Oscars 2025: The Best & Worst Moments (Plus The Biggest Surprise)

The 97th Academy Awards have concluded, leaving much to ponder. Throughout the event, host Conan O’Brien kept the pace steady (and it definitely helped that this year’s ceremony began at 7 P.M. on the East Coast, allowing for a slightly extended broadcast without becoming overly intrusive). The awards were distributed, and for the most part, they went to those who truly deserved them; although it appeared initially that film composer Quincy Jones might have been overlooked in the In Memoriam segment, he received his own tribute, led by Queen Latifah. Several categories, such as Best Costume Design, showcased tableau presentations with actors involved in the honored projects. To be truthful, a large portion of the broadcast was quite impressive!

In addition to being frustrating and unpleasant, it was also a mix of both. Let’s break it down for you. Here are the top 5 highlights from the 2025 Academy Awards, the bottom 4 lowlights, and an unexpected twist that unfolded just as the night was wrapping up.

Best: Conan O’Brien was a phenomenal host

On numerous occasions, it seems as though the individuals selected to host the Oscars aren’t particularly fond of cinema. For instance, Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted often in recent years, frequently kicks off his monologues by criticizing movies for being overly long and tedious, suggesting he’d rather be elsewhere than the Dolby Theatre. Fortunately, this year, a comedian known for his deep affection for films graced us with his presence as the host of the Academy Awards, making it an exceptional event. Conan O’Brien, who shared four excellent movie choices in an interview with Letterboxd the day before the ceremony – specifically, any “Pink Panther” film starring Peter Sellers, “Citizen Kane,” Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven,” and “Duck Soup” – clearly demonstrated his love for films.

During the event, O’Brien managed to maintain a quick pace throughout, even with his somewhat sarcastic musical performance that took a brief moment longer than intended. Yet, he appeared genuinely excited about the nominees, and while he did criticize Karla Sofía Gascón for her controversial social media posts as “Emilia Peréz” nominee, it was warranted (to be fair). Following his opening monologue, O’Brien mostly stepped back, allowing the ceremony to shine on its own. This approach proved effective.

Best: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande brought the house down at the beginning of the show

If you bring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on stage, it’s almost certain that they will deliver an extraordinary performance. Both actresses were recognized for their roles in “Wicked”; Erivo was nominated as the best actress for her portrayal of Elphaba Thropp, while Grande, known as Ariana Grande-Butera in the movie, earned a nomination in the best supporting actress category for her role as Galinda, later known as Glinda. Following a montage commemorating Los Angeles after the fires in early 2025, they performed some touching tunes before uniting for an electrifying duet. Grande opened with “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” followed by Erivo’s rendition of “Home,” a song from “The Wiz.

When these two actresses began singing “Defying Gravity,” everyone, whether in the Dolby Theater or watching worldwide, was captivated. These talented ladies possess an uncanny ability to stir emotions, and they did so effortlessly. Even before Conan O’Brien took the stage for his monologue, these two outstanding vocalists had already paid tribute to their movie and Los Angeles, creating a moment that was nothing short of enchanting.

Worst: That random, interminable James Bond tribute

Generally speaking, the 97th Oscars maintained a good tempo, with only one significant exception: the “James Bond” tribute. This segment seemed out of place during the broadcast and lasted much longer than necessary. With the recent news that the James Bond franchise, born from Ian Fleming’s spy novels and one of cinema’s most legendary sensations, is now under Amazon’s ownership – suggesting that Jeff Bezos might just assume the role of 007 if he desires – was disappointing, and it almost felt like adding salt to a wound when this extensive tribute brought the Oscars to a grinding halt.

Regardless of Margaret Qualley’s impressive ballet background, which she showcased in “The Substance,” this particular scene seemed out-of-place and unnecessary, slowing down an otherwise smoothly executed event. One might wonder about its purpose… Similarly, although James Bond is a well-known franchise, the inclusion of the tribute by the company that also produces your household items felt odd and disjointed.

