Inside the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the Oscar race for 2025 brings a slew of records and captivating storylines. This year, Disney's "Inside Out 2" emerges as a heavy hitter, securing a nomination for Best Animated Feature after ruling the box office in 2024. Meanwhile, the backdrop of the ceremony is intensified by the devastation caused by recent wildfires in Los Angeles.
The awards season has not been without controversies; while minor issues like the use of AI in "The Brutalist" stirred minor debates, a revelation of historic tweets nearly caused significant distress for actress Emilia Pérez. As anticipation builds for the Academy Awards on March 2, here’s a look at the key highlights from the nominee list.
1. For the first time in over 50 years, two musicals—"Wicked" and "Emilia Pérez"—are in contention for Best Picture. The last time this occurred was in 1969 with "Funny Girl" and "Oliver!" The increased number of nominees in this category has undoubtedly contributed to the revival of musicals on this grand stage.
2. Notable actor Adrien Brody could become a record-setter; having won Best Actor in 2002 for "The Pianist" at just 29, he has now received another nomination. If victorious, he would be the first to win the leading actor award on his first two nominations, sharing this elite club with seven other distinguished actors.
3. Timothée Chalamet is a fierce competitor for Best Actor as well. His portrayal of Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown" is garnering significant acclaim, and if he wins, he'll beat Brody’s record for the youngest Best Actor winner by just ten months.
4. Although "Emilia Pérez" is leading the nominations, streaming films face a dubious fate. Historically, highly-nominated streaming films have struggled to convert nominations into wins. "Emilia Pérez," while strong in a couple of categories, may follow in the footsteps of other streaming disappointments.
5. The Best Supporting Actor category sees "Succession" stars Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong nominated, but neither comes from a Best Picture-nominated film. Culkin's frontrunner status remains intact, despite the trend of winners coming from Best Picture competitors.
6. In another first, "The Substance" marks the inaugural body horror film nominated for Best Picture, joining the ranks of only six other horror films. Its strength in make-up and hairstyling could work in favor of Demi Moore, a competitive candidate for Best Actress.
7. Isabella Rossellini is vying for an Oscar for an eight-minute performance, a remarkable feat still short of the record for the shortest winner. Interestingly, "The Brutalist" stands out for its runtime, being one of the lengthiest nominees ever.
8. Colman Domingo receives a Back-to-back Best Actor nomination, joining a prestigious group who have achieved consecutive nominations, though he is still a way behind the all-time leaders.
9. An important historic shift occurs this year as all Best Actress nominees are also from Best Picture-nominated films—a trend that has not been seen since 1977, suggesting a promising change in Academy voting behaviors.
10. Sebastian Stan makes history with his portrayal of a young Donald Trump, joining a selected group of actors nominated for playing U.S. presidents.
As we gear up for the Oscars, discussions about the nuances of nominations, potential upsets, and bitter rivalries continue to amplify, ensuring that this year's ceremony will be one for the history books. Furthermore, with nominees like Diane Warren and Sean Baker on the path to breaking records, the April 2025 awards ceremony is sure to capture as much attention as Hollywood's latest flicks.
The awards season has not been without controversies; while minor issues like the use of AI in "The Brutalist" stirred minor debates, a revelation of historic tweets nearly caused significant distress for actress Emilia Pérez. As anticipation builds for the Academy Awards on March 2, here’s a look at the key highlights from the nominee list.
1. For the first time in over 50 years, two musicals—"Wicked" and "Emilia Pérez"—are in contention for Best Picture. The last time this occurred was in 1969 with "Funny Girl" and "Oliver!" The increased number of nominees in this category has undoubtedly contributed to the revival of musicals on this grand stage.
2. Notable actor Adrien Brody could become a record-setter; having won Best Actor in 2002 for "The Pianist" at just 29, he has now received another nomination. If victorious, he would be the first to win the leading actor award on his first two nominations, sharing this elite club with seven other distinguished actors.
3. Timothée Chalamet is a fierce competitor for Best Actor as well. His portrayal of Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown" is garnering significant acclaim, and if he wins, he'll beat Brody’s record for the youngest Best Actor winner by just ten months.
4. Although "Emilia Pérez" is leading the nominations, streaming films face a dubious fate. Historically, highly-nominated streaming films have struggled to convert nominations into wins. "Emilia Pérez," while strong in a couple of categories, may follow in the footsteps of other streaming disappointments.
5. The Best Supporting Actor category sees "Succession" stars Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong nominated, but neither comes from a Best Picture-nominated film. Culkin's frontrunner status remains intact, despite the trend of winners coming from Best Picture competitors.
6. In another first, "The Substance" marks the inaugural body horror film nominated for Best Picture, joining the ranks of only six other horror films. Its strength in make-up and hairstyling could work in favor of Demi Moore, a competitive candidate for Best Actress.
7. Isabella Rossellini is vying for an Oscar for an eight-minute performance, a remarkable feat still short of the record for the shortest winner. Interestingly, "The Brutalist" stands out for its runtime, being one of the lengthiest nominees ever.
8. Colman Domingo receives a Back-to-back Best Actor nomination, joining a prestigious group who have achieved consecutive nominations, though he is still a way behind the all-time leaders.
9. An important historic shift occurs this year as all Best Actress nominees are also from Best Picture-nominated films—a trend that has not been seen since 1977, suggesting a promising change in Academy voting behaviors.
10. Sebastian Stan makes history with his portrayal of a young Donald Trump, joining a selected group of actors nominated for playing U.S. presidents.
As we gear up for the Oscars, discussions about the nuances of nominations, potential upsets, and bitter rivalries continue to amplify, ensuring that this year's ceremony will be one for the history books. Furthermore, with nominees like Diane Warren and Sean Baker on the path to breaking records, the April 2025 awards ceremony is sure to capture as much attention as Hollywood's latest flicks.
