‘Anora’ Wins Big at the 97th Academy Awards

The 97th annual Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, took place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien. This year, the comedy-drama film “Anora” emerged as the big winner, claiming five out of its six nominations.

For the first time, actor Nick Offerman served as an announcer for the Oscars. Sean Baker, the director of “Anora,” made history that night by being the first person to win four Academy Awards for the same film in a single evening.

“Anora” captured the most prestigious awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film “The Brutalist” followed closely, winning three awards, while “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two” each received two awards.

“Emilia Pérez” entered the ceremony with the highest number of nominations at 13 but ultimately took home only two awards. In a historic moment, Karla Sofía Gascón became the first transgender woman to be nominated in any acting category. However, she faced controversy related to offensive social media posts about various topics.

Throughout the night, O’Brien utilized his comedic flair, especially during the mid-show segment where he humorously stated, "We’re halfway through the show, so now’s the time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile." He kept the audience entertained even after “Anora” won its first two Oscars, remarking, "I guess Americans are finally excited to see someone stand up to a powerful Russian."

Notably, the Los Angeles Fire Department participated in the ceremony, humorously reading out jokes from the teleprompter while expressing sympathy for those affected by the California wildfires and poking fun at the producers of “Joker 2.”

Memorable Moments

The Oscars featured both memorable and somewhat awkward moments. One highlight was Adam Sandler’s surprise appearance in casual attire, along with Mick Jagger, who presented the award for Best Original Song. Bowen Yang made a comedic impression by donning a Shiz University outfit from “Wicked” during the best costume design presentation, as he was humorously pranked by his fellow presenters.

However, a more cringeworthy moment unfolded when music played during Adrien Brody’s acceptance speech for Best Actor for “The Brutalist.” Brody humorously addressed the situation by saying, "Turn the music off, thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, I will be brief."

O’Brien also provided an unexpected entertainment segment featuring a sandworm from “Dune” at a piano, along with Deadpool dancing, which added a whimsical touch to the evening.

The traditional in memoriam segment, presented by Morgan Freeman, honored Gene Hackman, who passed away on February 17, yet notably excluded actress Michelle Trachtenberg who died shortly after.

Big Winners

Several first-time winners were celebrated throughout the night, with significant moments in categories such as Best Costume Design and Best Animated Feature Film creating headlines.

Best Picture

“Anora” secured the coveted Best Picture award, with contenders including “Wicked,” “I’m Still Here,” and “The Substance,” the latter of which marked the first horror film nominated in this category since “Get Out” in 2018.

Best Director

Sean Baker was honored with the Best Director award for “Anora.” Other nominees included James Mangold for “A Complete Unknown” and Brady Corbet for “The Brutalist.” In his acceptance speech, Baker urged filmmakers to prioritize cinema and theatrical releases, emphasizing the communal experience of watching films in theaters.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Adrien Brody made history by becoming the first actor to win two Best Actor Oscars with only two career nominations when he won for his role in “The Brutalist.”

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Mikey Madison won the Best Actress award for her performance in “Anora.” Competing nominees included Cynthia Erivo for “Wicked” and Demi Moore for “The Substance.” Madison, at just 25 years old, is the youngest Best Actress winner since Jennifer Lawrence.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Kieran Culkin took home the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “A Real Pain.” This marked Culkin’s first Oscar win and put him halfway towards achieving EGOT status.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

The Best Supporting Actress award went to Zoe Saldaña for “Emilia Pérez,” also marking her first Oscar win. Other nominees included Ariana Grande and Felicity Jones.

Best Animated Feature Film

“Flow” emerged victorious in this category, competing against nominees like “Inside Out 2” and “Wild Robot.” This win is notable as it marks the first Oscar for a Latvian film.

Costume Design

Paul Tazewell won the Best Costume Design award for “Wicked,” making history as the first Black man to win in this category. This win officially elevated “Wicked” to Oscar-winning status.

Notable Performances

The evening commenced with a breathtaking performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, celebrating “Wicked” alongside iconic songs from “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Wiz.” The medley included notable performances such as Grande’s rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and Erivo's presentation of “Home.”

Other performances included Queen Latifah honoring Quincy Jones with “Ease on Down the Road” and a tribute to James Bond featuring LISA, Doja Cat, and Raye.

For a full list of nominees and winners, please visit the official Oscars website.

Awards, Anora, Ceremony, Nominees