On Sunday, March 2, 2025, Conan O’Brien hosted the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, recognizing and celebrating movies released in 2024. After the ceremony, actors and actresses left the building either holding their awards or tears back, losing to their competition.
Celebrities dressed to the nines, wearing eye-catching designer gowns and suits to accept awards, give speeches and, for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, sing “Defying Gravity” on the main stage. The crowd held space as Erivo belted out the last notes and brought “Wicked” to the Oscars. After their performance, the awards started. The categories are Best Supporting Actor, Best Animated Feature Film, Best Animated Short Film, Best Costume Design, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actress, Best Production Design, Best Original Song, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Documentary Feature Film, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Live-Action Short Film, Best Cinematography, Best International Feature Film, Best Original Score, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Picture. Nominees sat eagerly waiting for their categories to come up and hoped their names would be called.
While waiting, the camera panned around and spotted actor Adam Sandler in a bright blue zip-up hoodie and black and blue Adidas basketball shorts. When O’Brien called him out he shouted, “I like the way I look because I’m a good person. I don’t care about what I wear or what I don’t wear,” said Sandler, “Did my snazzy gym shorts and fluffy sweatshirt offend you so much that you had to mock me in front of my peers?” according to usatoday.com. After his bit with the host, Sandler marched out of the theater.
The big moment finally came with the last award – Best Picture. The nominees, “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” “The Substance” and “Wicked,” sat patiently in their respective seats, awaiting the results. O’Brien brought out Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal to present the award. “Anora,” directed by Sean Baker, took the Oscar, their sixth one that night. It was “Anora’s” night and they knew it as they held the awards for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Supporting Actor.
The Oscars are a big topic in the media and of course, like anything in it, it and its choices get harsh criticism. Fans of nominees outraged with the results hit social media, demanding a change in the votes. Most cries of sympathy are directed at actors Timothée Chalamet, Sebastian Stan, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and the film “Wicked.” With the next Oscars coming the next year we shall see the movies, actors, actresses and directors perform even better.
