Synopsis
At the 97th Academy Awards, Sean Baker’s 'Anora' emerged victorious with five Oscars, including Best Picture. The ceremony paid tribute to firefighters amidst the backdrop of wildfires, and featured notable wins such as Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison in acting categories.Key Takeaways
- ‘Anora’ wins five Oscars including Best Picture.
- Tributes were paid to firefighters affected by wildfires.
- Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison won acting awards.
- The ceremony highlighted important social issues.
- ‘I’m Still Here’ won best international feature.
Los Angeles, March 3 (NationPress) Sean Baker’s “Anora”, a film centered around a sex worker who weds the privileged son of a Russian oligarch, triumphed at the 97th Academy Awards by securing five Oscars, including Best Picture.
The event unfolded amid one of the most devastating natural disasters in Los Angeles history, a fact reflected in the Oscars' tributes to the firefighters who assisted communities affected by the wildfires. A montage showcased numerous films filmed in the city, ranging from “The Long Goodbye” to “Licorice Pizza”.
Sean Baker, the visionary behind “Anora,” received accolades for producing, directing, editing, and scripting the film.
This latest project became a critical favorite, marking a significant achievement for Neon, the indie distributor responsible for “Anora,” which also guided “Parasite” to its Best Picture award in 2020.
Despite earning $40 million worldwide, “Anora” has the distinction of being one of the lowest-grossing Best Picture winners in history, as reported by variety.com.
Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison received the top acting awards. Brody, a prior winner for “The Pianist”, portrayed a brilliant yet troubled architect in “The Brutalist”, while Madison earned an upset victory for her role as an exotic dancer seeking an annulment.
Madison expressed, “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so distant to me, so being here today is truly remarkable.” She also pledged her support to the sex worker community, stating, “I am an ally.”
Brody’s win, one of three accolades for “The Brutalist”, came after a series of challenges that sidelined him in the film industry.
“Acting is an incredibly fragile profession,” Brody remarked, who had to pass his gum to his partner Georgina Chapman before stepping onto the stage. He added, “Regardless of where you are in your career or what you’ve achieved, it can all vanish. This evening is particularly meaningful due to that awareness and my gratitude for still engaging in the work I love.”
Kieran Culkin, star of “A Real Pain,” was honored as best supporting actor for his portrayal of a troubled individual touring Poland with his cousin. Zoe Saldana, for her role in “Emilia Pérez”, won best supporting actress as a lawyer assisting a cartel leader with gender affirmation surgery.
With tears in her eyes, Saldana proclaimed herself “a proud child of immigrant parents.” She declared, “I am the first American of Dominican descent to accept an Academy Award, and I know I won’t be the last.”
Among other significant winners, “I’m Still Here”, a family drama set during Brazil’s military dictatorship, was awarded best international feature, marking the first time Brazil has secured an Oscar.
“Flow,” a fantasy adventure from Latvia following a cat's struggle to survive a flood, won best animated feature, surpassing contenders like “The Wild Robot” and “Inside Out 2.” Meanwhile, “No Other Land,” which examines the Israeli government’s attempts to displace Palestinians in the West Bank, received the best documentary award despite distribution challenges.
Conan O’Brien, a former late-night TV host now a podcasting mogul, emceed the Oscars for the first time, succeeding Jimmy Kimmel, who had hosted three previous ceremonies.
His opening monologue humorously addressed various topics, including the early start time of the show and “Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofia Gascón’s social media controversy.
The ceremony also paid homage to the James Bond franchise, which made headlines last month following Amazon MGM acquiring creative control of the series from the Broccoli family.
