Oscars 2025: Big Screen demands attention from Little Screens

The nominations, announced amidst the backdrop of Los Angeles wildfires, paint a picture of a film industry that's trying hard to remain relevant in the age of TikTok and memes. "Emilia Pérez" led the pack with a staggering 13 nominations, proving that even in 2025, a film about a transgender drug lord from Mexico can still capture the hearts of Academy voters, or perhaps it's just the novelty of a musical with subtitles that got them excited.

"The Brutalist" and "Wicked" followed with 10 nods each, showing that dark, moody architecture and witches with big voices are still box office gold, or at least, nomination gold. One might wonder if the Academy is trying to tell us something about the state of cinema: perhaps it's that the more brutal or wickedly entertaining a film, the more likely it is to be noticed in a sea of streaming content.

The ceremony, set for March 2, 2025, will be hosted by Conan O'Brien, a choice that suggests the Academy might be acknowledging that if you can't make films that people watch, you might as well make the awards show entertaining. O'Brien, known for his sharp wit and love for all things absurd, might just be the perfect antidote to the usual pomp and circumstance of the Oscars.

The nomination process itself was delayed twice due to those aforementioned wildfires, giving voters extra time to watch films they might have otherwise skipped. This could explain why "I'm Still Here" from Brazil managed to score nominations in both the International Feature Film and Best Picture categories. Maybe the voters just got tired of watching the same old Hollywood fare and decided to see what's happening south of the border.

In a nod to the times, the Oscars have also embraced technology more than ever, with the ceremony being streamed live on Hulu alongside its traditional ABC broadcast. It's almost as if they're saying, "Yes, we know you're more likely to watch this on your phone while multitasking with TikTok."

One could argue that the Oscars are less about celebrating cinema and more about celebrating who can make the best speech while holding a golden statue. The films themselves? Meh, just a backdrop for the real show - fashion critiques, political statements, and awkward acceptance speeches.

The inclusion of films like "Emilia Pérez" could be seen as Hollywood's attempt to diversify, or it could just be a strategic move to ensure the Oscars remain in the headlines for more than just the lack of diversity in past years. Either way, it's clear that the Academy is trying to navigate the tricky waters of modern culture where everything is a soundbite or a tweet.

As for the likely winners? "Emilia Pérez" seems poised to sweep several categories, not just because of its record-breaking nominations, but because Hollywood loves a narrative of transformation, especially when it's wrapped in catchy tunes. "The Brutalist" might take home some technical awards for its visual storytelling, while "Wicked" could charm its way into the hearts of the voters with its Broadway-esque flair.

In the end, the Oscars continue to be a fascinating spectacle, a blend of art, commerce, and ego, all wrapped up in what's left of the glitz of Hollywood. Whether films are still relevant might be debatable, but the Oscars, with their ability to evolve or at least pretend to, remain a curious relic of an era when watching movies wasn't just another tab open on a browser.