Oscars Guide: Your Ticket to the Red Carpet

The BBC provides a quick history of the Academy Awards that covers topics such as the first ceremony, the design of the statue, top winners and controversies over the years.

Filmsite 's Oscar page presents an introduction to the Academy Awards and lists the winners in each category for each year since the Ceremony’s inception. Be sure to peruse interesting lists summarizing top winners, or the collection of “Mistakes and Omissions” that points out excellent films jilted by the Academy.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science hosts a fully stocked Web site devoted to the Oscars, also known as “the Academy Awards.” Find the basics, such as the list of nominees and broadcast information, as well as other information about the Awards ceremony, and the Academy. If you’re a real movie buff, check the “What’s New” column on the right for some more obscure awards.

Entertainment Weekly has a section devoted to Oscar coverage. Read articles about projected winners, big hits, Oscar news and features. Or sign up to play the Oscar Game and pick your favorites.

Little Gold Men is Vanity Fair magazine’s daily Oscar blog. Pick up industry gossip, check out the films projected to win or read interviews and fun facts about how the stars are handling Oscar season.

The LA Times has a section called “The Envelope” designated entirely to Oscar obsession, news and speculation. You’ll even find videos discussing different aspects of the Oscars and the Buzzmeter that predicts the winners.

The Internet Movie Database lists the casts, crews, synopses and reviews for pretty much every movie out there. If you missed a movie, you can usually find the trailer. IMDB also lists new DVD releases, which should help you catch up on films you missed in the theaters.

Apple Movie Trailers offers a sizable collection of high-quality movie trailers. Browse by category or use the search function.

All Movie delivers exactly what it promises. Research genres, specific films, catch relevant news or read the site blog. Search for a particular movie and then browse through tabs to find specific information, such as cast, crew, reviews and even whether anyone in the film won an Oscar.

InStyle.com has a complete section devoted to the glamorous celebrities that are nominated this year, as well as those who have graced the red carpet in the past. If you’re interested in red carpet fashion, star Q&A, Oscar parties or celebrity video clips, enjoy getting lost in the site’s abundant content.

People.com feeds your hunger for Oscar celebrity gossip with profiles of nominees, essential news updates, details about Oscar parties and a generous array of photos. Browse, obsess or test your Oscar knowledge with quizzes.

ReelClassics , a Web site devoted to film fans, has this page of fun Oscar trivia.

Food Network offers this guide to throwing an Oscar party. Get suggestions for full meals, quick snacks or specialty drinks. Find general party-planning tips or arrange for an easy but sufficiently Oscar-themed night with “Cinema Snacks.”

Oprah hosted an After Oscar Party show in 2005, and her Web site still has fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi’s tips for a fabulous Oscar-themed party. He’ll tell you what to wear, how to determine your guest list and how to keep everyone entertained in the less exciting moments.

The Star Tribune published a guide to setting up—and winning—an Oscar pool. Read the article for site recommendations, organizational tips and a healthy dose of humor.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has a “Predict The Winners” game. Sign up on the site, enter your predictions and get the chance to win prizes. If you’re planning your own pool, get a printable ballot from the site (as suggested in an above insight).

Entertainment Weekly , noted previously for its excellent Oscar coverage, also has an online Oscar game where you can pick winners and play against others.

Cinemoose.com , a filmmaker’s blog, shares an insider’s perspective on how to win your office’s Oscar pool. The post provides solid information on how voting is done, and the research you’ll need to do to win.

BetFirms , a blog for gambling pros, offers Oscar odds and predictions. If you’re intent on winning your Oscar pool, you’ll want to see how serious bettors view the nominees.

Defective Yeti is the blog of a self-described “Pretty Okay Guy.” He offers a make- your-own Oscar pool section on his site, allowing you and your friends to start placing bets online.