Millions tuned in to watch the 97th Academy Awards as the biggest stars graced the red carpet in shimmery gowns and tailored suits on March 2.
While some films, like “Anora” and “The Brutalist,” took home numerous awards, other worthy films went home empty-handed. Acceptance speeches ranged from musical numbers to societal statements to being way too long. Oscar voters got some awards right, but in my view, they had a few big misses.
Best Picture
Oscars’ Pick: “Anora”
My Pick: “I’m Still Here”
The Best Picture category was stacked with incredibly authentic films each with spectacular backdrops, like the Vatican in “Conclave,” Rio De Janeiro in “I’m Still Here,” a Floridian schoolhouse in “Nickel Boys” and Brighton Beach in “Anora.” While “Anora” won the award, “I’m Still Here” was the more impactful film in my opinion.
“Anora” features brilliant acting, great humor and beautiful cinematography, but I don’t believe that it was the best film in the category. Although the plot about a young woman falling in love with an unrestrained Russian oligarch is thrilling and the characters are fascinating, I wish we, as viewers, got to know more about the protagonist’s life outside of her romantic interests and that there was a little more depth to her character.
On the other hand, “I’m Still Here” is an emotional masterpiece of a historical drama. Fernanda Torres, in the leading role as Eunice Paiva, delivers a biting performance of a grieving wife, and the cinematography is equally beautiful. “I’m Still Here” is one of those movies that will move audience members to tears. While “Anora” deserves praise, I don’t think it deserved the biggest award, especially compared to its competition.
Best Actress
Oscars’ Pick: Mikey Madison
My Pick: Mikey Madison
Of all the categories, the Best Actress one was probably the most stacked. The competition between Demi Moore in “The Substance,” Mikey Madison in “Anora” and Fernanda Torres in “I’m Still Here” was stiff, and the argument could be made for any of them to win.
However, I believe that Madison was a deserved winner for her portrayal of Anora. Despite my gripes with some of the ways her character was written, I still believe that Madison did a remarkable job with what she was given. She transformed into a completely different person, adopting a realistic New Yorker accent and learning Russian, all while taking months of pole dancing lessons to prepare for her role a sex worker. Especially in the acclaimed ending scene alongside Yura Borisov, Madison is so convincing as her character’s facade finally falls and she bursts into tears — it’s no wonder she won the award.
Best Actor
Oscars’ Pick: Adrien Brody
My Pick: Timothee Chalamet
Imagine my defeat when I turned to my dad and said, “I would be happy if literally anyone but Adrien Brody won,” and the announcer proclaimed Adrien Brody for Best Actor. It’s not like I hated his performance in “The Brutalist,” but I just couldn’t handle another meaningless, long speech after seeing him win at the Golden Globes earlier in the year. With Brody’s speech going over five minutes and him interrupting the closing music, it’s safe to say that I was at least somewhat right.
Additionally, there was controversy surrounding his performance in “The Brutalist” due to the use of AI to perfect Brody’s accent and architectural and historical discrepancies.
I believe that Chalamet deserved the award because his performance as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” was nothing short of spectacular. Chalamet spent five years practicing guitar and perfecting his voice and mannerisms to embody the young folk singer. He managed to portray Dylan convincingly while remaining authentic to himself. Chalamet’s portrayal was a truly in-depth character study, and his effort shines through in his performance.
Best Supporting Actor
Oscars’ Pick: Kieran Culkin
My Pick: Kieran Culkin or Jeremy Strong
This category was a real “Succession”-style face-off between Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong. While Culkin delivered a great performance in “A Real Pain” and swept this category through all of awards season, Strong was also utterly unrecognizable as the cutthroat Roy Cohn in “The Apprentice.”
While Cohn was by no means an easy character to play, Strong pulls off the role masterfully. Both Culkin and Strong were strong contenders for this award and deserved it. Watching an overjoyed Culkin pay homage to Strong (who was stoic as ever) in his speech looked so much like something straight out of “Succession” that I had to check what channel I was on.
Best Supporting Actress
Oscars’ Pick: Zoe Saldana
My Pick: Isabella Rossellini
Zoe Saldana is an incredible actress, but there were a host of other nominated spectacular performances than her musical “Emilia Perez.” One pick that I feel completely deserves the award but that didn’t get enough recognition was Isabella Rossellini for her role as a nun in “Conclave.”
Because Rossellini didn’t have many lines, she had to do most of her acting with her eyes. There were numerous silent shots of Rossellini that conveyed emotion without using any words. However, when she did have lines, she delivered. Her character was silent with a fiery side, and Rossellini did an amazing job of playing it.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Oscars’ Pick: “Conclave”
My Pick: “Conclave”
“Conclave” completely deserved the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. The dialogue and plot of the film drew me in from the moment it started, even though the premise of priests electing a new Pope doesn’t sound particularly exciting. Writer Peter Straughn managed to create an immersive atmosphere with the gorgeous setting of the Vatican, and “Conclave” was the correct winner for this award.
There are dozens more categories with amazingly talented actors, directors, writers, and more who were at the awards. This past year in film has brought some instant classics into the mix, such as “I’m Still Here,” “Anora” and many more, while providing generational performances from the likes of Chalamet, Madison and Torres. While some of my favorite picks went home without an award, they’ll certainly be back. (Timothee, you’ll get them next time).
