theguardian.com
Anora and I'm Still Here Win Big at the 2025 Oscars
The 2025 Oscars saw Sean Baker's "Anora" win four awards, including Best Actress for Mikey Madison; Adrien Brody won Best Actor for "The Brutalist"; Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for "A Real Pain"; and the Best International Feature went to "I'm Still Here".
- What is the most significant political or social commentary conveyed by the winning films at the 2025 Oscars?
- Sean Baker's "Anora" won four Oscars, including Best Actress for Mikey Madison, who played a lap dancer marrying into a Russian oligarch's family and defying them. This win highlights the film's exploration of power dynamics and female resilience. Adrien Brody also won Best Actor for his role in "The Brutalist.
- How do the winning films reflect broader trends in cinema, highlighting changes in themes or audience preferences?
- The Oscars' focus on "Anora" and "I'm Still Here," both featuring strong female leads resisting powerful figures (a Russian oligarch and a military dictatorship), reflects a potential shift towards narratives highlighting resilience against oppression. This contrasts with previous years' trends, suggesting a change in cinematic priorities. Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for "A Real Pain", a comedy about a Holocaust tour.
- What are the potential long-term impacts of these Oscar wins on future film productions and the representation of marginalized voices?
- The success of films like "Anora" and "I'm Still Here" may signal a growing demand for narratives emphasizing resistance to powerful figures and social injustice, potentially impacting future film productions and themes. The win for "No Other Land," a documentary about Palestinian displacement, also suggests a rising interest in representing marginalized voices and geopolitical conflicts on a global stage. The success of this year's Oscars may also signal a change in taste among Academy voters.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The overwhelmingly positive framing of 'Anora' and Mikey Madison's performance is evident throughout the review. The enthusiastic tone and repeated use of superlatives ('amazing,' 'exhilarating,' 'scintillating') strongly favor this film and shape reader perception accordingly. Other films are discussed more neutrally.
Language Bias
The review uses highly charged and positive language ('amazing win,' 'exhilarating,' 'scintillating') when discussing Anora. This contrasts with the more neutral descriptions of other films. The use of words like 'pusillanimous' and 'pathetic' also reveals a subjective judgment. While stylistic, this language is not entirely objective.
Bias by Omission
The review focuses heavily on Anora and mentions other winning films briefly, potentially omitting critical discussion of other nominated films and their merits. The lack of detail on 'The Apprentice' suggests a potential bias by omission, especially given its topical relevance. The review also doesn't discuss the selection process or any controversies surrounding the awards.
False Dichotomy
The review presents a somewhat simplistic view of Anora's political metaphor, suggesting a direct equivalence between characters and real-world figures (Trump and Putin). This oversimplifies the film's complexities and ignores other possible interpretations.
Gender Bias
The review focuses extensively on Madison's performance and appearance ('tough, smart, beautiful'), potentially reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes in portraying a female lead. While this might be a natural part of describing a character, it warrants a note of caution. The analysis of other winning films does not seem to have such focus on physical descriptions or gendered character traits.
Sustainable Development Goals
The film 'Anora' portrays a female protagonist who challenges toxic masculinity and reclaims her dignity, aligning with the SDG target of promoting gender equality and empowering women. The win itself also signifies increased representation of women in the film industry.