Best: No Other Land wins Best Documentary Feature

Following controversial reactions to Jonathan Glazer’s speech during the 96th Academy Awards for “The Zone of Interest” in early 2024, which touched on the bombing and destruction of Gaza, there was a sense that “No Other Land” might miss out on an Oscar. Fortunately, this didn’t happen. Co-directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, “No Other Land” is a powerful collaboration between Palestinians and Israelis amidst unrelenting violence and deep-seated hatred. The documentary focuses on specific settlements in the occupied West Bank and highlights the unique friendship between Adra and Abraham as they form a bond amidst the chaos of war.

In a remarkable turn of events at the Academy Awards, the film “No Other Land” was awarded Best Documentary Feature. Accompanied by Ballal and Szor, Adra and Abraham delivered heartfelt and impactful speeches after their victory. During his speech, Adra shared that he had recently become a father and expressed his hope for his daughter to live free from the fears he currently faces, including settlers, violence, home demolitions, and forced displacements. In his remarks, Abraham spoke about the unity between Palestinians and Israelis in making “No Other Land,” stating that their collaboration made their voices stronger. He also expressed that although they are brothers, they live under regimes where he is free while Basel, whom he referred to, is subjected to military laws that negatively impact his life. There’s no doubt that the poignant and thought-provoking documentary “No Other Land” was well-deserving of its win, and the heartfelt speeches by Adra and Abraham only served to emphasize this further.

Worst: Adrien Brody’s speech went on forever

As a dedicated fan, it was thrilling to witness Adrien Brody win his first Oscar in 2003 for his outstanding performance in “The Pianist.” However, during his most recent win for “The Brutalist,” his acceptance speech seemed to veer off course. In fact, he continued speaking for an extended period that left me, and probably many others, wondering if he’d been reminded about the need to keep speeches concise.

In what felt like a long-winded journey, Brody requested the music to be halted before continuing on his discourse, which according to Variety, stretched to an impressive, yet lengthy five minutes. To put that into perspective, actors usually have just 45 seconds at the Dolby Theater with their statuette in hand.

In short, while Brody’s speech was captivating and heartfelt, it seemed he had a momentary lapse of remembrance about the usual time constraints for acceptance speeches.

Kudos to Brody, indeed! His portrayal of László Tóth was outstanding, though this author might argue that it wasn’t necessarily the best performance of the year, but rather the one that stood out most. The implication is that every performance should have its moment in the limelight, especially when an actor indulges in as much improvisation and pausing as Brody did. C’mon, buddy! It’s time to hand over the spotlight. Pass the microphone.

Best: Kieran Culkin’s chaotic, heartfelt speech

It was irritating when Adrien Brody demanded the orchestra halt playing him off for “The Brutalist,” as his subsequent rambling became tiresome. On the other hand, Kieran Culkin’s request for the same treatment was less grating because he had a solid argument. In contrast to Brody, Culkin—known affectionately as the beloved slime puppy from “Succession”—won an Oscar for his role in “A Real Pain,” where he portrayed a troubled character traveling through Eastern Europe alongside Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and directed the film. Furthermore, having won every precursor award leading up to the Oscar, Culkin’s speech during the ceremony was as expected—exceptional.

Known is the moment when Culkin, on the Emmys stage following his victory for portraying Roman Roy in “Succession,” jokingly acknowledged his wife, Jazz Charlton. He playfully mentioned that Charlton had promised him another child if he won the Emmy (they already had two children at the time). After asking for a brief moment from the orchestra, Culkin shared a story about the events following the show. “After the event, we were walking through a parking lot … and she said, ‘Oh, my goodness, I did say that! I suppose I owe you another child.’ To which I replied, ‘Really, I’d like four.'” Culkin then added, “She turned to me – let me tell you, this happened just over a year ago – and said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar.’

if you ask for extra time during your speech, make sure it’s worthwhile.

In other words, when asking for more speaking time, ensure that your content is meaningful and engaging to keep the audience interested.

Worst: The Best Original Screenplay category included a grammar mistake

As is customary, the Academy Awards decided to spotlight particular lines from the screenplay nominees – both original and adapted – prior to revealing the winner. The category for Best Original Screenplay had “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Real Pain,” “The Substance,” and “September 5” as its nominees. During the presentation of the screenplay for “September 5,” a film focusing on murders that took place during the 1972 Olympics in Munich, there was a mistake in the grammar.

