The Oscars

[Stan]

So often have such raw passion in them..

Have not seen one of these films..

[Liz]

I always liked it when Billy Crystal hosted them. In my opinion he was really funny, it isn't funny when they try soooo hard to be funny or clever.

As for the movies, I saw Enchanted with my daughter, cute movie--but Oscar worthy????

We also watched Bourne Ultimatum--loved it. Pirates of the Carribean 3--Loved it. Transformers--loved it.

Most of the shows we liked lost for their catagories. Go figure.

[Dr. Shane]

The writers' strike really made me think. Could Billy Crystal still be funny if he had to write his own material? What about David Letterman or Jay Leno? It almost makes it all so shallow to me. It seems like a cousin of plagiarism - telling someone else's jokes.

[Liz]

Yes, I think Billy Crystal could still be funny, because he does write a lot of his own material. He came from a back ground of stand up and improv so he really doesn't need others to write for him.

But I know what you mean, about taking credit for some one elses' work. When you watch some of these "actors" go unscripted it doesn't take long for one to realize just how much the writers really do.

[Stan]

previous, i used to be at Burbank, and used to see so many of the AAward people.. those days have passed..

[Gail]

La Vie en Rose- my choice for the best actress was for Marion Cotillard who played Edith Piaf, the waif whose singing voice made her famous.

This is a bio (for those who like them), most excellently done!

[Amelia]

I wondered about La Vie en Rose. Why wasn't it under foreign language films? Wasn't this the first time an actor/actress was nominated for a foreign language film?

[Gail]

It could have been- I forget! Certainly the singing was in French.

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? Why Oscar movies are so elusive

Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios

Hollywood's awards season is in full swing — but good luck seeing the top Oscar contenders in theaters. "The Brutalist" — a three-hour-plus epic that's likely to be a Best Picture nominee — initially opened in just four theaters in New York City and L.A., Axios' Shane Savitsky writes. The film's distributor, A24, tells Axios that the big push for the film will come after Oscar nominations land on Jan. 17 — with plans for it to eventually expand to over 2,000 screens. ? How it works: Smaller films with niche audiences — often from independent distributors — use limited releases to build up buzz and secure eligibility for major awards. By securing both word of mouth and that all-important Oscar buzz, awards films have a much better chance of surviving a big expansion. Go deeper.

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As Los Angeles burns, Hollywood’s Oscar season turns into a pledge drive

When the Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles last Tuesday, Hollywood’s awards season was in full swing. The Golden Globes had transpired less than 48 hours earlier and a series of splashy awards banquets followed in the days after.

https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-oscars-los-angeles-academy-awards-da8cd994872ac6c1c65dcd4bc8721cc5?

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‘Emilia Pérez’ tops Oscar nominations with 13, ‘Wicked’ and ‘The Brutalist’ land 10 apiece

In the wake of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles that struck at the heart of the movie industry, an embattled Hollywood lined up behind the Netflix narco-musical about trans identity “Emilia Pérez” in Oscar nominations Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/oscar-nominations-2025-academy-awards-ac7b6a7f8eef9151dc9c301b0b915b2f?

? 1 film thing: Oscar nominees out

"Emilia Perez" swept up Oscar nominations, announced today, with a total of 13.

• The movie is about a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes gender affirmation surgery to become a woman.

? Other top nominees included "Anora," "The Brutalist," "A Complete Unknown" and "Wicked."

• Snub to know: Nicole Kidman for Best Actress in "Babygirl." Come on!

Full list of nominees.

Oscar nominations

The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced Thursday in Los Angeles. The musical "Emilia Pérez" led with 13 nominations, followed by "The Brutalist" and "Wicked" with 10 each. With "Wicked" and "Emilia Pérez," this year marks the first time two musicals have been nominated in the best picture category since 1968 when "Oliver!" and "Funny Girl" both scored nominations, according to the Academy. The acting categories were largely dominated by first-time nominees, with 13 individuals scoring their first Oscar nods, including Kieran Culkin, Demi Moore, Isabella Rossellini and Zoe Saldaña. Conan O'Brien is set to host the ceremony, airing on March 2.

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Oscars

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are scheduled to take place on Sunday. The ceremony arrives five weeks after the start of President Trump's second term, but the event in Los Angeles is poised to be less political than in recent years. With the backdrop of devastating fires that ravaged the city, award season this year has been centered around coming together. Among the frontrunner acting nominees — Zoe Saldaña, Kieran Culkin, Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody — none of their acceptance speeches this award cycle have been overtly political. This year's Oscars host, Conan O'Brien, was also partly selected because his comedy typically does not delve into politics, the Academy's CEO told CNN.

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? 1 for the road: Unpredictable Oscars

Workers move an Oscar replica through the red carpet area yesterday. Photo: Jae C. Hong/AP Tonight's Academy Awards, at the Dolby Theatre in LA, will bring to a close one of the most unpredictable Oscar races in recent memory. ? The supporting acting categories feature overwhelming favorites in Zoe Saldana ("Emilia Pérez") and Kieran Culkin ("A Real Pain"). But both best actor and best actress are close contests, AP's Jake Coyle writes. In best actress, Demi Moore ("The Substance") is most likely to win. But Mikey Madison ("Anora") or Fernanda Torres ("I'm Still Here") could pull off the upset. Adrien Brody is favored for best actor with his performance in "The Brutalist." But Timothée Chalamet stands a decent chance of beating him, for his performance as Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown." The 29-year-old Chalamet would become the youngest best actor winner ever, edging Brody's own record, set in 2003 in his win for "The Pianist." ? The top two contenders for best picture are "Anora," a film about a sex worker who weds the son of a Russian oligarch, and "Conclave," the papal thriller starring Ralph Fiennes. The Oscars start at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. More from Hollywood Reporter.

