Introduction
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are Hollywood’s most prestigious films of the year, recognizing excellence in cinematic achievements. Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the ceremony honors outstanding performances, direction, writing, and technical contributors in the film industry.
First held in 1929, the Oscars has since become a global spectacle, celebrating the artistry and influence of movies. The winners of each award receive the iconic golden Oscar statue, resembling a symbol of cinematic excellence. The 97th annual Academy Awards, held on March 2nd, 2025, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, celebrated outstanding achievements in cinema from the past year. Hosted by TV Host and comedian, Conan O’Brien, the ceremony recognized excellence across various categories.
Best Picture: Anora (2025)
Anora, directed by Sean Baker, follows Ani Mikheeva (Mikey Madison), a 23-year-old stripper from Brooklyn, New York. Ani’s life takes a dramatic turn once she meets a Russian man named Ivan, (the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch) in her strip club and impulsively marries him. Their “Cinderella”esk romance is quickly challenged by Ivan’s parents, forcing Ani to navigate love, class dividends, and her own ambitions.
Anora was also awarded the Best Original Screenplay, which Sean Baker wrote. Beyond the dramatic elements of the film, Anora sparked worldwide discussion on the “glamorization” of sex workers, and how they are portrayed in the film. It received mixed reviews as some argued that the film “oversimplified or romanticized the real-world struggles of those involved with the sex industry.” Yet, the film was praised for its spectacular direction and emotional depth. Digging from concepts dating back as far as Cinderella, Anora is a powerful exploration of love, resilience, and class divisions.
Anora took home the award for Best Picture, as it deserved. Sean Baker masterfully explores the themes of class disparity and the amazing cast of actors adds emotional depth to the narrative, bringing together each character’s struggles, making Anora an unforgettable film.
Best Director: Sean Baker – Anora (2025)
Sean Baker, the lead director for Anora, was awarded the Best Director award at the 97th annual Oscars. Baker’s direction in Anora was highly praised, as his ability to authentically depict challenges faced by the characters, especially Ani, was remarkable. Anora was, although controversial among critics, highly commended for Baker’s perfect portrayal of complex themes such as blends of drama, and social commentary. Anora stands out in this way as Sean Baker produced an emotionally engaging, and heart-provoking film, even on such a sensitive topic as the sex industry. Baker combines social commentary (storytelling through art/ movies) and drama to open the world’s eyes to the societal issues that include sex workers.
The film sheds light on social commentary through Ani’s interactions with Ivan’s extremely powerful and wealthy family, deeply layered with the differences between the upper and lower classes. These differences include power and control, cultural divide, and access to opportunities.
Baker’s balance of drama, social commentary, and emotional depth is the sole reason he deservingly won Best Director. Baker perfectly depicts the life of a young stripper in ways that modern television has never seen before up until now. Anora would not have been the same if not approached the same way Baker did, making him the deserving recipient of the Best Director of 2025.
Best Actor: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist (2024)
The Brutalist (2024), is a visually stunning drama directed by Brady Corbet. The film follows László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-Jewish architect who navigates life in post-World War 2 America. The story dives into László’s struggles as an up-and-coming architect in the US, desperately trying to make a name for himself after a devastating shift in his life (the Holocaust). As a Holocaust survivor, László grapples with PTSD from the war as his trauma plays a central theme in the film.
Throughout the film, László combats intrusive memories of his past, feelings of guilt, and loneliness in a completely new world to him. While the film does not specifically state that László has PTSD, it is confirmed through his constant symptoms such as flashbacks, emotional detachment, and difficulty forming relationships with those around him.
Brody perfectly portrays László, not being overtly dramatic while conveying his trauma is a testament to Adrien Brody’s portrayal of László. Rather than focusing on displaying his emotions, László’s emotions are much more restrained, indicated through subtle facial expressions to convey László’s ongoing trauma and stress. Brody’s performance of László was a perfect balance between raw emotion and restraint, effectively capturing László’s complexity.
His portrayal of a man haunted by PTSD, and struggling to adapt to a completely new world is the sole reason The Brutalist is so critically acclaimed. Brody’s role showed the world that he is still able to portray deeply layered characters such as László, and still deliver an amazing performance, cementing him as one of the greatest actors of his generation.
Best Actress: Mikey Madison – Anora (2024)
Mikey Madison was the leading actress in the Best Picture, Anora. To prepare for her role in Anora, she underwent extensive training. Since her character Ani, works in the sex industry, Madison took pole dancing lessons for months to master the physical demands of the role. Madison worked with sex workers to learn the nuances of performing, the body language the dancing requires, and the emotional resilience that is mandatory in that environment.
