This year’s Oscars were full of surprises, emotional speeches, rising stars, and controversial moments, confirming its reputation as Hollywood’s biggest celebration of film. Since its inception in 1929, the Academy Awards have been the pinnacle of film history, promoting some of the most iconic movies of all time. Over the decades, the Oscars have become the most prestigious film award, bringing together actors, directors, writers, designers, editors, cinematographers, animators, and behind-the-scenes crew to celebrate cinematic achievements. Winning an Oscar is the highest honor in the film industry, making the event a major spectacle nationwide.
This year’s Best Actor race was particularly compelling, with two standout contenders: Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody. Chalamet starred in A Complete Unknown, a long-awaited biopic about folk and rock legend Bob Dylan. With his immense popularity among young audiences, the film quickly gained traction. On the other hand, Brody took on the role of a Holocaust survivor in The Brutalist, a film about an immigrant pursuing the American Dream—until his life takes an unexpected turn due to a wealthy client.
This wasn’t Brody’s first time portraying a Jewish Holocaust survivor; he famously won an Oscar in 2003 for The Pianist, making history as the youngest Best Actor winner. If Chalamet had won, he would have taken that title. However, Brody ultimately secured the win, delivering what became the most controversial moment of the night—a record-breaking five-minute, 36-second acceptance speech. When the orchestra began playing to signal him to wrap up, he boldly stated, “Please turn the music off, I’ve done this before,” in a seemingly rude manner.
The Best Actress category also featured an interesting generational clash between Demi Moore and Mikey Madison. Demi Moore starred in The Substance, a psychological body horror film about a fading actress who uses a mysterious substance to transform into a younger, “better” version of herself. Moore has been known in the industry for having a complicated relationship with aging, making her an appropriate choice for a movie with a “woman aging in Hollywood” theme. Some speculators thought she would finally get an Oscar after being snubbed for many of her previous roles. Nevertheless, it was Mikey Madison who took home the Oscar for her performance in Anora, a film by Sean Baker about a modern-day sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch’s son. While it was a victorious moment for many, others weren’t as pleased. Time Magazine noted, “Mikey Madison was absolutely amazing, but her beating Demi Moore feels like the plot of The Substance itself.” Both the Best Actor and Best Actress categories reflected a broader post-Oscars debate: should Hollywood celebrate rising stars or honor industry veterans?
One of the evening’s highlights was Anora dominating the awards, winning five Oscars, including Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture. Madison, who first gained attention with a small role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood before starring in Scream (2022), dedicated years to perfecting her performance in Anora. Director Sean Baker was visibly stunned by each win, repeatedly thanking Madison in his speeches and using the platform to encourage audiences to support independent films and movie theaters over streaming services.
Alongside these major categories, there were several other significant wins. Kieran Culkin won for Best Supporting Actor for his role in A Real Pain, a Jesse Eisenberg film. He seemed nervous but grateful to accept his award, jokingly urging his wife to have more kids. Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, the most controversial film of the year. The film follows a Mexican Cartel boss who transitions to a woman, but some say it does not accurately represent transgender people or Mexican culture. The film also won Best Music (Original Song) for the song “El Mal,” written by French composer duo Clément Ducol and Camille. During their acceptance speech, winner Camille started singing oddly, making the audience uncomfortable. Zoe Saldaña gave a somewhat overly emotional speech, furthering the public backlash toward Emilia Pérez. Paul Tazewell made history at the Oscars this year, becoming the first black man to ever win Best Costume Design for his work in the musical Wicked. Wicked also won Best Production Design, showing the film’s success through Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s performance. They sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” “Home,” and “Defying Gravity,” where both actresses astounded the audience with their spectacular vocals.
This year’s Oscars featured heartfelt tributes, beginning with a segment dedicated to Los Angeles, honoring the city’s rich cinematic history while acknowledging those who lost their homes in the recent L.A. floods. Later, the annual In Memoriam segment paid tribute to Hollywood legends who passed away this year, including Shelley Duvall and Gene Hackman. Additionally, a tribute to James Bond celebrated the franchise’s legacy through clips of the actors who have portrayed the iconic spy. Meanwhile, Conan O’Brien brought humor to the night as the Oscars host, delivering a comedic performance that reflected his years as one of America’s favorite talk show personalities.
Overall, the Oscars this year had many milestones, record breaks, and iconic moments, making it a great year for film. Hopefully, the hype around this Oscars season will further encourage the consumption of films, especially those that won an award.
