Anora triumphs with 5 Oscars, including best picture, at safe but steady Academy Awards

The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien and led by Anora with five wins, were a surprising success, avoiding the traditional Oscars pitfalls. The ceremony began with a Wizard of Oz-inspired tribute to an L.A. ravaged by fires, featuring a vocal medley by Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

Conan O’Brien showcased his hosting skills by addressing the scandals that plagued the awards season. He made jokes about the Catholic thriller Conclave and Emilia Pérez actress Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweet debacle. O’Brien humorously noted that Anora used the F-word 479 times, just three times more than Gascón’s publicist, and playfully advised her to remember his name as Jimmy Kimmel.

Anora, an indie film directed by Sean Baker, had a remarkable night at the Oscars, winning five awards including best picture, best actress, best director, best original screenplay, and best editing. Despite having 13 nominations, Emilia Pérez only took home two awards, tying it as the losingest movie in Oscars history.

Zoe Saldaña of Emilia Pérez won the best supporting actress award, becoming the first American of Dominican origin to win an Academy Award. Anora’s triumph was solidified with five Oscars, including the coveted best picture award. Director Sean Baker made history by winning four awards himself, echoing Walt Disney’s past accomplishment.

In his acceptance speech, Baker emphasized the importance of filmmakers creating films for the big screen and urged audiences to support the moviegoing experience. Adrien Brody won his second Oscar for his role in The Brutalist and delivered a passionate speech about combating hate and rebuilding together.

Political messaging at the ceremony was minimal, with few moments addressing ongoing issues. No Other Land, an Israeli-Palestinian war film, called for national rights for Palestinians in their acceptance speech for best documentary feature. The awards highlighted a sharing of wealth between productions and celebrated wins for diverse films like I’m Still Here and Flow.

The Oscars also saw Kieran Culkin winning his first Oscar for his supporting role in A Real Pain and playfully teasing his wife about their agreement to have more children if he won. Overall, the 97th Academy Awards were a night of triumphs, surprises, and heartfelt moments, showcasing the diversity and talent within the film industry.