The 97th ACADEMY AWARDS – THE WINNERS

Best Picture

“Anora”

Best Director

Sean Baker, “Anora”

Best Actress

Mikey Madison, “Anora”

Best Actor

Adrian Brody, “The Brutalist”

Best Supporting Actress

Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”

Best Supporting Actor

Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”

Best Original Screenplay

“Anora,” Sean Baker

Best Adapted Screenplay

“Conclave,” Peter Straughan

Best International Feature

“I’m Still Here,” Walter Salles (Brazil)

Best Documentary Feature

“No Other Land”

Best Animated Feature

“Flow”

Best Cinematography

“The Brutalist,” Lol Crawley

Best Costume Design

“Wicked,” Paul Tazewell

Best Film Editing

“Anora,” Sean Baker

Best Production Design

“Wicked,” Nathan Crowley

Best Original Score

“The Brutalist,” Daniel Blumberg

Best Original Song

“El Mal,” “Emilia Pérez” (Clement Ducol, Camille & Jacques Audiard)

Best Sound

“Dune: Part Two”

Best Visual Effects

“Dune: Part Two”

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

“The Substance”

Best Documentary Short

“The Only Girl in the Orchestra”

Best Animated Short

“In the Shadow of the Cypress”

Best Live-Action Short

“I’m Not a Robot”

And the Oscar goes to…Anora! Sean Baker’s film Anora was the big winner last nght at the 2025 Oscars. This is another example of a film with a late season surge going on to win Best Picture. I feel like recent winners like Parasite, CODA, and Everything Everywhere All at Once had the same track record of not starting the award season as a frontrunner, and then in the final month, gaining momentum. This year saw The Brutalist with early season love after the Golden Globes, but later soured its chances due to its AI controversy. Sean Baker is a prime example of an auteur working in the independent film world. He wrote, directed, edited, and produced Anora on a micro budget. He made history winning four Oscars in one night for the same movie thanks to his multi-faceted approach at making it. Baker has talked about seeing Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood from Quentin Tarantino and wanting to make a movie for her. Tarantino presented the Best Director Oscar to him, and Baker thanked him for the introduction to Mikey Madison. In the biggest surprise of the night, Madison won Best Actress over the expected Demi Moore win. Moore was the favorite and potential shoe-in of the night, only to have Madison’s name called instead.

The ceremony started off with a bang with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Eriva singing a medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked. They blew the rooftop off the theater with their powerhouse vocals and effortless approach at these iconic songs. It was a beautiful way to open the Oscars, and a unfortunate reminder that Wicked was not a frontrunner to win Best Picture. It really bums me out that it was never in serious consideration. I hope that means voters are waiting on Part Two, Wicked For Good, to sweep next year. The other big montage of the night was a tribute to James Bond with singers Doja Cat, Lisa, and Raye singing a medley of classic James Bond theme songs. The musical arrangements, vocals, and singers seemed like an odd choice as all three singers have no connection to the franchise. It seemed like real Bond theme singers like Adele, Billie Eilish, Sam Smith or Paul McCartney should have come back to sing their songs. The tribute felt random in its timing but acknowledged Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson for the Irving Thalberg Award. They recently announced they are stepping back and handing over all creative control to Amazon/MGM Studios.

Last, but not least, kudos to host Conan O’Brien for an excellent job keeping the show moving and having funny, witty jokes to open the show. Let’s have him back for next year!