TV
Sean Baker’s Anora, a film about a sex worker who marries the pampered son of a Russian oligarch, emerged as the big winner at the 97th Academy Awards, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture.
The ceremony took place amid one of the worst natural disasters in Los Angeles history, with tributes honoring the firefighters who helped communities impacted by the wildfires. A special montage also celebrated iconic films shot in the city, from The Long Goodbye to Licorice Pizza.
Sean Baker, the visionary behind Anora, won Oscars for producing, directing, editing, and writing the film’s screenplay.
His latest film, a critical favorite, marked another milestone for indie distributor Neon, which had previously propelled Parasite to a Best Picture win in 2020. However, despite its accolades, Anora grossed only $40 million globally, making it one of the lowest-earning Best Picture winners in history, according to Variety.
Also Read: 97th Oscars Priyanka Chopra, Guneet Monga's 'Anuja' loses to Dutch film 'I'm Not A Robot'
Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison took top acting honors. Brody, a past Oscar winner for The Pianist, played a brilliant yet troubled architect in The Brutalist, while Madison delivered a surprise victory for her role as an exotic dancer under pressure to get an annulment.
Madison, visibly emotional, said, “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. To be here today is truly incredible.” She also expressed solidarity with the sex worker community, calling herself “an ally.”
Brody’s win was one of three awards for The Brutalist. Reflecting on his journey in the industry, he said, “Acting is a very fragile profession. No matter your achievements, it can all disappear. That makes this night even more special, and I am deeply grateful to still do the work I love.”
In other acting categories, A Real Pain star Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for his role as a troubled man on a tour of Poland with his cousin. Zoe Saldana took home Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, where she played an attorney aiding a cartel leader in undergoing gender affirmation surgery.
Tearing up, Saldana said, “I am the proud child of immigrant parents. I am the first American of Dominican origin to win an Academy Award, and I know I won’t be the last.”
Other major winners included I’m Still Here, a family drama set during Brazil’s military dictatorship, which made history as the country’s first-ever Oscar win for Best International Feature.
Flow, a fantasy adventure from Latvia about a cat’s struggle to survive a flood, won Best Animated Feature, beating competitors like The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2. No Other Land, a documentary highlighting the Israeli government’s displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank, won Best Documentary, despite distribution challenges.
The Oscars saw Conan O’Brien making his debut as host, taking over from Jimmy Kimmel, who had helmed three previous ceremonies.
O’Brien’s opening monologue took lighthearted jabs at everything from the show’s early afternoon start time to Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofia Gascón’s social media controversy.
A special tribute also honored the James Bond franchise, which recently made headlines after Amazon MGM acquired creative control from the Broccoli family.
(With IANS inputs)
