The night of the Oscars is always a suspenseful night of the year. 10 movies compete for the Best Picture award while notable figures in the film industry gather to compete for accolades for their acheivements throughout the year. The night is always packed with excitement, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The 2025 Oscars were hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, with on-stage celebrity appearances from Ariana Grande, Queen Latifah, and Doja Cat.
The nominees for Best Actor were Timothee Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Sebastian Stan (“The Apprentice”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”) and Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”). Adrian Brody won for his stellar performance as László Tóth, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who becomes a visionary architect in the U.S. For Best Actress, the candidates were Demi Moore (“The Substance”), Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Mikey Maddison (“Anora”), and Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”). Despite the tough competition, Mikey Maddison was announced as the victor for her role as Ani, a sex worker from New York.
Next, among the 10 nominees for Best Picture, the most competitive were “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “The Substance,” and “Anora.” “The Brutalist,” a three-hour film, follows a Jewish immigrant pursuing the American Dream as an architect. While “The Brutalist” took home awards for Best Cinematography, Best Actor and Best Original Score, it fell short of the biggest prize. “A Complete Unknown” tells the story of Bob Dylan’s rise as a folk/rock star in New York. “Conclave” follows the dramatic process of selecting a new pope. “The Substance” follows declining actress Elizabeth Sparkle who uses a mysterious drug to regain her youth. Finally, “Anora” follows Ani and Vanya, a stripper from New York and Russian oligarch, who get married simply ‘for fun.’ After Vanya’s family finds out, they travel to America to try and break up the unorthodox relationship. Although these films were regarded as most competitive, the other nominees “Emilia Pérez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Wicked,” “Dune: Part Two,” and “Nickel Boys” were also notable films. “Anora” won five of six nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director. Excitingly, a Berkeley High School alumnus scored an Oscar nomination this year. Julian Brave Noisecat was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film with his movie “Sugarcane.” The documentary explores the atrocities against Native American and Canadian children at Indian residential schools.
Overall, the awards show ran smoothly, maintaining its electrifying atmosphere. Post-win speeches kept the audience intrigued. While most stayed away from politics, some winners took their opportunity to shed light on important issues. Yuval Abraham, who directed the film “No Other Land,” stated that as an Israeli, he believes that both Isreal and Palestine deserve to maintain national rights, but current U.S. national policy stands in the way of a resolution. The winner of Best Supporting Actress, Zoe Saldaña, used her awards speech to recognize U.S. immigrants. “I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands,” Saldaña said.