BEST ACTOR

Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” is a masterclass in embodying a cultural icon. Chalamet’s dedication to the role is apparent through his five years of preparation, during which he honed Dylan’s guitar skills and perfected his distinctive singing voice, performing all songs live in the film. This commitment transcends imitation; Chalamet captures the essence of Dylan, conveying his ambition and the internal struggles of sudden fame. His performance resonates with authenticity, allowing audiences to connect deeply with the legendary musician’s journey.

Chalamet is loved for his social media presence outside of the film world, from his performances in high school to his SNL skits where he woos the audience with his spunky personality. Chalamet has become an icon for Gen Z and his performance in “A Complete Unknown” stole the hearts of the BV West student body with his beautiful execution of his character Bob Dylan. In our poll, Chalamet was named best actor.

SUPPORTING ACTOR Supporting actors play a secondary role in a production and help the

main character enhance the storyline. Best Supporting Actor is an award given to those who can bring emotional depth to the character and have a connection with the protagonist to add to the plotline. A previous winner of this award is Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer” during the 2024 Oscars with his role as Lewis Strauss.

For the 2025 Oscars, the nominees are Yura Borisov, Kiernan Culkin, Edward Norton, Guy Pearce, and Jeremy Strong. BVW students said in a poll they believe Kiernan Culkin should win the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as Benjamin Kaplan in “A Real Pain.”

BEST ACTRESS
Winners for Best Actress are women in lead roles who delivered the most outstanding performance in a movie of a given year. Past winners for Best Actress include Emma Stone for “Poor Things” and Michelle Yeoh for “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”

In our poll, BV West students voted Cynthia Erivo as Best Actress for her portrayal of Elphaba in “Wicked.” Erivo is a strong contender to win the Academy Award because of her incredible singing and engrossing acting choices.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Winners for Best Supporting Actress deliver a powerful performance in a secondary role, adding depth and impact to the film’s story. Past winners for Best Supporting Actress include Ariana Debose from “West Side Story” and Jamie Lee Curtis from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

In our poll, BV West students said Ariana Grande should receive Best Supporting Actress for her role as Glinda in “Wicked,” with praise for her stunning vocals and enchanting performance that brings fresh energy to the beloved character. The film’s grand production and musical spectacle make it a strong contender, though the competition is fierce with Zoe Saldaña in “Emilia Pérez.” Some critics have pointed out minor narrative flaws in “Wicked” that could affect its chances at the Oscars.

BEST DIRECTOR

Winners for Best Director are directors who have used their skills to develop movies that stand out as a whole. The award takes into consideration the director’s impact on the other categories including the acting, screenplay, editing, and music. Past winners for Best Director include Damien Chazelle for “La La Land” and Cristopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer.”

In our poll, BV West students said the director of “The Substance” Coralie Fargeat should receive the award. “The Substance” is a strong contender because of the overall effect and direction of the movie. Fargeat is a French filmmaker who’s debut film was “Revenge” released in 2017. However “The Substance” is her first film to be nominated for an Academy Award.

BEST PICTURE

Winners for Best Picture are generally movies that have strong casts, original plots, creative leadership and project team, and audience development. Past winners for Best Picture include “Oppenheimer” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” In the history of the Oscars, there has only been one movie to win every single award it was nominated for. That movie was “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” which was nominated for 11 awards including Best Picture.

In our poll, BV West students said “Wicked” should receive Best Picture. “Wicked” is a strong contender because of its solid cast and beautiful visual effects. This movie is considered special and reaches many people because of the complex and relatable story it tells. The movie tells the story of a female friendship between two very different women. “Wicked” explores themes of identity, power, and societal perception. Through its complex characters, the film doesn’t only focus on good versus evil – it explores the grey areas, making it a meaningful commentary on society. “Wicked’s” designs are also of the highest order, as shown by the Baftas for costume and production. Oz is brought to life in the smallest details, from the vibrant tulip fields of MunchkinLand to Fiyero’s midnight blue horse and the gleaming Emerald City. Although “Wicked” was nominated, some people don’t think it has a strong chance of winning the award. A movie musical has not won Best Picture in over two decades. So, will “Wicked” break the cycle?

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

The requirements for the Original Song category consists of words and music tied together and written originally and specifically for a movie. These nominated songs contain audible lyrics and melodies to move the motion picture’s plot forwards. Typically winners in these categories are emotionally provoking songs and help to advance the character’s or tell a story. The originality requirement adds a level of complexity to the category that some lack. Last year’s winner was “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Ellish, presented in the “Barbie” movie. This song was written specifically for the film and added gut wrenching emotion that the viewers were able to feel.

