97th Academy Awards: A Night of Surprises and Milestones

A Ceremony That Spread the Love

The 97th Academy Awards took place in Los Angeles, celebrating some of the most outstanding films of the year. The ceremony was marked by a mix of expected wins and surprising upsets, as well as heartfelt tributes and memorable moments. The first half of the ceremony saw awards distributed among several films, with “Anora” and “Conclave” emerging as strong contenders for Best Picture. Both films won awards for their screenplays, with Peter Straughan taking home Best Adapted Screenplay for “Conclave” and Sean Baker winning Best Original Screenplay for “Anora.”

Baker’s win was particularly notable, as he used his acceptance speech to thank the sex worker community for sharing their stories and experiences with him over the years. His words echoed the same gratitude he expressed when “Anora” won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in the year. The ceremony also kicked off with Kieran Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in “A Real Pain.” Culkin, who has had a stellar award season, humorously reflected on his wife’s promise to have a fourth child if he won an Oscar, saying he was taking her up on the offer.

A Night of Upsets and Milestones

One of the biggest surprises of the night came in the Best Animated Feature category, where the Latvian film “Flow” upset the heavily favored “The Wild Robot” from DreamWorks Animation. “Flow,” a wordless ecological parable about a cat in a flooded world, marked the first-ever Oscar win for a Latvian film. Director Gints Zilbalodis thanked his cats and dogs during his acceptance speech, adding a lighthearted touch to the historic moment.

Another highlight of the ceremony was the performance by “Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who opened the show with a tribute to Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires that hit the city earlier in the year. Grande sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Erivo performed Diana Ross’ “Home,” and the two joined forces for a powerful rendition of “Defying Gravity” from their musical. The film also won the award for Best Costume Design, with Paul Tazewell becoming the first Black man to receive the honor. Tazewell’s heartfelt speech was met with a standing ovation from the audience.

Conan O’Brien Brings Laughter and Heart

Host Conan O’Brien brought his signature humor and self-deprecation to the ceremony, making light of the nominees and the challenges of the past year. He kicked off the night with a monologue that avoided politics but still managed to resonate with the audience. O’Brien’s jokes ranged from poking fun at the titles of nominated films to referencing the ups and downs of the film industry. One of the funniest moments came when he quipped about Amazon founder Jeff Bezos being delivered to the red carpet in a cardboard box.

Despite the lighthearted tone, O’Brien also took a moment to acknowledge the resilience of Los Angeles and the enduring magic of cinema in the face of adversity. His sincere comments about the wildfires that affected the city, including his own home being spared, added a touch of gravity to the proceedings. The host’s ability to balance humor with heartfelt sincerity made him a standout presence throughout the ceremony.

A Year of Unpredictability and Challenge

The 97th Academy Awards capped off one of the most unpredictable Oscar races in recent memory. The ceremony took place against the backdrop of a turbulent year for the film industry, marked by declining ticket sales and the impact of the 2023 strikes on production schedules. The unpredictability of the race was further complicated by the shifting fortunes of the contenders, with frontrunners changing throughout the season and old tweets resurfacing to impact the momentum of certain films.

Despite these challenges, the ceremony still managed to draw attention to some of the year’s most compelling films. The red carpet was a splash of color, with stars like Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, and Colman Domingo making bold fashion statements. Some attendees also used the platform to express their solidarity with Ukraine and Palestine, wearing pins and speaking out on their causes. The ceremony also made history with Sebastian Stan’s nomination for playing a young Donald Trump in “The Apprentice,” marking the first time an actor has been nominated for portraying a sitting U.S. president.

Remembering Gene Hackman and the Legacy of Cinema

The ceremony also took a moment to honor the memory of two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who passed away days before the ceremony along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Hackman during the ceremony, celebrating his contributions to cinema and the impact he left on the industry. The moment served as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of film and the artists who have shaped it over the years.

As the night drew to a close, the 97th Academy Awards proved to be a celebration not just of the films and filmmakers of the past year but also of the resilience and creativity that define the film industry. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, the ceremony offered a glimpse into the power of cinema to inspire, provoke, and bring people together.