On Jan 23, 2025 this year’s Oscar nominations were announced showing film milestones and sparking some controversy. The 97th Academy Awards, will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will air March 2 on ABC. When the nominations finally came out, “Emilia Pérez” was leading with a total 13 nominations, followed by “The Brutalist” and “Wicked” with 10 each.
The nominations were delayed twice because of the ongoing wildfires occurring in Los Angeles. Finally the nominations for best picture were announced: “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Perez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” “The Substance” and “Wicked.”
“Emilia Pérez,” a crime musical centering around a cartel leader who is transgender got just one nomination shy of tying the record for overall nominations from a single film. The movies that fall in this category are: “Titanic,” “All About Eve” and “La La Land” which all received 14 nominations.
Actress Karla Sofía Gascón who plays the titular role in Emilia Perez is the very first openly transgender woman to be nominated for an Oscar. Then, Coralie Fargeat, the French filmmaker who directed the body-horror satire “The Substance” became the tenth woman nominated for Best Director.
Four men are leading top contenders for the Best Actor nomination: Adrien Brody was a Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor in “The Brutalist,” Timothée Chalamet played Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” Colman Domingo was a prisoner who expresses himself through stage acting in “Sing Sing” and Ralph Fiennes who played a Catholic cardinal digging into long-buried secrets in “Conclave.”
As for best actress, Demi Moore from “The Substance” has momentum currently from already winning a Golden Globe for her portrayal of an aging star. Mikey Madision for her role as a Brooklyn sex worker in “Anora” will also likely get recognition along with Karla Sofía Gascón, the transgender Mexican cartel chief in “Emilia Pérez.” Last but not least, nominee Cynthia Erivo will receive much attention at the ceremony for her leading role in the blockbuster film, “Wicked.”
If Cynthia Erivo wins an Oscar she will join an elite group of only 30 people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards. Having all four allows her to achieve EGOT status.
“The Brutalist”, is currently facing controversy from the media because director Dávid Jancsó used AI to tweak Adam Brody’s and Jones’ Hungarian dialogue in the film to make it sound more authentic. Critics claim that it unfairly enhanced the performance of the film’s leads and the film should be disqualified from the awards ceremony.
Among the people who have debated the lack of an intimacy coordinator on the set of “Anora” and mispronunciation of Spanish in “Emilia Pérez.”
On the other hand, this is the first time two musicals have been nominated for best picture in more than five decades and “The Substance” is the first body horror to be nominated for best picture.
Overall, don’t miss another historic year for the Oscars where this year’s incredible film releases are celebrated and awarded.
