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The 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony, held on March 2, saw the film "Anora" winning the Best Picture award for 2024. The movie, which contains graphic sexual content, also earned its writer-director Sean Baker three additional Oscars. Mikey Madison, who played the lead role in "Anora," was awarded Best Actress.
In one of his acceptance speeches, Baker expressed gratitude and respect towards "the sex worker community." Despite its acclaim, "Anora" has sparked discussions about its portrayal of exploitation and use of explicit language. The film's script includes over 450 instances of the F-word, raising questions about how far filmmakers can push boundaries while still receiving an R rating from the Motion Picture Association.
The Oscar night featured more than controversial content. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performed a duet that set a sophisticated tone for the evening. Host Conan O’Brien kept the audience entertained with humor throughout the event.
"The Brutalist," an immigration-themed drama by Brady Corbet, was another significant winner. The film received awards for Actor in a Leading Role (Adrien Brody), Cinematography, and Original Score.
Mick Jagger made an appearance to present the Oscar for Best Original Song. However, Bob Dylan fans were left disappointed as he did not attend despite nominations for "A Complete Unknown."
Organizers paid tribute to their fire-ravaged hometown and honored first responders at the event. O'Brien humorously offered them a chance to read some jokes deemed too controversial.
For viewers on Hulu, this year's ceremony ended abruptly when live streaming ceased after exceeding its allotted time before all awards were presented.
John Mulderig serves as a media reviewer for OSV News and can be followed on Twitter @JohnMulderig1.
