2024 was full of captivating and entertaining films. On Sunday, March 2, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held the 97th annual Oscars award show to reveal which new films and performances would earn Hollywood’s acclaim.
When determining Oscar winners, the Academy analyzes top films both from a general quality standpoint—awarding titles such as “Best Picture” or “Best Actress”— as well as more specific technical aspects such as sound, makeup, and set design. There are 23 total categories and this year 44 films competed for the beloved golden statue.
The show was hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, a refreshing redemption from some award show mishaps in past years such as Jo Koy at the 2024 Golden Globes or the Chris Rock and Will Smith showdown at the Oscars in 2022. Conan was able to keep jokes respectful and lighthearted and gave the audience a particularly humorous opening monologue.
The show opened with a performance from “Wicked” leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who beautifully delivered a medley of “Wicked” and “The Wizard of Oz” tracks. Other performances included Doja Cat, Raye, and Lisa from BLACKPINK, who plays a significant role in the TV show “White Lotus,” doing their own version of popular James Bond songs.
Multiple films garnered nominations in the double digits, like crime melodrama “Emilia Pérez” with a leading count of 13 total nominations.
After taking theaters by storm, musical fantasy “Wicked” received well-deserved praise for its costume and production design, with Paul Tazewell being the first Black man to take home the title of Best Costume Design. Despite these two wins, many fans believe the film and its actors were slighted by the academy in its eight other categories. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have gained an incredibly strong backing from “Wicked” fans, many of whom find it hard to believe that their singing and performance abilities were overlooked for titles such as Best Actress or Best Sound.
It was a big night for the romantic drama “Anora,” which took home five of its six nominations. 25-year-old Mikey Madison secured a Best Actress title for her work as Ani Mikheeva, placing her among the youngest to ever win the award. The film also won awards for The Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role categories.
Many viewers have expressed their irritation about the fact that films such as “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez” used AI to enhance actors’ voices, yet still managed to take home awards for these actors’ performances. Fans of other films have pointed out that the movies that used AI shouldn’t have won over films like “A Complete Unknown,” in which leading actor Timothée Chalamet was able to emulate his character’s voice without the help of technology.
Disagreements aside, the ceremony was successful in honoring the work of many talented and hardworking individuals in the film industry. If anything, the discourse and backlash about the winners spotlights the beauty and subjectivity of film as well as the in-depth discussions the artform may evoke from viewers. Titles can be won and lost, but the impact of these films on viewers is what makes them truly worthy of recognition.
