Sunday, Mar. 2, 2025 marked another memorable evening in Hollywood for the 97th annual Academy Awards. The best of the film industry gathered to celebrate the work of actors, directors, producers, writers and more, all of whom have dedicated their lives to the art of cinema.
The Oscars commenced with an opening montage dedicated to Los Angeles(LA), Calif., compiling clips from films that capture the essence of a city so important in the industry. The montage began with Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, encapsulating the theme of “no place like home.” Then following the LA tribute, Ariana Grande (“Wicked”) graced the stage with a beautiful rendition of Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow” from the “Wizard of Oz.” Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) then stunned the audience with “Home” from the 1975 musical “The Wiz” and the two stars joined together to complete the medley and kick off the show with “Defying Gravity” from the ten-times Oscar nominated “Wicked.”
This year, the Oscars were hosted by Conan O’Brien, comedian and television host. After his opening monologue, the awards began. Though there are twenty-three categories, each year the most highly anticipated –or the “Big Five”– are Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay, original and adapted.
“Emilia Pérez” had the most nominations this year coming in at 13 including Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director. However, the musical only ended up with two wins: Best Original Song and Best Supporting Actress to Zoe Saldaña for her role as Rita Mora Castro. Not only was it the actress’s first Oscar,but Saldaña made history as the first Dominican-American to win an Academy Award.
“Wicked” and “The Brutalist” came in second with ten nominations each, both vying for the titles of Best Picture and Best Production Design. “Wicked” ended up taking home two awards, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design, with Paul Tazewell making history as the first Black man to win the latter category. “The Brutalist,” a historical drama film, won three awards: Best Cinematography , Best Original Score and, most anticipated, Best Actor for Adrien Brody. Some fans have claimed Timothée Chalamet was snubbed for his performance in “A Complete Unknown,” which did not win any of the eight Oscars it was nominated for.
However, “Anora” was the underdog that swept the Academy Awards this year, taking home five out of the six Oscars it was nominated for. Mikey Madison won her first Oscar—Best Actress—in what some consider an upset against Demi Moore in “The Substance.” At only 25-years-old, Madison became the first Generation Z actor to win an Oscar. Sean Baker also took home four Oscars for “Anora,” for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Original Screenplay. Baker is now tied with Walt Disney for the most Oscars won in a single night. As an independent film, “Anora’s” wins reflect how far indie films and studios have come to increasingly dominate the industry.
Performances throughout the show paid homage to different figures in the industry throughout history. Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli recently stepped down from their renowned work on the James Bond franchise. As tribute, actress Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”) danced as a “Bond-girl” among a group of dancers sporting tuxedos. Then singers Lisa from Blackpink, Doja Cat and Raye joined together to each perform well-known songs from the soundtracks of the Bond movies. Later on, as a tribute to composer and producer Quincy Jones who passed away in Nov. 2024, Queen Latifah gave a lively performance of the song “Ease on Down the Road,” which Jones produced from the musical “The Wiz.” Finally, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, alongside the Academy orchestra, performed Mozart’s “Requiem” in the “In Memoriam” segment, honoring those who have died in the past year.
As the final act of the award show season, Hollywood’s biggest night did not disappoint. Each year, the Oscars unify film-lovers all over the world, viewers and actors alike, to celebrate cinematic milestones. The 97th annual Academy Awards was one to remember, bringing together the best and brightest of Hollywood in a night where dreams came true and history was made.
