The 97th Academy Awards took place on March 2, filling the Dolby Theatre with thousands of filmmakers and actors for the most esteemed award in the film industry. While many award recipients were well-deserved, many others were the opposite. The night was filled with shocking outcomes and expected snubs all around.
The show began with a moving performance from “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Home” and “Defying Gravity.” A monologue by host Conan O’Brien followed the performance.
“Anora” went home with the most awards, winning big with Best Director, Best Picture and Best Actress. Although the movie deserved most of its five awards, I believe the Best Actress award should not have gone to Mikey Madison. This year’s lineup was competitive, with impressive performances all around. The two performances that moved me the most were Fernanda Torres in “I’m Still Here” and Demi Moore in “The Substance.” If we compare Madison’s performance to those two, I believe her win was undeserving. Madison is a young actress with lots of fame and blockbusters in front of her, and although this film was a knockout performance, it fell short compared to the other nominees.
The award for best supporting actress went to Zoe Saldaña. Although no one can deny that Saldaña’s filmography is highly impressive and she was due for an Academy Award sooner or later, her performance in “Emilia Perez” was not what she should’ve been recognized for. The performances and storytelling in the film felt off to me and unnatural, not to mention a movie about embracing Hispanic culture was created solely by a French man. The film was nowhere near what an Oscar-nominated movie should look like, nor was Saldañas’ performance. I believe the award should’ve been given to Monica Barbaro for her performance in “A Complete Unknown.” Her portrayal of Joan Baez was unique and deserved more recognition this award season.
One of the biggest snubs of the night was the lack of awards for “Conclave.” “Conclave” came through with memorable performances and a moving story that was written very well. I believed it to be in the running for Best Picture and even go home with the most awards for the night. Isabella Rossellini‘s performance as Sister Agnes stood out to me the most. She lacked lines in the film, but she made up for those lines with her presence felt throughout the film.
Overall, the night ended with historical wins such as the first Oscar for Brazil with “I’m Still Here” winning Best International Film and the Best Documentary “No Other Land.” Ultimately, the night was memorable for all the individuals involved.
