2025 Oscars: Emilia Pérez Has Too Many Noms, Challengers Snubbed, & Other Takeaways

by

This morning, I woke up to some exciting news – the nominations for the 2025 Oscars have been revealed! Emilia Pérez is leading the charge with a whopping 13 nods, while “The Brutalist” and “Wicked” each snagged 10 nominations. I can’t wait to see who takes home the gold!

Among the movies behind them, there were two more – A Complete Unknown and Conclave (with eight nominations each) – while Anora, Dune: Part Two, I’m Still Here, The Nickel Boys, and The Substance also received Best Picture nominations, joining the initial four.

Of course, conversations are buzzing around. There’s a mix of slight slights and surprising triumphs, much like any other year. Let’s dive into some key observations from this year’s Oscar nominations in 2025.

Did Emilia Pérez really need 13 nominations?

In the year 2025, Emilia Pérez garnered a total of 13 Oscar nominations, placing her film in a tie for second place with notable movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Forrest Gump. These films share this position, each having received 14 nominations previously by All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016). The question remains, what made her film worthy of such widespread recognition?

Let me make this clear: Karla Sofia Gascón is undeniably the standout in the movie. Frankly, her performance is so remarkable that it’s no wonder she made Oscars history as the first openly trans actress to receive a nomination. She certainly deserves every bit of recognition on that prestigious list.

In all honesty, I must admit that even though the movie’s victory would undeniably be a triumph, it might taste a bit less sweet if the film itself was more compelling. Frankly, I wasn’t left spellbound by any of the songs, the storyline, or indeed, many aspects of the movie, apart from Gascón’s captivating performance.

There has been an abundance of discussions and debates about this film from both the LGBTQ community and Mexican audiences regarding its portrayal and handling of sensitive themes. I strongly recommend delving into the insights provided by critics who are part of these communities, as they can shed light on the issue more profoundly.

Given the wealth of cinematic masterpieces we’ve been blessed with this year, is Emilia Pérez truly the film that deserves our unwavering praise? In my opinion, I would have to say no.

The Substance (thankfully) wasn’t overlooked

However, there’s also some good news to report! Despite the Academy’s tendency to overlook horror films (I can’t help but feel bitter about Toni Collette not being nominated for Hereditary and Lupita Nyong’o being snubbed for Us), The Substance has managed to secure some significant nominations.

I’m delighted to see Demi Moore nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. This category is particularly fierce this year, with Cynthia Erivo and Mikey Madison also in contention, but my personal favorite is Demi.

It’s quite exciting that the film received a Best Picture nomination and its director, Coralie Fargeat, was recognized for Best Directing as well. Even if it doesn’t ultimately win any awards, the nominations will likely pique the interest of many viewers who might not have given it a chance otherwise, which is always beneficial.

Did the Academy forget that Challengers exists?

It’s not a requirement for Challengers to be contenders for Best Picture, but if I were the one making decisions, I might have included it. However, since I understand the dynamics of award seasons, I can comprehend why it wasn’t selected.

Speaking of it, finding nothing in the Best Original Score category for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross in the film was quite surprising, considering the exceptional music they provided. I would have even nominated them for this category, along with Justin Kuritzkes for Best Original Screenplay and Sayombhu Mukdeeprom for Best Cinematography. The fact that they didn’t get recognized seems unbelievable, given the quality of their work.

As a gamer putting my thoughts together, I can’t help but find it oddly intriguing that even though director Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming movie “Queer” in 2024, like his other film, didn’t reap the recognition it deserved in award ceremonies, it has been highly acclaimed in various circles. It’s a bit puzzling, don’t you think?

Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan won’t be ignored

On a more optimistic note, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong received acting nominations for The Apprentice, the biographical movie about Donald Trump. Since Stan previously mentioned he couldn’t participate in Variety’s Actors on Actors because other stars’ representatives didn’t want their clients discussing Trump due to the current political climate, this could be seen as a significant achievement.

As a dedicated admirer, I can’t help but feel elated! The fact that this film has managed to break through all obstacles – including Trump’s efforts to prevent its creation and the challenges in securing distribution – and make it to the Oscars and cinema history for eternity is nothing short of remarkable. It’s truly a testament to its power and relevance!

While it may not be an easy watch, I believe that the messages this film conveys are undeniably crucial and resonate strongly with our current times. This victory is a triumph for storytelling and resilience. What an extraordinary moment in cinematic history!

Other 2025 Oscars snubs and victories

Absolutely, there’s plenty more to discuss aside from that. I was eagerly anticipating Adam Pearson receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the film “A Different Man.” It would have been exciting if Marianne Jean-Baptiste had also been nominated in the Best Actress category for “Hard Truths.” While “A Complete Unknown” wasn’t a terrible movie, I believe Denis Villeneuve should have been considered for the Best Director race for “Dune: Part Two,” rather than James Mangold for “A Complete Unknown.

Still, it’s thrilling that Colman Domingo received a nomination for Sing Sing, and I’m joyful for both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Kieran Culkin appears to be the leading contender for Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in A Real Pain, which makes me equally happy. He’s incredibly talented in that film. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to see I’m Still Here as it hasn’t been playing near where I live yet, but that was an exciting surprise, and I can’t wait to catch it when it does.

The 2025 Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 2, 2025.

Read More

2025-01-23 22:11