A+Z Movie Review Podcast · Alex Long and Zach Cavanagh

Episode 44 - 2025 Oscars Reactions

·50 min·2 clips

The Defying Gravity performance that had Zach crying and rethinking everything about Wicked.

Alex and Zach of the A+Z Movie Review Podcast break down the 97th Academy Awards, hosted for the first time by Conan O'Brien. The night's big winner was Sean Baker's "Anora," which took home five awards including Best Picture. Conan O'Brien's opening monologue targeted figures like Carla Sofia Gascon and included a joke about the Kendrick-Drake feud. The producers eliminated performances of the Best Original Song nominees but filled time with three other musical numbers. A "Wicked" medley featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the show and was a major highlight for the hosts. A seemingly random James Bond tribute medley featured performances by Doja Cat and RAYE. A third performance honored the late Quincy Jones, with Queen Latifah singing a song from "The Wiz." The hosts appreciated how the show wove clips and filmmaker voiceovers for Best Picture nominees throughout the broadcast. Mikey Madison's win for Best Actress was the evening's biggest surprise, beating frontrunner Demi Moore. Adrian Brody won Best Actor for "The Brutalist," delivering a long, meandering acceptance speech. Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña completed their awards season sweeps in the supporting categories. Sean Baker made history by winning four Oscars in one night for "Anora," a feat last achieved by Walt Disney. Baker used his directing speech to advocate for seeing movies in independent theaters. The "Fab Five" format, where actors presented below-the-line awards, was a production element the hosts enjoyed. Presenter bits from Amy Poehler, Ben Stiller, and Nick Offerman were singled out as particularly effective. The In Memoriam segment was set to Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem, a somber choice the hosts found odd. The tone is conversational and full of inside jokes between two knowledgeable film enthusiasts. Listeners who enjoy detailed, opinionated recaps of awards shows will find this episode engaging. Those seeking a formal analysis or who disliked the 2025 Oscars broadcast might want to skip it.

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