Anora was the big winner of the night, taking home five awards, including Best Actress for breakout star Mikey Madison and a record-breaking four Oscars for its director, Sean Baker.The whirlwind drama features Madison, a relative newcomer, as a New York stripper who falls in love with the son of a wealthy Russian. She managed to win the award despite strong competition from Demi Moore. In her acceptance speech, the 25-year-old Madison expressed her disbelief: “This is very surreal. I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. To be here standing in this room today is really incredible.” She also took a moment to honor and recognize the sex worker community, stating, “I will continue to support and be an ally… the women I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community have been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.”The Best Director award was presented by Quentin Tarantino, who previously cast Madison in a small role in his film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. During his acceptance speech, Baker remarked, “If you didn’t cast Mikey Madison, there’d be no Anora.” He thanked the Academy voters for recognizing what he termed a “truly independent film” and used his platform to champion cinema. “Where did we fall in love with movies? At the movie theatres,” he stated. “Watching a film in a theatre with an audience is an experience, and at a time when the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever. It’s a communal experience you just don’t get at home.” Baker emphasized that the theatre-going experience is under threat, with independently owned theaters struggling, and urged support for them. He concluded with a rallying cry, “Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will. Distributors, please focus first and foremost on the theatrical releases of my films.”Baker made history as the first person to win four Oscars for a single film. While Walt Disney won four awards in one night in 1953, they were for four different films.In acting awards, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, portraying a Hungarian-Jewish architect who relocates to the US after World War II to build a new life. This marked the first Oscar nomination for Brody since 2003 when he became the youngest-ever winner for The Pianist. “Acting is a very fragile profession,” he reflected. “It looks very glamorous at times, but having the privilege to return here has given me perspective. No matter where you are in your career or what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away. The awareness of that makes this night so special, and I am grateful to continue doing the work that I love.”Brody used his speech to address serious issues, stating, “I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas of war, systematic oppression, antisemitism, and racism. I pray for a healthier, happier, and more inclusive world. If the past teaches us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”The Brutalist also secured two British awards: Best Cinematography for Lol Crawley and Best Original Score for composer Daniel Blumberg.Zoe Saldaña received Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez, which tells the story of a drug lord who changes gender. In an emotional acceptance speech, she stated, “I am floored by this honor. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and power in a woman like Rita,” referring to her character. Saldaña, whose grandmother immigrated to the US in 1961, noted, “I am a proud child of immigrant parents and the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last.” Emilia Pérez also won Best Original Song for “El Mal,” which Saldaña performed in the film.Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Real Pain, about two cousins traveling across Poland in remembrance of their grandmother. Culkin has dominated this category throughout the awards season. In his acceptance speech, he humorously remarked, “I have no idea how I got here.”
Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Oscar winner Gene Hackman just four days after Hackman’s passing. “This week, our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” Freeman said before the Oscars’ In Memoriam segment. “He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world.” Freeman then introduced the In Memoriam segment, honoring those who had passed away over the past year. Names highlighted […]
