\n<\/p>\n
\n\u2713 \u201cAnora\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cThe Brutalist\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA Complete Unknown\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConclave\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDune: Part Two\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmilia P\u00e9rez\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Still Here\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNickel Boys\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Substance\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWicked\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Oscars 2025: Follow live updates on the 97th Academy Awards.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
After a few years where the best picture winner was practically ordained from the start of the season, at least this race has given us some twists and turns.<\/p>\n
First, there was the saga of \u201cEmilia P\u00e9rez,\u201d which led the field with a near-record 13 nominations but collapsed in controversy<\/a> after the unearthing of disparaging tweets by its star, Karla Sof\u00eda Gasc\u00f3n. Then \u201cAnora,\u201d a front-runner that was utterly shut out at January\u2019s Golden Globes<\/a>, scored top prizes from the producers, directors and writers guilds<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Those wins usually presage a best picture victory, especially because the producers guild uses a preferential ballot similar to the Academy\u2019s. But in the late going, another contender began to surge as \u201cConclave\u201d took the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (where \u201cAnora\u201d was once again shut out) as well as best film honors at the BAFTAs<\/a>, the British equivalent to the Oscars.<\/p>\n
One thing gives me pause, though: If \u201cConclave\u201d had the sort of across-the-board Academy support that a best picture winner can usually count on, it shouldn\u2019t have missed out on slam-dunk Oscar nominations for directing and cinematography. \u201cAnora\u201d earned all the nominations it needed to, and its guild spread is hard to argue with, so that\u2019s the film I project will win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nBest Director<\/h2>\n
\nJacques Audiard, \u201cEmilia P\u00e9rez\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2713 Sean Baker, \u201cAnora\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
Brady Corbet, \u201cThe Brutalist\u201d<\/p>\n
Coralie Fargeat, \u201cThe Substance\u201d<\/p>\n
James Mangold, \u201cA Complete Unknown\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Baker picked up the DGA trophy but has strong competition from Corbet, who won best director at the BAFTAs. Still, I suspect the Academy will embrace \u201cAnora\u201d in both of the top categories. It helps that Baker has turned every acceptance speech he\u2019s made this season into an upbeat rallying cry for theatrical independent filmmaking.<\/p>\n
Best Actor<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\u2713 Adrien Brody, \u201cThe Brutalist\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet, \u201cA Complete Unknown\u201d<\/p>\n
Colman Domingo, \u201cSing Sing\u201d<\/p>\n
Ralph Fiennes, \u201cConclave\u201d<\/p>\n
Sebastian Stan, \u201cThe Apprentice\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Brody has been collecting prizes all season, though his reign was halted last weekend when Chalamet scored a last-minute SAG win<\/a>. But Chalamet faces headwinds from an Academy that remains stubbornly resistant to recognizing young men: No one under 30 has ever won the best actor Oscar except for Brody himself, who notched his win for \u201cThe Pianist\u201d at age 29. Come Sunday, he\u2019ll add a second Oscar to the mantel.<\/p>\n
Best Actress<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\nCynthia Erivo, \u201cWicked\u201d<\/p>\n
Karla Sof\u00eda Gasc\u00f3n, \u201cEmilia P\u00e9rez\u201d<\/p>\n
Mikey Madison, \u201cAnora\u201d<\/p>\n
Demi Moore, \u201cThe Substance\u201d<\/p>\n