The Oscars 2025: The Winners, The Losers, and Everything In Between
The 97th Academy Awards went down last night, and once again, the nominations and results have left us all in a spiral of confusion, rage, and the occasional "Well, at least they got that one right." But let's get real: what is going on with the Oscars this year? Emilia Pérez racking up 13 nominations like it's the second coming of Titanic? Challengers getting completely ignored? No nomination for Denis Villeneuve as Best Director for Dune: Part Two? Make it make sense!
Emilia Pérez: 13 Nominations... What Am I Missing?
Alright, so Emilia Pérez, a musical crime drama about a cartel leader transitioning into a woman, is obviously resonating with the Academy. But 13 nominations? Including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Score?
Look, I'm all for fresh, boundary-pushing cinema, but something about this feels... off. When a movie comes out of nowhere and sweeps the nominations, you expect it to be universally beloved. And yet, most people I’ve talked to haven't even seen it, or if they have, they haven’t liked it. Meanwhile, absolute bangers like Challengers, Babygirl, and Queer barely got a nod. Also, Emilia Pérez’s lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, has been caught up in controversy over old social media posts that are, uh, let’s just say, not great. So why did the Academy go all in on this one? Your guess is as good as mine.
The Worst Snubs of the Year
Every year, the Oscars manage to snub at least five people or films that were obviously deserving, and this year, they went for the jugular:
Denis Villeneuve as Best Director for Dune: Part Two
At this point, I feel like the Academy has a personal vendetta against Villeneuve. He got snubbed for Dune: Part One too, and now, even after delivering a visually stunning, narratively rich sequel, he’s still not nominated? What more does this man have to do. Direct a musical?
Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers
Hello NOTHING? Not even a nod for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ insane score? The Academy loves to act like sports movies aren’t real cinema, but everybody knows Challengers was more than just a "tennis movie."
Nicole Kidman for Babygirl
She captured the messy, complex reality of a woman trying to find redemption, yet the Academy somehow overlooked her in favor of safer, more conventional choices. All I can say is that Kidman gave one of the most nuanced performances of her career and she deserved that nomination.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths
Named Best Actress of the Year by both the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Jean-Baptiste delivered an unforgettable performance in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths. She even landed a BAFTA nomination. But did the Oscars acknowledge her brilliance? Obviously not.
Best Original Score for Challengers
I know I already mentioned this, but I need to say it again because this one is personal. How did Emilia Pérez get in over Challengers for best score? That synth-heavy, heart-pounding original score was one of the film's biggest strengths.
Daniel Craig for Queer
Craig delivered what many are calling his career-best performance in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, a deeply wounded and vulnerable turn that won him Best Actor at the National Board of Review. But did the Academy give him one of those five Best Actor nominations? Of course not. Because why recognize a stunning, transformative performance when you can just… not?
Who’s Winning What?
Now, let’s get to the fun part. Breaking down some of the nominations and results. Who should've won (in my opinion) vs. who actually did:
Best Actor
Who I wanted: Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) - Chalamet became Bob Dylan. This wasn’t just an impression; it was a full-bodied transformation. The way he mimicked Dylan’s vocal quirks, his slightly hunched stance, his quiet defiance. It was eerie. Plus, musical biopics are Oscar bait, and yet he’s somehow not the frontrunner?
Who actually won: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) - Which was kind of obvious. I feel like being the Golden Globes' Best Actor winner always sets the stage for the Oscar win.
Best Supporting Actor
Who I wanted: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) - Culkin masters that balance between tragic and comic like no one else. His performance in A Real Pain is so emotionally raw, proving that his success in Succession was no accident. Give this man his Oscar!
Who actually won: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) - This is so well deserved.
Best Actress
Who I wanted: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) - A powerhouse performance. Erivo doesn't just sing her way through Wicked; she embodies Elphaba. Bringing a beloved Broadway character to life on screen is not an easy task, but Erivo makes it feel effortless.
Who actually won: Mikey Madison (Anora) - Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this one. The Oscars are so particular about giving awards to actors and actresses under 30 (probably why Timothée Chalamet still doesn’t have one). But Mikey was incredible in Anora, and she absolutely deserves the recognition.
Best Supporting Actress
Who I wanted: Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) - She was magnetic as Joan Baez.
Who’s Actually Winning: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) - The Academy nominated Emilia Pérez for 13 things, you know they had to give it something, and if anyone is getting anything, it should be my girl Zoe. Well deserved.
Best Cinematography
Who I wanted: Dune: Part Two - The cinematography in Dune is literally mind-blowing. Give Greig Fraser his flowers!
Who actually won: The Brutalist - I called this like three days ago.
Best Costume Design
Who I wanted: Nosferatu - Gothic horror fashion? Yes, please.
Who actually won: Wicked - Well deserved.
Best Director
Who I wanted: James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) - Since Villeneuve and Guadagnino weren't even in the running, I had to throw my vote here.
Who actually won: Sean Baker (Anora) - I’m actually a little surprised (but also not really) about this one. I could definitely see Sean Baker winning Best Director for this, but I really thought it would go to Emilia Pérez. I mean, 13 nominations and all.
Best International Feature
Who I wanted: The Seed of the Sacred Fig - This movie deserved everything and it will stay with you for a while after watching it.
Who actually won: I'm Still Here - I also called this three days ago.
Best Original Score
Who I wanted: Wicked - If it can’t be Challengers, let it be Wicked.
Who actually won: The Brutalist – This feels kind of... random? At least compared to the other nominees.
Best Picture
Who I wanted: Dune: Part Two - Come on now, everybody knows Dune deserved Best Picture.
Who actually won: Anora - Honestly, I didn’t see this coming.
Best Original Screenplay
Who I wanted: Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain) - Eisenberg captures the intricacies of grief, brotherhood, and existential dread in a way that feels so real. Give him his Oscar, please!
Who actually won: Sean Baker (Anora) - Obviously.
Wrapping Things Up
And there you have it! The 97th Academy Awards in all its glory and chaos. Honestly, I’m still trying to make sense of some of these choices, but what else is new? The Oscars always have a way of throwing us for a loop, even when we think we’ve got it figured out. I mean, Anora sweeping up in ways I didn’t see coming? Wild. And don’t even get me started on the snubs. But that’s the beauty of it, right? We can’t help but keep coming back for more, even when we’re completely baffled by the results.
So all I have left to say is:
Until next year, when we get to do this all over again!
WRITTEN BY
Ilayda
The question of belonging always lingers in the back of my mind. As a diaspora child, I carry the weight of leaving and the longing to find home in every place I go. So I like to write about what moves me. Music that lingers, films that haunt, words that stay long after the page is turned. I chase the moments that make me feel something.