A month in the past it appeared the 97th Academy Awards have been on the sting of cancellation Los Angeles was nonetheless smoldering after a sequence of out-of-control wildfires, which noticed 1000’s residents displaced, resulting in critical questions on whether or not the Oscars might and even ought to proceed.
Flash ahead to right this moment, the Watch Duty hearth alert web site is lastly clear as the town begins the lengthy strategy of rebuilding, and so, as they are saying, “the present should go on,” with the Oscars telecast set for March 2.
As somebody who watches film awards season the best way others watch hockey, this has been probably the most riveting race in latest reminiscence. Months crammed with controversy, presumed front-runners dethroned and surprises galore.
From Anora to The Substance, CBC’s senior leisure reporter Eli Glasner breaks down the 2025 Oscars race — together with the Canadian contenders — and why the competitors this 12 months is ‘wild.’
In some respects, the race started final Could, with Anora successful the Palme d’Or on the Cannes Movie Pageant.
In September, I watched Anora for the primary time on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant and immediately understood the acclaim. After a summer season of shallow pleasures, it was a feast of movie, an intense journey following the fortunes of a stripper who believes her life is about to alter.
However as Anora opened in theatres, the dialog intensified with some questioning the accuracy of the intercourse employee performed by Mikey Madison. And shortly, one other movie had displaced Anora as front-runner.
Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or-winning movie Anora, starring Mikey Madison, avoids Hollywood cliches about intercourse work in favour of an genuine and sympathetic have a look at that world, and the true dangers intercourse staff face, says CBC’s Eli Glasner.
With a number of wins on the Golden Globes, Emilia Pérez appeared set to run the desk on the Oscars. After years of campaigning for a Greatest Image win, Netflix appeared to have lastly unlocked the successful components within the unlikely type of a Spanish-language musical centred round a transgender lady.
However just like the telenovela type that impressed Emilia Pérez, there was nonetheless one other twist ready within the wings. When Canadian author Sarah Hagi dropped at mild the offensive tweets of lead actor Karla Sofía Gascón, the movie fell arduous from its progressive perch.
Regardless of dominating the award present season and racking up 13 Oscar nominations, some critics argue Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez perpetuates stereotypes about Mexican and trans communities.
Now, with the Oscars approaching, Anora is gathering awards like Marvel infinity gems, racking up wins on the Producers Guild Awards, the Administrators Guild Awards and the Critics Selection Awards.
However what do you have to, a traditional one who would not dwell in a film theatre, watch to organize for the large night time? Whether or not you are planning to bluff your manner via an Oscar social gathering, or simply need to be a part of the dialog out of your couch, we have bought you coated. Beneath, a viewer’s information to the Oscars, for pretenders, cinephiles and patriots.
Anora
WATCH | The official trailer for Anora:
At the moment the front-runner for finest image, actress and unique screenplay, Anora has weathered a storm of scandals and may very well be the belle of the ball come March 2.
Why watch it? Intense, comedic and chaotic, Anora is the ADHD son of Uncut Gems and Fairly Lady, thrusting us into a number of weeks within the lifetime of a intercourse employee determined to purchase right into a fantasy that may’t final.
A Full Unknown
WATCH | The official trailer for A Full Unknown
Timothée Chalamet is the Oscar season wild card. The movie capturing the rise of Bob Dylan was a late entry into the race, however Chalamet has been omnipresent, showing in all places from NFL broadcasts to chatting with the iconic Nardwuar.
This movie, which has Dylan’s blessing, remains to be a critical contender for risk-adverse Oscar voters searching for a pleasing movie with out a whiff of controversy.
Emilia Pérez
WATCH | The official trailer for Emilia Pérez:
At this level within the race, voters are speaking about Emilia Pérez for all of the unsuitable causes. If the blowback from Mexican and trans communities wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, the revelation of old, racist tweets from lead actor Karla Sofía Gascón noticed the movie go from Oscar darling to lengthy shot.
With the movie simply accessible on Netflix it is nonetheless value watching to know the conversations it impressed, however maybe think about following it up by watching different better alternatives that discover the trans expertise.
The Brutalist
WATCH | The official trailer for The Brutalist
If all you’ve got heard about The Brutalist is that it is three hours and 35 minutes, you are lacking the total story. A harrowing examination of the immigrant expertise, Adrian Brody is astounding as László Toth, a Hungerian-Jewish architect battling along with his patron and his personal quest for perfection.
It is a testomony to the writing and efficiency that many viewers have been shocked to find László Toth was not an actual particular person, however reasonably a composite impressed by the very actual architects that created the brutalist motion. With that in thoughts, do not be shocked when Brody wins his second Oscar for the function.
The Substance
WATCH | The official trailer for The Substance:
If there is a critical risk to Mikey Madison in the perfect actress race, it needs to be Demi Moore’s astounding flip in The Substance. Described as physique horror, this isn’t a movie for the squeamish.
However beneath the buckets of blood is Moore, baring her soul as Elisabeth, a girl confronted with the all-too actual horror of ageing in Hollywood. In case your solely recollection of Moore is in G.I. Jane or Ghost, spend a while with The Substance to see what she’s actually able to.
Bonus factors for true cinephiles
In a simply world Sing Sing (my number one film of the year) can be a finest image nominee and Clarence Maclin can be a lock in the perfect supporting actor class. A superb movie to look at to know why finest actor nominee Colman Domingo all of a sudden turned a crimson carpet staple.
Maybe probably the most artistically daring finest image nominee, Nickel Boys reinvents cinematic storytelling with a POV strategy that bends your mind in lovely methods.
Canadian connections
Whereas the Academy handed on the chance to appoint the bizarrely lovely Winnipeg movie Common Language and Pamela Anderson’s heartbreaking efficiency in The Final Showgirl, there is a small military of Canadians connected to different Oscar contenders.
Dune: Half Two is within the hunt for finest image, from Quebec-born director Denis Villeneuve and Canadian producer Tanya Lapointe. The wonderful lived-in high quality of the desert setting is thanks partly to 2 extra Canadians: Oscar nominated manufacturing designer Patrice Vermette and set decorator Shane Vieau.
Director Robert Eggers could not have realized Nosferatu‘s gnarly gothic look with out Canadians Craig Lathrop (manufacturing designer), Linda Muir (Costume designer) and Traci Loader (Make-up artist.)
Sugarcane is a documentary exploring what occurred at St. Joseph’s Mission, a residential college in Williams Lake, B.C.
WATCH | The official trailer for Sugarcane:
What Canadian co-directors Julian Courageous NoiseCat and Emily Kassie seize is a narrative that’s beautiful in each its scope and intimacy as NoiseCat determined to permit himself to be filmed as he pushes his father, Ed Courageous NoiseCat, to clarify what occurred.
The generations of trauma attributable to residential colleges is now a well-recognized story to many Canadians, however the sudden methods NoiseCat and Kassie seize this story make Sugarcane a should see.
For a full record of Canadian nominee and the place to look at all of the Oscar movies click here.
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