Podcast Summary: The Big Picture – "The 2025 Oscars: ‘Anora’ Has the Greatest Day"
Release Date: March 3, 2025
Host/Authors: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Podcast: The Big Picture by The Ringer
Introduction
In this episode of The Big Picture, Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins delve into the highlights and surprises of the 97th Academy Awards. Celebrating the remarkable triumph of the film “Anora”, the hosts explore its sweeping victory, analyze standout performances, and critique the overall telecast.
Dominance of "Anora" at the 2025 Oscars
“Anora” emerged as the standout film of the night, winning five out of six nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Casting (eligible next year). Sean and Amanda express their astonishment and delight at the film's success, highlighting its independent nature and significant cultural impact.
Sean Fennessy [02:36]: "He won four Academy Awards tonight. A truly historically astonishing performance at the Oscars."
Amanda adds her excitement about the film's impact and her plans to curate its various formats meticulously.
Amanda Dobbins [01:58]: "Feeling like a woman who is about to have access to one of the finest DVD collections..."
Key Wins and Surprises
Sean Baker, the director of “Anora”, garnered accolades for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing. The film's success is attributed to its profound storytelling and Baker's advocacy for the communal movie-going experience.
Sean Fennessy [03:26]: "Anora was nominated for six Oscars. It won five of those Oscars. Poor Yoro Borisov goes home empty-handed."
Amanda and Sean discuss the unexpected wins, such as Mikey Madison taking Best Actress over established names like Demi Moore, and Adrien Brody securing Best Actor for his role in “The Brutalist”.
Best Director and Kieran Culkin's Memorable Speech
Kieran Culkin's acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor became one of the night's most memorable moments. Drawing from his previous Emmy speech, Culkin intertwined humor with heartfelt gratitude, amusing both Sean and Amanda.
Amanda Dobbins [18:43]: "He was like, maybe we should get four. And she says, okay, if you win an Oscar, I'll give you four."
Sean commends Culkin's ability to balance preparation with spontaneity, making his speech both charming and relatable.
Adrien Brody's Achievements and Speech
Adrien Brody's win for Best Actor marked his second Academy Award, adding him to an exclusive group of actors who have won multiple Oscars. His speech was a blend of reflection and ambition, emphasizing his commitment to meaningful roles and the evolution of his career.
Amanda Dobbins [29:00]: "It felt like he was pumping himself up during his own second best actor acceptance speech."
Sean appreciates Brody's sincerity and discusses the cyclical nature of an actor's career, acknowledging Brody's resilience and enduring talent.
Best Actress Race: Mikey Madison vs. Demi Moore
The decision to award Best Actress to Mikey Madison over Demi Moore sparked discussions about voting demographics and biases within the Academy. Sean and Amanda analyze how younger voters may have influenced the outcome, favoring Madison's performance in “Anora”.
Sean Fennessy [26:11]: "I think she pulled a lot of votes from older voters away from Demi Moore."
Amanda reflects on the competitiveness of the category and the shifting preferences within the voting body.
Telecast Impressions: Performances and Presenters
The hosts provide a critical review of the Oscars telecast, particularly focusing on the James Bond medley performance. They commend Conan O'Brien's hosting but express disappointment with musical performances, especially Doja Cat's rendition of a Bond theme, which they found out of tune and disjointed.
Amanda Dobbins [55:44]: "She was out of tune and it was a train wreck."
Additionally, they highlight the positive aspects, such as Zoe Saldana's emotional speech and the effective presentations in the craft categories, praising the emphasis on costume design and cinematography.
Lowlights of the Night
Despite numerous successes, the Oscars night was not without its missteps. The lengthy and poorly executed James Bond tribute, featuring multiple underwhelming performances, stood out as a significant low point. The lack of cohesion and relevance in certain segments left Sean and Amanda unimpressed.
Amanda Dobbins [54:36]: "It was absolutely awful."
They also discuss inconsistencies in the presentation of awards, such as the absence of clips for acting categories and the confusing pacing of the telecast.
Conclusion and Bet Outcome
Wrapping up the episode, Sean and Amanda reveal the results of their Big Oscar Bet. Amanda emerges victorious, scoring 43 points to Sean's 40, primarily due to Sean Baker's multiple wins over Brady Courbet in Best Director.
Amanda Dobbins [76:35]: "Yes. But we didn't, like. There's no consequence to that."
They express excitement over their victory and tease upcoming episodes, encouraging listeners to submit questions for future discussions.
Sean Fennessy [77:00]: "We will talk about that on maybe Wednesday's episode of the show."
Notable Quotes
- Sean Fennessy [03:26]: "Anora was nominated for six Oscars. It won five of those Oscars. Poor Yoro Borisov goes home empty-handed."
- Amanda Dobbins [18:43]: "He was like, maybe we should get four. And she says, okay, if you win an Oscar, I'll give you four."
- Amanda Dobbins [55:44]: "She was out of tune and it was a train wreck."
- Amanda Dobbins [76:35]: "Yes. But we didn't, like. There's no consequence to that."
Final Thoughts
Sean and Amanda conclude the episode by reflecting on the overall quality of the Oscars season, acknowledging both the triumphs and the areas needing improvement. They emphasize the evolving nature of the Academy Awards and the importance of independent films like “Anora” in shaping future trends.
Sean Fennessy [72:36]: "I think the general consensus, both among movie fans and people within the Academy is that this is a fine, maybe even good year and not a great year."
They invite listeners to engage with upcoming episodes, promising deeper analysis and continued discussions on award season developments.
This summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, highlighting the major discussions, key insights, and memorable moments from the 2025 Oscars as analyzed by Sean Fennessy and Amanda Dobbins.