By Taj Gupta
After a year of great cinema, what better way to look back on all the major accomplishments than with the Oscars, otherwise known as the Academy Awards? You may find them glorified or elitist, but there’s no doubting the buzz in the air as they open the envelope and announce ‘Best Picture’. This year, while not disrupted by any on-stage altercations, saw several surprises, both technically and by category. So, without further ado, let’s recap some of the highlights from the 97th Academy Awards.
A New Host:
Arguably, the biggest change brought about this year was with the host, the sole figure who can make or break an awards show. After a year overshadowed by unforeseen circumstances, followed by two years of Jimmy Kimmel and his dry comedy, audiences were happy to see a new (old) face return to the limelight—the beloved Conan O’Brien. Even with an opening monologue that was supposedly written just days before the ceremony, it’s safe to say that the former late-night talk show host stuck the landing. Most audiences would even go so far as to describe his delivery as a ‘return to form for the Academy’.
Biggest Wins/Letdowns:
In traditional Oscars fashion, we saw the sweep of one particular film across multiple categories. Last year, it was Oppenheimer. This year, the Academy’s choice was Sean Baker’s Anora, and for good reason. The comedy/romance film is grounded and provocative, with a stellar performance from actress Mikey Madison, as well as her co-star, Mark Eydelshteyn. Nominated for six Oscars, the film won five, including Best Picture and Best Actress. During his acceptance speech for Best Director, Sean Baker made time to highlight the importance of the theatre-going experience, advocating for publishers and producers to focus first on a film’s theatrical release. “[Going to the theatre] is a communal experience you simply don’t experience at home,” he said. “We can laugh together, cry together, [or even] scream in fright together.”
As for Best Actress, it was surprising to see Mikey Madison beat out front-runner Demi Moore, but the award was nonetheless deserved, and Madison accepted it with appreciation and dignity.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Adrien Brody, who won his second Oscar for Best Actor in The Brutalist. Clocking in at an unprecedented 5 minutes and 36 seconds, Brody broke the Guinness World Record for the ‘longest Oscars acceptance speech’. In a similar fashion to his first win in 2003, Brody simply wouldn’t stop talking. “I’m wrapping up; please turn the music off,” he professed. “This is not my first rodeo.”
In retrospect, it would’ve been great to see a newcomer win the award—in particular, Timothée Chalamet. The 28-year-old, known for his work on Dune and Wonka, was nominated for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown. Unlike The Brutalist, which made use of AI to alter Adrien Brody’s voice, Chalamet worked tirelessly for five years to perfect Bob Dylan’s persona. Everything was on point, from his mannerisms to his accent to even the way he walked.
Humorous Moments:
For an awards show centred around entertainment, you can’t not expect a healthy dose of gags and bits, combined with moments of unplanned hilarity. One standout was undoubtedly Adam Sandler. When everyone else arrived in tailored attire, the man rocked up in a hoodie and some basketball shorts. “You’re dressed like a guy playing video poker at 2 a.m.,” O’Brien exclaimed. Another equally golden moment was when Edward Norton was captured letting out an expletive as he found out he hadn’t won ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for A Complete Unknown.
Musical Performances:
Despite not taking home any Oscars themselves, it would be remiss not to mention the powerful musical numbers performed by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande from their film Wicked. The two performed a duet for ‘Defying Gravity’ as well as ‘Honouring the Land of Oz’. In addition, rapper Queen Latifah performed a tribute to the late record producer Quincy Jones with a moving performance of “Ease on Down the Road.”
Overall, the 97th Oscars ceremony was one of the most memorable in recent years. From tear-filled speeches to moving musical performances, it was certainly a rollercoaster of emotion. Let’s hope for another year of remarkable cinema and a series of great ceremonies leading up to the 100th-year anniversary!