The Oscars 2025
As awards season comes to an end, it is almost time for the big one, The 97th Academy Awards, The Oscars, the most prestigious awards in film. This year’s event will take place on Sunday March 2nd at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Conan O’Brien will take on the duties of host for the first time with a whole host of past winners lined up to present on the night. Here is a look at some of the main contenders for The Oscars 2025.
The Brutalist
At 3 hours and 34 minutes this isn’t a film for casual viewing. If you do manage to sit through it you will be treated to a visually spectacular film about an architect and his wife who leave post-war Europe in 1947 to start again in America. A mysterious and wealthy client comes along and changes their lives forever. With 10 nominations in total, The Brutalist will be in the running for a few awards, in particular for Best Actor where Adrien Brody is strong favourite to win.
Anora
The marriage of a Russian oligarch’s son and a young New York escort doesn’t look like it will be the fairytale ending they planned after news of their nuptials reaches his parents. Director Sean Baker is in with a good shot of winning Best Director and the film is a likely contender for the Best Picture award. Breakout star Mikey Madison is incredible as Ani, even if she doesn’t win Best Actress, she has established herself as a future Hollywood star with this performance.
A Real Pain
Two American cousins take a tour of Poland in honour of their recently deceased grandmother and tensions soon arise as the trip doesn’t go exactly to plan. A Real Pain was written, directed and stars Jesse Eisenberg but it is his co-star Kieran Culkin who is creating all the Oscar buzz. Culkin looks a shoo-in for the Best Supporting Actor statue having already won awards at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, IFTAs, BAFTAs and the Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance.
Wicked
Jon M. Chu brings us the film adaptation of the popular stage musical, or rather an adaptation of the first half of the musical. Wicked, which stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, grossed over $700,000,000 at the box office and has received 10 Oscar nominations. Despite its success, Wicked is unlikely to be a contender for any of the so-called “big five” awards on the night but it will be a serious contender for Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Production Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
The Substance
The Academy have traditionally snubbed horror in the past but French director Coralie Fargeat has come up with something special with her body horror film The Substance. An aging celebrity discovers a black-market drug that temporarily creates a younger version of herself. Demi Moore has put in the best performance of her career, earning her first Oscar nomination and is the current favourite to win the Best Actress award. The Substance has been nominated for 5 Oscars in total.
A Complete Unknown
Timothée Chalamet plays Bob Dylan in this music biopic directed by James Mangold. The film shows a young Dylan arriving in New York, his meteoric rise and culminates with his legendary/controversial performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. It is not the favourite for any awards on the night but with 8 nominations it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if A Complete Unknown picked up a golden statue or two.
Emilia Pérez
A Spanish language musical set in Mexico about a cartel boss who employs a lawyer to help fake her death so she can finally live as her true self. Upon its release the critics were quick to praise Emilia Pérez but the general public felt differently, especially the people of Mexico. Questions were raised about the lack of Mexican actors, accents, some questionable Spanish and the lack of acknowledgment of the harm the cartels cause, with some people even calling the film racist. A French director choosing to film in France didn’t help these matters. Despite all the controversy, it is the most nominated film at this year’s awards with 13 nominations in total. Zoe Saldaña has been collecting trophies at every other award show for her performance and she is heavily expected to win the Best Supporting Actress statue. With two songs nominated, Emilia Pérez will likely also be getting the award for Best Original Song.
Conclave
Tasked with running one of the world’s most secretive events, the selection of a new Pope, Cardinal Lawrence stumbles upon secrets that could rock the Catholic Church to its core. A serious contender for the Best Picture award as well as Best Original Score, Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay. Conclave is definitely one to keep an eye on at this year’s Academy Awards with 8 nominations in total.
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