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Oscar winners

Hollywood's glitz and glamour were on full display at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday. Sean Baker's film "Anora" won five Oscars, including best picture and best actress for star Mikey Madison. The independent film, which follows a Brooklyn sex worker and her whirlwind romance with the son of a Russian oligarch, also took home awards for writing, editing and directing. Other major winners were Adrien Brody, who won his second best actor Oscar for his role in "The Brutalist"; Zoe Saldaña, who won best supporting actress for "Emilia Pérez"; and Kieran Culkin, who won best supporting actor for "A Real Pain." View CNN's Oscars photo gallery to see some of the best moments of the night.

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? 1 for the road: Indies dominate Oscars

Data: Axios research. (Big tech = Amazon, Apple, Netflix.) Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios Indie movie studios dominated the Oscars on Sunday, with Neon's "Anora" taking home five trophies, including Best Picture, and A24's "The Brutalist" winning three, Axios' Sara Fischer writes. "Flow," a Latvian film, was the first indie film ever to win Best Animated Picture, beating traditional studio films, including Universal Pictures' "The Wild Robot" and Disney's "Inside Out 2." ? Winning awards often comes down to politics and marketing, as much as it does the quality of a film. Neon is known for creative marketing tactics that allow it to drum up excitement and curiosity on a lower budget. Get Axios Media Trends, Sara's weekly newsletter.

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Conan O’Brien to Return as Oscars Host for 98th Ceremony Set for March

After a rapturous reception at this year’s Academy Awards, emcee Conan O’Brien will return to the Dolby Theatre for the 98th Oscars on March 15, 2026.

https://variety.com/2025/film/awards/conan-obrien-oscars-host-2026-date-march-1236338970/?

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The Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime home of ABC

In a seismic shift for one of television’s marquee events, the Academy Awards will depart ABC and begin streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday.

https://apnews.com/article/oscars-youtube-move-46963461ffdda03ec783feb91029c740?

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Vampire thriller "Sinners" breaks Oscar nomination record

Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" secured 16 Oscar nominations on Thursday, breaking a long-standing record for the most-nominated film of all time.

https://www.axios.com/2026/01/22/sinners-oscar-nominations-record-coogler-jordan?

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Oscar Nominations

Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced yesterday, led by “Sinners” with a record-breaking 16 nods. The 1930s-set vampire epic, which grossed $368M globally, is followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13. They join a best picture lineup that includes “Frankenstein,” “Bugonia,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sentimental Value,” “Train Dreams,” “F1,” and “The Secret Agent.” Warner Bros. led with 30 nominations, with indie studio Neon and Netflix next with 18 each. Best actor contenders include 30-year-old Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”), one of the youngest men to have received three acting nods, while best actress nominees include 37-year-old Emma Stone (“Bugonia”), the youngest woman with seven. Steven Spielberg (“Hamnet”) earned a record 14th best picture nomination as an individual producer. This year also marks the first recognition of casting directors. The ceremony airs March 15 on ABC and Hulu, with Conan O’Brien hosting for the second time. See all nominations here and snubs and surprises here. ? 1 for the road: Oscars' foreign streak The Oscars' recent support of foreign-language cinema marks one of the most rapid taste turnarounds for the awards body in recent history. By the numbers: Before "Parasite" broke the foreign-language barrier and took home Best Picture in 2020, only 11 non-English films were nominated for the top award. In the six years since, 10 have been in contention for Best Picture. ? Chalk that up to a change in the Academy itself. The Hollywood Reporter notes that about 25% of its membership hailed from outside the U.S. in 2024, compared to 8% a decade before that. Ryan Coogler's "Sinners," a supernatural thriller, broke the Academy Awards' all-time nomination record, earning 16 nods (surpassing the previous mark of 14, held by three films), including Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan, above). Full list.

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And the Oscar Goes To ...

A brief history of the Academy Awards Often called the Oscars after the eponymous gold statue, the Academy Awards are an annual ceremony recognizing artistic and technical merit in the film industry. Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences vote for winners across a range of categories, including acting, cinematography, sound design, and more.   AMPAS was founded in 1927 by Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM Studios, as a way of managing labor disputes and the public image of the film industry.   More than 3,000 Oscars have been awarded overall. Walt Disney has taken home more than any other individual, with 26 wins, while "Ben-Hur," "Titanic," and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" are the most-awarded films with 11 Oscars apiece. ... Read our full explainer on the Academy Awards here.   Also, check out ...  > Best picture is selected through a ranked choice voting process. (Watch) > How films become eligible for nominations. (Read) > See a list of the youngest Oscar winners. (Read) > Revisiting Will Smith's 2022 slap, and other iconic Oscar controversies. (Read)

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‘One Battle After Another’ triumphs at 98th Academy Awards in coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” was crowned best picture at the 98th Academy Awards, handing Hollywood’s top honor to a comic, multi-generational American saga of political resistance.

https://apnews.com/article/2026-oscars-academy-awards-show-b868da63dd16aa6ca289ba4a8ac3a157?

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Burgers, cocktails, sparkly new duds: Oscar winners, losers and guests hit the after-parties

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For most people across the globe, Oscar night ends with the bestowing of that final golden statuette.

https://apnews.com/article/oscars-parties-vanity-fair-2026-c3ef563dad6f736878bcbcf640e69f03?

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🎥 Oscars ban AI

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the group behind the Academy Awards — updated its rules last week to specify that "AI is not welcome at the Oscars," The Hollywood Reporter writes. To be eligible, acting performances must be "demonstrably performed by humans with their consent," and "screenplays must be human-authored." More on the rule changes. ps:We'll see how long that lasts!!