The 2025 Oscars: Agreeable, Bland, and Missing a Spark
The 97th Academy Awards, broadcast by ABC, arrived with the usual fanfare, promises of glitz, and inevitable length. By the time Queen Latifah, resplendent in a shimmering cape, graced the stage for a tribute to Quincy Jones, a seasoned viewer might have braced themselves for the familiar sensation of the broadcast careening off the rails. But against all odds, this year’s Oscars managed to stay tethered to the tracks, even if it arrived at its destination somewhat behind schedule.
The show, as always, clocked in at an excessive length. The unfortunate practice of cutting off the speeches of lesser-known nominees persisted, a disheartening reminder of the hierarchy inherent in the celebration. And, predictably, the telecast was peppered with superfluous montages and musical interludes that often felt more like filler than genuine entertainment.
Despite these familiar shortcomings, the 2025 Oscars ultimately delivered an "agreeable" experience. It was pleasant, it was nice, it was… fine. But it wasn’t excellent, superb, or wonderful. It was merely OK! Cute, even. But not memorable in the way the Oscars often strive to be.
Host Conan O’Brien, stepping into the shoes of previous emcees, offered a mixed bag of humor. He landed some good jokes, delivered some mediocre ones, but consistently kept his energy levels at a steady seven out of ten. He seemed content to play it safe, avoiding any risks that might elevate the show beyond the realm of polite entertainment.
The winners, for the most part, were adorable and enviable. This was particularly true of the team behind "Anora," the Best Picture winner that chronicled the Cinderella-esque journey of an indie film about a sex worker. Their triumph served as a feel-good moment, a reminder that the Academy could still recognize smaller, more unconventional stories.
The show started on a high note, with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo delivering a rendition of "Wicked," a performance that resonated with the audience’s anticipation for the upcoming film adaptation. The night ended with a few unexpected upsets, adding a touch of suspense to the otherwise predictable proceedings. Crucially, there were no announcements of incorrect winners, avoiding the kind of infamous blunder that has haunted previous ceremonies. The overall mood was upbeat, and the show mercifully concluded before 11 p.m. EST, allowing attendees to either revel in their victories at after-parties or retreat to bed.
Yet, despite the lack of major disasters and the generally positive atmosphere, something felt missing. The 2025 Oscars, while inoffensive, lacked the passion, fervor, and distinctive hook that typically transforms the ceremony from a generic recitation of winners into a truly memorable event.
From the acceptance speeches to O’Brien’s comedic bits to the banter between presenters, everything felt too innocuous, too calculated to avoid controversy. It was all too safe to be truly interesting. While producers might appreciate the absence of any major gaffes or controversies, audiences crave the raw emotion and genuine drama that often permeate the films being celebrated. Perhaps those involved could have injected a little more feeling into their performances.
O’Brien, as the host, set the tone for the evening, and he clearly aimed for a sense of amiability and comfort. He opted for a Billy Crystal-esque approach to hosting, focusing on accessible, everyman humor that shied away from any particularly sharp edges. His "year at the movies" monologue, while flattering and well-received, essentially preached to the choir. His jokes were generally humorous, inoffensive, and generic. The only exception being the genuinely hilarious barb directed at Drake. Beyond that, it’s difficult to recall any specific jokes that truly stood out.
The winners, too, failed to deliver the kind of spark and spunk that have characterized some of the Oscars’ best years. While there were moments of pointed speechifying, such as the Israeli and Palestinian honorees for Best Documentary Feature ("No Other Land") explicitly denouncing Israel’s oppression of Gaza, and Best Actor winner Adrien Brody using his lengthy speech to voice support for generic political resistance, most speakers remained curiously apolitical. In a country often perceived as deeply divided and teetering on the edge of chaos, the glamorous figures of Hollywood glided down the red carpet and accepted their golden statuettes with little apparent acknowledgment of the world outside their bubble. Jimmy Kimmel delivered more pointed barbs eight years prior, during the early months of President Trump’s first term, a night that also included the infamous "Moonlight/La La Land" snafu.
Other speeches, while lengthy, lacked true eloquence or electricity. One could only lament Demi Moore’s Best Actress loss (to Mikey Madison for "Anora"), not only for the sake of the deserving actress but also for the undoubtedly riveting speech she would have delivered, based on her appearances at other recent awards ceremonies.
Furthermore, while musical artists Raye, Doja Cat, and Lisa are undoubtedly talented, the prolonged James Bond tribute felt ultimately unnecessary. The broadcast would have been better served by showing more clips from the nominated films (rather than actors simply monologuing about their admiration for other actors) or by allowing the non-actor winners to have a little more time to speak. Or, even better, by simply trimming the overall runtime.
Awards shows, at their core, represent a curious form of television. On one hand, viewers are essentially watching a professional banquet, an incredibly expensive version of any industry honoring its own members in a hotel ballroom. This explains why awards like Best Documentary Short and Sound are still presented during the telecast: it’s a reminder that the event is primarily about the filmmakers themselves, not solely about the people watching at home.
However, the broadcast is also undeniably geared towards the audience at home, serving as entertainment and promoting the nominated films to success. But what makes for a satisfying night for the industry doesn’t always translate into a scintillating experience for those of us following along from our living rooms.
Perhaps, next year, all those award-winning Hollywood minds can come together to create something a little more invigorating, a little more daring, and a little more memorable for the rest of us. The 2025 Oscars, while agreeable, ultimately left a lingering sense of wanting more.
