Five things to watch for at this year's Oscars

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet earlier this year at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Feb. 28, 2016 7 AM PT

The 88th Academy Awards will be broadcast later today at 5:30 p.m. Pacific. Chris Rock will host. Lady Gaga, the Weeknd and Sam Smith will sing their Oscar-nominated songs. And, when it’s all said and done, people can finally retire their Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar-snub memes.

OSCARS 2016: Full coverage | List of nominees | #OscarsSoWhite controversy

Here are five things to watch for at this year’s ceremony.

WWCD (What Will Chris Do)?

The Times’ Greg Braxton asked that question about Oscars ceremony host Chris Rock who, he wrote, has a delicate mission in this year of #OscarsSoWhite, needing to “address the controversy with the right tone but still stay focused on maintaining the spirit of the evening, which is to honor the best film achievements of the year.”

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Christopher Julius “Chris” Rock III has been called one of the greatest stand-up comics. He’s also a producer, director, writer and actor. Let’s look at career highlights. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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Another seminal moment was when Rock joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” Here, he and castmate Chris Farley are announced as part of the cast at a Sept. 19, 1990, press conference. (Richard Drew / Associated Press)

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Rock starred in his first HBO comedy special in 1994, then in 1996 did “Bring the Pain,” which garnered him two Emmy Awards and gained large critical acclaim. (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times)

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Rock hosted the 77th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, 2005. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Rock hasn’t given any interviews leading up to the show, so his opening monologue figures to provide one of the night’s must-see moments. What will he do? And how far will he go? We’ll know a few minutes into the telecast -- even sooner if he enters the Dolby Theatre accompanied by the walk-on song we hear is going to be playing.

Will the Oscars host a “Titanic” reunion?

This awards season has been a boon for those still shipping Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio a good 19 years after they starred together in “Titanic.” The pair each won Golden Globes in January and then repeated their victories earlier this month at the British film academy awards.

And, along the way, they cleared up one important point for those whose hearts could not go on after seeing DiCaprio’s Jack sink into the icy Atlantic. He did not have to die! (Thanks for nothing, Rose.)

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'The Revenant': Agility of the story

Could DiCaprio, the overwhelming favorite to win the lead actor Oscar for his turn as the suffering frontiersman in “The Revenant,” and Winslet both leave the Academy Awards ceremony carrying trophies? It will likely come down to whether voters appreciate Winslet’s performance as the truth-telling marketing guru in “Steve Jobs” enough to give her the supporting actress Oscar over the category’s front-runner, Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”).

We’ll know early on if we’re in for another “Titantic” reunion as supporting actress is always one of the first awards presented. We’re pretty sure the camera will be on DiCaprio for a reaction shot if Winslet wins.

Reading the tea leaves for the best picture winner

The Oscar for best picture is the evening’s last honor, but you’ll be able to sift through clues throughout the evening to figure out which movie will win this closely contested race.

The screenplay Oscars, presented early in the show, will likely go to “Spotlight” (original) and “The Big Short” (adapted). If either fails to win for writing, you can (ahem) write off their best picture chances, as the screenplays are both films’ primary selling points.

Should “The Revenant” win crafts categories like production design, makeup and hair, visual effects and both sound categories, you can tip the balance in its favor. Sure, “The Revenant” could win a couple of these Oscars, but most of the categories are earmarked for “Mad Max: Fury Road.” If “The Revenant” starts vacuuming up every Oscar in its path, it won’t stop until it wins best picture.

And pay particular attention to the Oscar for film editing

A) Because it’s one of cinema’s most underappreciated arts and B) It’s the one chance “The Big Short” has to pick up another Oscar in addition to screenplay and best picture. “Mad Max: Fury Road” stands as the favorite for film editing, but if “The Big Short” prevails, it will be a signal of strength for the film’s best picture chances.

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Nominated for: lead actor Oscar in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” 2007 | lead actor Oscar for “Ali,” 2002 (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: supporting actress for “Junebug,” 2006 | supporting actress for “Doubt,” 2009 | supporting actress for “The Fighter,” 2011 | supporting actress for “The Master,” 2013 | lead actress for “American Hustle,” 2014 (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: lead actor Oscar for “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” 2008 | lead actor Oscar for “Finding Neverland,” 2005 | lead actor Oscar for “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” 2004 (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: lead actress Oscar for “Gorillas in the Mist,” 1989 | supporting actress Oscar for “Working Girl,” 1989 | lead actress Oscar for “Aliens,” 1987 (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: Supporting actor Oscar for “Magnolia,” 2000 | lead actor Oscar for “Jerry Maguire,” 1997 | lead actor Oscar for “Born on the Fourth of July,” 1990 (Shown center with “Valkyrie” director Bryan Singer and writer Chris McQuarrie.) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: supporting actor Oscar for “Tropic Thunder,” 2009 | lead actor Oscar for “Chaplin,” 1993. (Shown here at left with “Iron Man 3” director Shane Black.) (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: lead actress Oscar for “Love Field,” 1993 | lead actress Oscar for “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” 1990 | supporting actress Oscar for “Dangerous Liaisons,” 1989 (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

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Nominated for: supporting actor Oscar for “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” 2002 | lead actor Oscar for “Gods and Monsters,” 1999 (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

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Nominated for: best picture Oscar for “The Fighter,” 2011 (shared with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman) | supporting actor Oscar for “The Departed,” 2007 (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: lead actress Oscar for “Albert Nobbs,” 2011 | lead actress Oscar for “Dangerous Liaisons,” 1989 | lead actress Oscar for “Fatal Attraction,” 1988 | supporting actress Oscar for “The Natural,” 1985 | supporting actress Oscar for “The Big Chill,” 1984 | supporting actress Oscar for “The World According to Garp,” 1983 (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: lead actor Oscar for “Witness,” 1986 (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: supporting actor Oscar for “Pulp Fiction,” 1995 (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times)

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Nominated for: lead actor Oscar for “Pulp Fiction,” 1995 | lead actor Oscar for “Saturday Night Fever,” 1978 (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: supporting actress for “The Wings of the Dove,” 1998 | lead actress Oscar for “The King’s Speech,” 2011 (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: Lead actress Oscar for “The Help,” 2012 (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Nominated for: lead actor for “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” 2012 (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Enjoy ‘Gonna Fly Now’ 39 years later

The Oscars orchestra had to spend a little time learning Bill Conti’s “Rocky” theme song this week, what with Sylvester Stallone the odds-on favorite to take the supporting actor Oscar. Stallone’s speech could provide one of the night’s lump-in-the-throat moments. And we’re pretty sure he’ll remember to thank “Creed” director Ryan Coogler on camera this time.

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@glennwhipp

Watch the Oscars with the L.A. Times. We’ll be bringing you live updates, fashion play-by-plays and real-time commentary starting at 10:30 a.m. at latimes.com/oscars.

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Leonardo DiCaprio’s turn in ‘The Revenant’ proves it’s time to stop holding his popularity against him

Chris Rock is the perfect Oscars host for this controversial awards season

Sylvester Stallone fought his way back to drama in ‘Creed,’ but don’t expect him back for a sequel

Best picture predictions: It’s ‘The Big Short’ for the win