In the scene in question, the line shown on-screen was written as: “If they shoot someone on live television. Right? Who’s story is that?” It should have been written as: “Whose story is that, if they shoot someone on live television?” The screenplay category made a significant mistake by not getting this simple grammatical point correct. (“Anora” still won the award, so everything turned out well in the end.)

Best: Adam Sandler showed up in his finest couture

One delightful deviation from the glamorous attire usually seen at the Academy Awards occurred when Adam Sandler, who in my opinion deserved a nomination for “Uncut Gems” several years ago, decided to buck the trend. During Conan O’Brien’s monologue, the focus was on Sandler, who was casually dressed in his signature style: a comfy sweatshirt, basketball shorts, and eye-catching sneakers, with a Hawaiian shirt hidden beneath. When asked about his outfit by O’Brien, Sandler joked, “Nobody cared about what I was wearing until you mentioned it!

After O’Brien made a joke about Sandler appearing as if he was a late-night video poker player, Sandler responded by saying, “Conan, I appreciate how I look because I am a good person. My wardrobe doesn’t concern me. Your comment about my gym shorts and sweater seemed to bother you enough that you felt the need to tease me in front of everyone present. But here’s the thing – did it really offend you that much?”

Following this exchange, Sandler moved towards the audience, suggesting a five-on-five basketball game, although he took care to extend an invitation to Bill Skårsgard, who stands at 6’4″, as well. He also called out Timothée Chalamet before departing amidst thunderous applause. As Sandler matures, he has become increasingly sentimental, and his unexpected appearance in O’Brien’s monologue was quite impressive.

Worst: How did Kylie Jenner get a front-row seat at the Oscars?!

It’s worth noting that for many, the Oscars carry a significant symbolic importance. Although the Academy Awards aren’t always spot on with their choices – films like “Crash” and “Green Book” being prime examples – it’s intended as a grand event where the most stylish stars of Hollywood come together to celebrate the previous year’s outstanding movies, shorts, and documentaries. With this in mind, the front row is considered another hallowed area. Typically, individuals such as Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson seem to have permanent reservations here, regardless of their nominations. This year, however, Kylie Jenner was fortunate enough to secure one of those coveted seats.

It’s quite evident that there’s an explanation for this situation. Kylie Jenner is in a relationship with Timothée Chalamet, who was nominated as Best Actor at the ceremony due to his performance in the film “A Complete Unknown,” even though it might seem more appropriate to call it a biopic given its storyline about a man wanting to play a different kind of guitar. Nevertheless, it’s Kylie Jenner we’re talking about! Attending the Oscars?! One can’t help but wonder if she’s ever watched this event before, or any of the nominated films, or even a movie at all. Ultimately, though, keep in mind that the Devil works hard, but Kris Jenner, Kylie’s mother and “momager,” works harder.

Total surprise: Mikey Madison triumphs over Demi Moore for Best Actress

As a fervent admirer of the Academy Awards, it’s no secret that the voters gravitate towards compelling narratives. For instance, Brendan Fraser, an extraordinarily gifted actor, won for a film that many would consider a misstep (Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale”), signifying his comeback. In contrast, Ke Huy Quan earned his Oscar for a far superior production, “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” where his story was equally captivating. This pattern led many pundits to predict Demi Moore as the Best Actress winner for the 97th Academy Awards, given her fearless and raw performance in Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance.” However, they were proven wrong; it was Mikey Madison, the star of “Anora,” who was crowned instead.

This turn of events was quite unexpected, given that Moore had amassed most of the accolades typically indicative of an Academy Award, including a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award. It’s truly exhilarating to witness newcomer Madison, who hadn’t previously headed a major film other than Sean Baker’s Best Picture winner “Anora,” receive the award. However, it was also a bit disheartening to see Moore leave empty-handed on this occasion. To be fair, this category was always going to be fiercely competitive. Both actors delivered outstanding performances, but Madison’s victory served as an upset… let’s hope that an innovative filmmaker offers Moore another Oscar-worthy role in the future.

2025-03-03 09:31