The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2025 Oscars

The opening of the 97th Academy Awards had a theme reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz/Wicked, using the phrase “there’s no place like home.” To establish this connection, visuals from The Wizard of Oz, such as Dorothy’s ruby slippers, and audio clips of Judy Garland saying the iconic line, were used. Ariana Grande started off by singing “Over the Rainbow” in a dress similar to Dorothy’s ruby slippers, followed by Cynthia Erivo singing “Home” from The Wiz, both performances setting the stage for their later joint performance of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. The entire segment was well-executed and left many viewers with tears and goosebumps, a feeling known as tearbumps. It was undoubtedly an impressive start to the evening’s events.

Guess How Long Adrien Brody’s Oscars Speech Went

Brody joins an exclusive group of actors who’ve received more than one Best Actor award, with Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, and Tom Hanks being among them. In a reflective mood, he talked about the unique opportunities that have led to such acclaim. “Acting is a delicate profession,” he noted. “It may seem glamorous at times, but it’s also very fragile. The one thing I’ve learned from returning here is perspective. Regardless of where you are in your career or what you’ve achieved, everything can change. What makes this occasion special is the awareness that it could all disappear and the gratitude I have for continuing to do the work I love.

Sean Baker Makes Oscars History With Anora

In his acceptance speech for Best Director, he took a pause to advocate for movie theaters. He expressed, “Experiencing a film in the theater, alongside an audience, is unique.” He continued, “We share laughter, tears, fear, and silence together. In a world that may seem increasingly divided, this shared experience has never been more crucial.

Suits LA Recap: Full Creative License

In the storyline, Erica, who is not only the Head of Entertainment but also a partner at the firm, has been tasked with managing Dylan Prior on Ted’s behalf due to his busy schedule dealing with Lester’s murder trial. However, there’s an unexpected hitch: Erica appears unfamiliar with Dylan Prior and seems uninterested in film and television matters. This is quite surprising for a character who worked tirelessly to secure her position as the Head of Entertainment, leading viewers to question her industry knowledge. This plot twist, however, makes Leah, Ted’s bumbling associate, useful within the series narrative.

The White Lotus Recap: Biblical Proportions

Is it only my perception, or does everything seem reminiscent of the Old Testament narratives? In this ancient tale, a serpent tricked Adam and Eve into consuming from the Tree of Knowledge, leading to their expulsion from Eden by God. However, seldom is the fate of the serpent discussed afterwards. Yet, in the biblical account, God imposed a curse upon it: “On your belly you shall crawl, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.” This curse has endured for various types of tropical snakes, including vipers and Naja cobras, from Genesis to 2025, when they are said to find a savior who will be modeled after their own slithering form.

Mayfair Witches Finale Recap: Into the Woods

In the fantastical world of Mayfair, Emaleth gave birth to several infants throughout the morning, which were later prepared for a gruesome ritual involving sacrifice and drinking their blood. Lasher met his grisly end twice – once on an altar with a slashed throat, only to be miraculously healed by Rowan moments before death, and then killed again shortly after. A group of Talamasca embarked on a daring mission to save Taltos babies. An intense series of events resulted in the decimation of 90% of the Mayfair lineage. Both Julien and Rowan partook in drinking Lasher’s blood, granting them extraordinary magical abilities. The romantic relationship between Lark and Rowan came to an end permanently. After saving Jojo and Daphne, the team returned to New Orleans. Although it may seem like a thrilling episode, it felt more akin to navigating an overly simplified Escape Room for young children.

Introducing CinemaStreams, Also Known As Movie Theaters

During the show, Conan introduced CinemaStreams, essentially a structure built exclusively for streaming movies. This concept left some young viewers in the ad chuckling, since they’re accustomed to watching their preferred shows on their tablets while multitasking around the kitchen. One of them even asked, “How do you hold it?” Conan humorously replied, gesturing towards the large screen on the wall, “The building holds it.” However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the young audience fully grasped the idea, as evidenced by a man entering the theater with one of the concession stand lines’ ropes, exclaiming, “They got ropes out there!