Zoe Saldaña's acceptance speech after winning Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her interpretation of Rita Mora Castro in "Emilia Pérez"
It’s finally March, and while the slushy snow slowly evaporates and the flowers start to bloom, it’s time for my favorite night of the year—Hollywood’s biggest night. The Oscars!
The 97th Academy Awards took place Sunday, March 2nd, in Los Angeles, California, at Hollywood’s iconic Dolby Theatre. The night kicked off with an outstanding musical performance featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. As an ode to Hollywood, Ariana dazzled the audience in a ruby dress while performing “Over the Rainbow,” and Erivo delivered a powerful rendition of “Home” from the famous Broadway musical, “The Wiz.” The duo then came together for “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked,” setting the stage for what was supposed to be a magical night.
Then came the host introduction–a moment I can only describe as…odd, yet unforgettable. Comedian Conan O’Brien made his grand entrance through a pre-recorded skit parodying a scene from the Oscar-nominated horror movie “The Substance.” In the clip, O’Brien quite literally emerged from Demi Moore’s back, mimicking the grotesque transformation sequence from the film. And just when we thought it couldn’t get weirder, he realized he had forgotten his shoe and casually dove back in to retrieve it. If the goal was to set a playful (and slightly disturbing) tone for the evening, mission accomplished.
During O’Brien’s initial monologue, Adam Sandler made a surprise appearance, hilariously interrupting the segment while dressed like he had just rolled out of bed: gym shorts, hoodie, the full Sandler package. It was a small but fun moment that lightened the mood.
Another highlight of the night (for better or worse) was the highly anticipated James Bond tribute. On paper, it looked like an absolute showstopper: a sleek dance performance by Margaret Qualley and men in tuxedos set to the iconic James Bond theme. It also included singing performances from Blackpink’s Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye. Sounds promising, right? Well, let’s just say the execution didn’t quite match the vision. Instead of a suave homage to the 007, the tribute felt chaotic, leaving most of the audience—myself included—wondering what exactly we had just witnessed.
In my opinion, it didn’t give Bond the celebration the legendary franchise deserves. It started off strong with Qualley’s performance but quickly fell through. The rest of the tribute felt choppy, which made the whole tribute feel like a medley gone wrong instead of a perfectly curated celebration of the world’s most iconic spy. Although Raye delivered an impeccable run of “Skyfall,” I really wished they had brought Adele out for that one.
Since Amazon’s recent purchase of the James Bond franchise, everyone has been on the edge of their seats trying to figure out one thing: who will be the next 007? Many of us hoped the Oscars would finally give us the long-awaited answer. Sadly, we were left with a tribute that felt more like a missed opportunity than a grand reveal.
As the night went on, Adrien Brody unintentionally made history by setting the record for the longest Oscar acceptance speech, stubbornly powering through despite the orchestra’s many, many attempts to play him off. The audience found it amusing at first, but after a while, it just became awkward.
And then, wait for it, the firefighters who fought the Pasadena fires came on stage to tell a few jokes. While I get that the intention was to honor their heroic efforts and show gratitude, I couldn’t help but think… was this really the best way to do it? It was definitely a moment, but one of those “only at the Oscars” kinds of moments, where you’re just left scratching your head, wondering what just happened.
For me, the Oscars are one of the most important events of the year, second only to the MET Gala. The glamour, the dresses, the celebrities, and most importantly, the movies. I’ve been watching the Oscars religiously since I was nine, ever since I saw Emma Stone win her first Oscar for “La La Land.” From that moment on, it became my tradition. Popcorn in hand, predictions made, every Best Picture nominee watched in advance, and of course, my own acceptance speech practiced in my bathroom mirror. Manifestation, right?
This year was no exception. But as much as I loved every second of watching the best films of the year be honored, I couldn’t shake this lingering feeling of… disappointment. It’s not that the movies weren’t good; they were. But for some reason it felt like I had to force myself to get through them, unlike in previous years when I was genuinely excited to watch the ones I had missed.
Of course, I was beyond thrilled to see “Dune: Part Two” take home Best Visual Effects. The visuals were absolutely stunning, seriously. It’s the kind of movie that leaves you in awe. But honestly, I can’t help but think that “Dune” could’ve had an even bigger impact if it had been released later in the year. I mean, it definitely deserved more recognition, and I think it could’ve snatched up a few more wins. And let’s not even talk about Hans Zimmer not getting a nomination for Best Score; his work on “Dune” was incredible, and he was totally robbed of that.
And speaking of “Dune,” did anyone else catch the sandworm playing the piano and harp in those skits? It was probably the most talented sandworm to ever walk (or you know, slither) the red carpet. Definitely one of the funniest moments of the night.
The movie that stood out the most (to literally everyone) was “Anora,” sweeping the night with five Oscars, including Best Picture. Director Sean Baker broke my heart with every single one of his speeches. It’s mind-blowing to think that he went from having zero Oscars to five in just one night.
Baker’s acceptance speech for Best Picture was one of my absolute favorite moments of the night. He didn’t just give the usual thank-yous; he really took a moment to talk about something that I think is so important: the value of independent film. He reminded everyone how these films, which often go unnoticed, are what truly keep the heart of filmmaking alive. It’s not all about the big budgets and fancy effects, but about raw storytelling, passion, and creativity. I loved that he gave independent cinema the shoutout it deserves because honestly that’s what it’s all about for me too. Movies have the power to make you think, feel, and see the world in a completely new way, and hearing him say that just made me appreciate him and his film even more. It was such a genuine, heartfelt moment.
I wasn’t expecting Mikey Madison to win Best Actress, but her acceptance speech was beautiful. While I totally get why some people are disappointed, (trust me, I wanted Cynthia to get her EGOT too), Mikey also delivered an incredible performance and deserved the recognition.
As for my predictions, I got 13 out of 20 correct, so I guess I was right about more than I gave myself credit for. But ultimately, no matter what happens on the night, the Oscars are always about celebrating cinema, with all its highs, lows, and strange moments in between. And that’s what keeps me coming back every year.