Random Thoughts: 2025 Academy Award nominations

No love for Guadagnino or Kidman. Too much love for 'Emilia Pérez.' Erivo and Grande are 'Wicked'-ly popular. I have Oscar thoughts and I will share them

Has it been a year already? As you may have heard — and if you’re reading this, you undoubtedly have — the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this year’s Oscar nominations earlier this week. There were snubs that rankled, surprised, and probably even caused joy. There were some nominees that also garnered a similar reaction.

I’m just gonna say this now: I don’t get Academy voters love for Emilia Pérez. The film itself is weak. It takes Karla Sofía Gascón and characters bursting into song to give it any real life. (Though, it must be said that Zoe Saldaña does an admirable job with what little she’s given.) And voters’ undying devotion to it makes me fear that we’re in for another Best Picture win a la 2004’s Crash and 2018’s Green Book. Haven’t we suffered enough this year? Don’t we deserve better?

Speaking of deserving better, I was crushed to see that Kneecap didn’t make it for International Feature Film. Maybe it didn’t have as strong a chance as I thought, but this hilarious yet surprisingly sincere Irish flick that reveals the origin story for the titular hip hop act is fresher and more honest than France’s entry, the aforementioned Emilia Pérez.

While some may be heartbroken that Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu didn’t get any above the line nominations, I am not among them. However, I am thrilled to see the crafts noms the film scored in Cinematography, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design. For me, this is where the film excelled. I’ll give my full take on Nosferatu in a future post.

A quick note regarding the music categories: I am salty about Maren Morris’ song “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot, and Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor’s score for Challengers getting snubbed. Not cool, Academy.

Alright. Let’s get down to it. Below are my hot takes on the eight major categories. I would love to hear yours, so hit that Comment button!

The 97th Academy Awards airs live Sunday, March 2 on ABC and Hulu.

Best Picture

Anora; The Brutalist; A Complete Unknown; Conclave; Dune: Part Two; Emilia Pérez;
I’m Still Here; Nickel Boys; The Substance; and Wicked.

Really wish A Real Pain, Sing Sing, and Challengers had made the cut. Also, perhaps most egregious of all, how the hell was La Chimera not a bigger part of the conversation? The political game that is the Oscars is even more nauseating in moments like this. I’m not that high on Emilia Pérez (see above) or Conclave, so those would be the easiest to go. Love seeing Anora and The Substance here.

Directing

Sean Baker, Anora; Brady Corbet, The Brutalist; James Mangold, A Complete Unknown; Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez; and Coralie Fargeat, The Substance.

No Jon M. Chu or Denis Villeneuve? Either would be preferable to Audiard. So happy to see Fargeat here — token female or no, she’s earned her slot. That Luca Guadagnino couldn’t get a seat at the table for either Challengers or Queer is ridiculous. I also would have liked to have seen RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys or Halina Reijn for Babygirl have a seat. This is why the directing category needs as many slots as Best Picture. Forever banging that drum.

Actor in a Leading Role

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist; Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown; Colman Domingo, Sing Sing; Ralph Fiennes, Conclave; and Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice.

It’s a crying shame Daniel Craig isn’t here for Queer, let alone Josh O’Connor for the masterpiece that is La Chimera. And while I am loving Stan’s nomination as he did a damn fine job in an almost impossible role, I can’t help but wish he had been recognized for A Different Man instead. Huge kudos to Domingo as his beautiful, heartbreaking turn is absolutely Oscar-worthy.

Actress in a Leading Role

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked; Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez; Mikey Madison, Anora; Demi Moore, The Substance; and Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here.

NGL I’m disappointed Nicole Kidman isn’t here for Babygirl. I haven’t yet had the pleasure of seeing I’m Still Here, but I’ve heard enough to know Torres’ nomination is valid. Gascón is fantastic and the best thing about the hot mess that is Emilia Pérez. I’m pulling for Madison or Moore, who is this year’s comeback kid and rightly so. Though if Erivo flies away with a win, I wouldn’t hate it.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Yura Borisov, Anora; Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain; Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown; Guy Pearce, The Brutalist; and Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice.

My guess is that Strong took the spot that might well have gone to Sing Sing’s Clarence Maclin. Damn shame as Maclin more than holds his own against now twice Oscar nominated co-star Colman Domingo. Borisov and Culkin gave two of my favorite performances of 2024. It seems like it’s Culkin’s to lose, which is fine by me.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown; Ariana Grande, Wicked; Felicity Jones, The Brutalist; Isabella Rossellini, Conclave; and Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez.

Honestly, Rossellini gave my favorite performance in Conclave so I’m thrilled to see her make the list. Grande is a delight as Glinda (the guh is silent). So, I know you’re wondering who I think should have made the cut over the seemingly requisite Emilia Pérez nom. Margaret Qualley had a sensational year. The Substance actress understood the assignment, perfectly matching Demi Moore scene for scene.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks, A Complete Unknown; Screenplay by Peter Straughan, Conclave; Screenplay by Jacques Audiard, in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi, Emilia Pérez; Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, Nickel Boys; and Screenplay by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield, Sing Sing.

Seriously. Where are Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox’s nominations for Wicked?! Yes, of course, I say drop the handful of people it took to adapt Emilia Pérez instead. So happy that RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes for Nickel Boys and the Sing Sing squad all scored nominations. Give it to either of those and we’ll be square, Academy.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Written by Sean Baker, Anora; Written by Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist; Written by Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain; Written by Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; co-Written by Alex David, September 5; and Written by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance.

I would have loved to have seen Justin Kuritzkes’ name here for Challengers. That said, I’m really good with the nominees listed. My big three faves are Baker, Eisenberg, and Fargeat. Each of them delivered the goods, as they were three of my favorite films of 2024. Come on, Academy. You know what to do.

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