The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) hosted the annual Oscar Awards ceremony on the evening of Sunday, Mar. 2. Many memorable moments were made, with actors winning their first-ever Oscars and celebrities wearing their iconic looks. From the Wicked opening to the heartfelt speeches, this was a night to remember.
This year, television host and comedian Conan O’Brien hosted the show for the first time, replacing Jimmy Kimmel who had hosted it the last two years. After his opening monologue about the disastrous Los Angeles fires, the show quickly took a different turn. Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the night with a medley of songs from the movie. Dressed in a dazzling red gown, Grande sang a beautiful rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz followed by Erivo with “Home” from The Wiz. Their performance finished with the famous “Defying Gravity” riff as the two serenaded the audience together. Despite the Oscars being one of the biggest nights people look forward to, only about 30% of AHS students watched it this year.
“I wasn’t really surprised to see Grande and Erivo performing at the Oscars,” said sophomore Irene Zhang. “Wicked is such a huge movie already, and I think they did a great job with their medleys. Since I’m also in choir, it’s nice to see a musical go so viral and be able to share music with the world.”
During the ceremony, many films tied for the awards, but one stood out. The comedy-romance movie Anora set the stage by taking home an astonishing five wins out of six nominations in some of the biggest categories. Director Sean Baker had an especially good night, winning Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture. Baker became the first person to win four Oscars in the same year for the same film. The fifth award for Anora was granted to Mikey Madison, who won Best Actress.
Unfortunately, not everyone was supportive of Madison’s win. Fellow nominee Demi Moore, who played the lead role in The Substance, had fans who were upset, claiming she was “robbed” of the award. The irony here is not missed, considering The Substance is about aging and unattainable beauty standards in Hollywood. To put into perspective, Madison is 25, while Moore is 62. Fans lashed out at the Academy, tweeting statements like, “Demi Moore losing to Mikey Madison is basically the plot of The Substance.”
“Demi Moore was incredible and I thought she was super amazing in the movie,” said junior Camila Canchola. “However, looking at Madison’s interviews, you could tell that she was really passionate and she really took her time researching what was needed for the role. I feel like she really deserved the win.”
Another major moment happened when Zoe Saldana won her first Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Rita from Emilia Perez. With tear-filled eyes, she delivered a heartwarming speech, expressing gratitude for her family and incredible team that supported her throughout her journey. Saldana became the first American of Dominican descent to accept an Academy Award, but she “hopes to not be the last.”
However, some of the night’s wins sparked controversy. Adrien Brody won Best Actor in a Leading Role for The Brutalist, beating fellow nominees Timothee Chalamet and Ralph Fiennes. Best Actor in a Supporting Role went to Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain. U
“I was personally pretty happy with Best Film. Anora was a good movie, and I think it deserved Best,” said freshman Isabella Budasz. “I was rooting for I’m Still Here to win, but I’m happy it won Best International! I was hoping The Substance would win more awards, but overall, it was a pretty decent Oscars this year. Brody’s award was a huge surprise though and I thought Chalamet would at least win something. Brody is great, but Chalamet is really taking over the hearts of many from the younger generation.”
As music dominated 2024, two Oscars were given out for iconic movie soundtracks. Daniel Blumberg won Best Music (Original Score) for The Brutalist and Best Music (Original Song) went to “El Mal” from Emilia Perez, written by a panel of musicians. Although Wicked was also nominated, many were surprised to see that it had not won anything, despite being one of the most popular musicals of the year.
What makes the Oscars a worldwide favorite is the celebration of red carpet fashion. From classic ball gowns to avant-garde 3D designs, this year’s looks did not disappoint. One of the most talked-about outfits of the night was Ariana Grande’s Schiaparelli gown—a cream-colored, 3D-structured dress with a tutu-like fanout and a long train that swept the floor. Her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo turned heads in a Louis Vuitton ensemble, featuring a dramatic green satin train and a bow-shaped bodice. Other musical artists, like Selena Gomez and Raye, stunned the audience with their eye-catching looks from Ralph Lauren and Vivienne Westwood.
“Erivo’s dress is really giving Wicked vibes. I think it’s so cute and I really like the shape, but the collar’s throwing me off a bit. With Grande, we’re continuing with the Wicked vibe, but it’s really nothing we haven’t seen before from her,” said Canchola.
