tone for the evening. Because he knows the people he’ll be joking about, and vice versa, Kimmel will be able to get away with a lot — an opportunity he’ll likely take, which would be no surprise to viewers of his Monday-through-Friday showcase.

Still, he could find himself in competition with what others have to say when they take the stage. Recent events have made live awards shows hugely unpredictable occasions, and it’s possible the element of not knowing what to expect — even more than usual — could result in bigger ratings.With the Oscars typically one of any year’s top-rated telecasts anyway, such an upward bump in the numbers could be significant.

As for the specific honors themselves, the favorite contender would appear to be the Hollywood-musical-saluting “La La Land,” which ties a record previously set by “All About Eve” and “Titanic” with 14 bids. Also going in with many Oscar nominations are “Arrival” and “Moonlight” with eight each, and “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Lion” and “Manchester by the Sea” with six apiece. Up for best picture along with all of them are “Fences,” “Hell or High Water” and “Hidden Figures.”

While the winners of the Governors Awards (or “honorary Oscars”) always are of note, the range of craft they cover this time is especially notable. Martial arts icon Jackie Chan, film editor Anne V. Coates (who won an Oscar for “Lawrence of Arabia” more than 50 years ago), veteran casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentarian Frederick Wiseman (“Titicut Follies”) were celebrated during a separate event in November, but their honors also will be noted during the main show.

Here are the nominees in other major categories for the 89th Annual Academy Awards.

Best actor: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”; Andrew Garfield, “Hacksaw Ridge”; Ryan Gosling, “La La Land”; Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic”; Denzel Washington, “Fences.”

Best actress: Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”; Ruth Negga, “Loving”; Natalie Portman, “Jackie”; Emma Stone, “La La Land”; Meryl Streep, “Florence Foster Jenkins.”

Best supporting actor: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”; Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water”; Lucas Hedges, “Manchester by the Sea”; Dev Patel, “Lion”; Michael Shannon, “Nocturnal Animals.”

Best supporting actress: Viola Davis, “Fences”; Naomie Harris, “Moonlight”; Nicole Kidman, “Lion”; Octavia Spencer, “Hidden Figures”; Michelle Williams, “Manchester by the Sea.”

Best director: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”; Mel Gibson, “Hacksaw Ridge”; Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”; Kenneth Lonergan, “Manchester by the Sea”; Denis Villeneuve, “Arrival.”

Best animated feature: “Kubo and the Two Strings”; “Moana”; “My Life as a Zucchini”; “The Red Turtle”; “Zootopia.”

Best documentary feature: “Fire at Sea”; “I Am Not Your Negro”; “Life, Animated”; “13th”; “O.J.: Made in America.”