In our poll, BV West students believed “Never Too Late” from “Elton John: Never Too Late” should win Best Original song for 2025. This song was written for the documentary celebrating Elton John’s life and career. This song, written by Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, Elton John, and Bernie Taupin, was to signify the common themes throughout the documentary as well as uplift the audience. Early in the filming process, Brandi Carlile worked with John to create the song for the documentary. In an interview, John stated, “You can change things. It’s never too late to change anything. Thank God I did. Because when I got sober, my whole life completely changed.” Elton John has been sober for 34 years. This song was written in tribute to John’s struggle with addiction and the impact he has had on fans and the music industry.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Winners for Best Costume Design are movies that have wonderful costumes in terms of clothes, shoes, hats, and other worn elements. Past winners for Best Costume Design include “Black Panther Wakanda Forever” in 2023 and “Little Women” in 2020.

In our poll, BV West students said “Wicked” should receive Best Costume Design. “Wicked” is a strong contender because it is filled with bold costumes. In “Wicked” the lead costume designer Paul Tazewell made colorful and eye-catching costumes for everyone from the leads to background characters. Paul Tazewell had been nominated for Best Costume in 2022 for “West Side Story.” Although he didn’t win that year he is slated to be awarded the Academy Award this year.

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR

Winners for Best Makeup and Hair generally have the best achievement in makeup and hairstyling for film. Past winners for Best Makeup and Hair include “Beetlejuice” and “The Nutty Professor.” These films were recognized for their innovative use of prosthetics, special effects makeup, and hairstyling techniques that brought their characters to life in unforgettable ways.
BV West students voted “The Substance” as their pick for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, recognizing its bold and transformative effects. The film, directed by Coralie Fargeat, follows a middle-aged actress (Demi Moore) who undergoes a grotesque physical metamorphosis after using a mysterious formula to regain her youth. Special effects artist Pierre-Olivier Persin led the team in creating disturbingly realistic prosthetics, avoiding CGI in favor of practical effects. Some of Moore’s transformations required up to seven hours of makeup application, featuring sagging skin, elongated fingers, and haunting facial distortions that emphasize the film’s themes of beauty and aging.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects is a category that selects movies based on their ability to integrate live-action footage (which may include in-camera special effects such as time-lapses) and generated-imagery (digital or optics, animals or creatures) to look realistic. Past winners for Best Visual Effects include “Avatar: Way of Water” in 2023 and “1917” in 2020.

BV West students decided in the poll that “Dune: Part Two” should receive Best Visual Effects. “Dune: Part Two” is a solid competitor because of its explosive and utterly compelling fighting scenes along with its captivating landscapes.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Production Design oversees the creation of sets to mimic the director’s vision and transport viewers into the movie’s world to further understand its tone. The previous winner for Best Set Design was “Poor Things” in 2023. It won for its surreal set that reflected Bella, the main character’s, personality and created a visual aesthetic of who she is. This year, nominees include “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” “Wicked,” “Dune: Part Two,” and “Nosferatu.”

In our poll, BV West students voted “Wicked” for the Best Production Design. Nathan Crowley led this movie’s set production and created Oz’s most iconic locations such as Emerald City and Shiz University. Shiz’s unique look was created with a blend of Italianate and Morrish architecture styles. All these components affect the immersive experience and bring “Wicked” to life.

BIGGEST SNUB

The Oscar’s decision to completely ignore “Challengers” in this year’s nominations is a glaring oversight, especially given the film’s critical and commercial success. Luca Guadagnino’s direction, Zendaya’s captivating performance, and the film’s dynamic cinematography made it one of the most talked about movies of the year. Its blend of sports, romance, and tension set it apart as a unique and compelling piece of cinema, yet it failed to secure even a single nomination. The snub feels especially outrageous when compared to other films that have been celebrated for their artistry despite being unconventional. “Challengers” had strong potential for recognition in categories like “Best Actress” for Zendaya or “Best Cinematography,” yet the Academy’s preference for more traditional awards season fare left it out in the cold.

This isn’t the first time the Oscars have overlooked a deserving film. In 2006, “Brokeback Mountain” was snubbed for “Best Picture,” losing to “Crash” though “Brokeback” was a revolutionary film at the time and had been the favorite to win. Similarly, “Uncut Gems” was completely shut out despite Adam Sandler delivering a career defining performance. More recently, “The Woman King” (2022) was ignored across the board, despite Viola Davis’ standout performance and its strong critical reception. “Challengers” now joins the long list of films that were unfairly dismissed by the Academy, proving once again that mainstream award bodies often fail to fully recognize innovation and genre defying storytelling.