The Oscars, or Academy Awards, have dazzled movie lovers for almost 100 years. It is a time when all the actors and movie makers of the previous year can be praised for all their hard work. Nominations for the upcoming ceremony, taking place on March 2, were originally set to release on Jan. 17 but due to the LA fires it was then rescheduled and released on Jan. 23.
Since 1929, the Academy Awards have taken place and given way to plenty of memorable and historical moments, including the win of Best Supporting Actress to Hattie McDaniel as the first black Oscar winner and Halle Berry becoming the first black woman to win the Best Actress category.
For decades, the Oscars have had their fair share of controversies, snubs and seemingly undeserving winners and losers. One of the most notable controversies occurred in 2017 when Best Picture was announced incorrectly to “La La Land” when “Moonlight” was the real winner.
The 97th Academy Awards nominations hit the headlines in late January and people have mixed opinions on the nominated films. This year’s most nominated film is “Emilia Pérez” with 13 nominations total, was directed by Jacques Audiard and starring Grammy-nominated actress and singer Selena Gomez.
“Challengers,” directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Emmy-winning actress and singer Zendaya, received a shocking zero nominations, despite its soundtrack receiving intense praise and a Golden Globe award.
“I was a little disappointed in the lack of nominations for Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers.’ said Chloe Butts, a junior theatre major. “The cinematography of the movie was truly a standout of this Oscar season. “There are a few movies I have not seen but a lot of people online are upset with the number of nominations they have received. I will definitely be tuning in to see what wins.”
The GCSU Film Club is a campus organization that comes together to watch and analyze films. Since its inception in April of 2023, co-presidents Daniel Hastings, a junior biology major, and Tommy Creekmore, a senior English and global studies double major, have shared their love and appreciation for film with other students at GCSU. Their opinions on the 2025 Oscars are considered due to their intense knowledge and analytical views on movies.
“With film being a combination of visuals, writing and music, I see it as the embodiment of what art can be,” Hastings said. “Thus, having a forum for discussion of a wide variety of films means so much to me, not just on the level of my furthered understanding of a work, but that everyone who attends also ponders on the film of the week.”
Hastings says his love for movies has always been clear, but when he first watched James Cameron’s “Avatar,” it awakened his adoration. Creekmore’s adoration for film stems from his movie-loving family.
“The Film Club is a space that allows students of all backgrounds to come and discuss a wide assortment of films in a safe and analytical environment,” Creekmore said. “Part of our mission when we began the club was to encourage critically thinking about the media we consume and share films that members may have otherwise not exposed themselves to.”
When it comes to the nominations, Hasting expressed the nominations for the film “The Substance,” showcasing the appreciation of different genres by the Academy. Hastings and Creekmore expressed that the film “I Saw the TV Glow” directed by Jane Schoenbrun and depicting a supernatural world inside the TV was among the films snubbed for any nominations.
The most nominated film, “Emilia Pérez,” has caused much debate and controversy across all mass media, with audiences finding it unworthy of the praise it has received. Across platforms like TikTok, users have found the film’s soundtrack and acting to other nominated films like “Wicked” unbearable and substandard in comparison.
“The Oscars have a lot of problems, but I do love them,” Creekmore said. “Do they get a lot of things wrong? Yes. Does the show feel like a disingenuous excuse to reward industry favorites? Also, yes. But even so, when the Academy actually does something great, and we get to see a speech from a truly genuine individual who loves the work they do, it can be incredibly moving.”
While the Academy has had its controversies and insane moments, it is truly a time when film lovers, filmmakers, actors and actresses can all come together to appreciate all their hard work.