Madison also made some subtle changes that were meant to go unnoticed such as: chemically straightening her hair, getting a common tattoo among sex workers on her thigh, and studying a Brooklyn-Russian accent. To immerse herself into the Brookyln-Russian culture, Madison studied the accent, learned conversational Russian, and spent time in Brighton Beach (a Brooklyn neighborhood) to fully immerse herself into the lifestyle.
This did not just help her get the role, this helped capture the authenticity of Ani’s background and common struggles. These steps she took to mastering her craft and fully immersing herself into the role are the sole reasons she won the award, and deservingly so.
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain (2024)
A Real Pain (2024), directed by Jesse Eisenberg, is a dramatic-comedy film that follows two estranged cousins, Benji Kaplan (Kieran Culkin) and David Kaplan (Jesse Eisenberg), as they embark on a Holocaust remembrance tour in Poland to honor the death of their late grandmother. As the movie progresses, the film turns from a journey to honor their family’s history, to a deep exploration of grief and trauma as they have been separated for most of their lives.
Kieran Culkin’s role as Benji Kaplan in A Real Pain, was a career-defining moment for him. Culkin’s portrayal of Benji, a deeply troubled man who uses humor to control past trauma, was both emotional and darkly comedic at the same time. As Benji struggles with bipolar disorder, he tries to joke around, be sarcastic, and just overall erratic to hide his internal struggles.
As Benji starts to open up around David, you learn that Benji is deeply struggling with the loss of his grandmother. This is evident through how deep of a bond he and his grandmother shared, making her death even more heartbreaking. It is also evident that their grandmother was not just a loved one to Benji, but she was the only person who accepted him, and once Benji lost the only person who truly understood him, he imploded.
His cousin, David, obviously carries his grandmother’s death with quiet reverance as he never expresses any sadness on the journey. On the other hand, Benji shows that he is genuinely interested in learning his family’s heritage. As the movie progresses and their journey continues, Culkin’s ability to shift from humorous and outgoing to deep vulnerability is nothing short of remarkable.
At the climax of the film, when Benji learns his struggles can no longer go unseen, Culkin delivers a gut-wrenching moment that cements the film’s themes of trauma, guilt, and family bonds. Culkin’s ability to provide the film with raw, emotional, and heart-breaking scenes, and balancing that out with humor to show Benji’s deep bond with his grandmother is astonishing. Kieran Culkin’s role was one the most emotionally resonant performances of the year, earning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Best Supporting Actress: Zoë Saldaña Emilia Pérez (2024)
Emilia Pérez (2024) is a drama film directed by Sofia Coppola, following the life of Emilia (Florence Pugh), a young Latina woman from Los Angeles, California. Throughout the film, Emilia strives to break free from her very traditional Mexican family to become a successful entrepreneur. The film explores themes of self-identity, cultural expectations, and the pursuit of happiness. While all of this is happening, she dreams of being a successful entrepreneur because of the endless creativity and freedoms that come with it.
Emilia wants to make a name for herself and live her life on her own terms, but she believes her family is holding her back from fulfilling her destiny. She faces criticism from her family, especially her sister Mariana (Zoe Saldaña). In Emilia Pérez, Zoe Saldaña plays the role of Emilia’s older sister Mariana, a key figure in the film. Initially, Mariana is unsupportive of Emilia’s decision to become an entrepreneur, but throughout the film, you see that Mariana becomes a mirror for Emilia’s journey. This mirror is evident through how both characters manage their personal journeys and family duties. While Emilia wants to break free from the confines of her family’s culture, Mariana prefers to stick true to her tradition and meet her family’s expectations.
Zoe Saldaña’s role as Mariana in Emilia Pérez adds great emotional depth to the film, as Saldaña perfectly portrays a character who is torn between satisfying her culture’s tradition and providing for her family through her sense of duty. Throughout the film, it is evident that Mariana also struggles with internal struggles similar to Emilia’s. Saldaña’s performance reveals that Mariana also struggles with her desire for freedom and self-expression, but was crushed due to family expectations and responsibilities.
Saldaña’s ability to switch from a disapproving and stern expression to the vulnerable and heartbroken person that is Mariana is remarkable. These switches are what make Emilia Pérez such a memorable movie that resonates with the viewer. Mariana’s upfront personality seems to be her “defense mechanism” of sorts, she uses this to cover her vulnerabilities, but once Emilia discovers this, she is deeply understanding and empathetic of Mariana.
Zoe Saldaña’s character brings a whole new layer to the story. Rather than simply being an obstacle in Emilia’s way to stardom, Mariana mirrors Emilia, teaching her about sacrifice, personal growth, and the complications of family.
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