Artwork by Jennifer Ding
Helena Gomes ‘27
REPORTER
The Oscars are just around the corner! It is an exciting time for movie lovers to look at nominees and predict who is going to win the precious awards. This year, many people seem to have mixed feelings due to the strong competition in the major categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor/Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound.
Looking into the Best Picture category, we have: Emilia Pérez, A Complete Unknown, I’m Still Here, The Substance, Dune: Part Two, Wicked, Anora, The Brutalist, and Conclave. The race for this category is tight, with Emilia Pérez, Anora, and The Brutalist emerging as frontrunners, but personally, my favorite is I’m Still Here, directed by Walter Salles, due to its illustration of how standing up for your own beliefs can destroy a family during Brazil’s military dictatorship during the 1970s. The movie leaves you feeling wistful and heartbroken in a good way, which makes it easy to appreciate. My other favorite is The Substance directed by Coralie Fageat, which explores the concept of beauty standards and aging in a disturbingly exaggerated way. While some may think it’s a violent and disgusting movie, I think it shows the reality of the struggles that some middle-aged women go through due to societal standards.
The current nominees for Best Cinematography are The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, Maria, and Nosferatu. Even though all those films are recognized for their outstanding cinematographic techniques, Dune: Part Two stands out for its stunning visuals and its unique desert landscape, which contrasts with more common settings in other movies, making it stand out even more.
For Best Sound, we have A Complete Unknown, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, Wicked, and The Wild Robot. My two favorites in this category are A Complete Unknown and Wicked for their exceptional sound design and mixing, which enhance the narratives of the films.
When it comes to the Oscars, the first thing that comes to mind is what actress or actor will walk out with the prized Best Actor/Actress award at the end of the night. For the Best Actress category, we have Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Pérez), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), Mikey Madison (Anora), and Demi Moore (The Substance). All of these actresses had incredible performances and are potential winners of this category. However, in my opinion, Fernanda Torres should and will win Best Actress for her amazing performance in I’m Still Here. Her portrayal of Eunice Paiva in the film has been recognized as one of the finest of her career due to how she not only conveys profound sorrow but also the quiet strength of a woman who refuses to give up.
One of the most highly anticipated moments in the Oscars is the Best Actor category, and this year’s nominees are Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice). Needless to say, every actor delivered an outstanding performance, but according to recent news, Adrien Brody is considered the favorite in this category. While I agree that Brody would be a deserving winner, I still think Timothée Chalamet should win the prize due to his compelling performance in A Complete Unknown. This movie reflects his flawless acting skills, especially for his identical imitation of Bob Dylan’s voice and peculiar personality, which I think brought him more credibility as an actor.
Overall, the 97th Academy Awards in 2025 will be a tight dispute in the major categories with all the potential contestants, making it an event to watch due to possible unexpected surprises!
