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The 2025 Oscar Season at the Library
by
Posted On February 4, 2025
The 97th Academy Awards (aka the Oscars, held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) will honor some of 2024’s greatest movies on March 2, and public libraries are celebrating by hosting various programs. Read on to see what libraries are doing to bring awareness of the nominees to their patrons and what they think of this year’s crop of Oscar hopefuls, including the 10 Best Picture contenders: Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.

OSCARS THROUGH THE YEARS

The following is NewsBreaks’ coverage of previous Oscar seasons:

2018: “Oscar Nominees Through a Librarian Lens”

2019: “Librarians Discuss the Oscar Nominees” | “The Oscars at the Library” | “Why Librarians Love Movies”

2020: “A Librarian Looks at Oscars 2020: The Same, but Different”

2021: “A Librarian Takes on Oscars 2021: The Diversity We Deserve (From the Year That We Didn’t)”

2022: “A Librarian Looks at Oscars 2022: Inclusive Stories, Exclusive Access”

2023: “A Librarian Looks at Oscars 2023: Blockbusters, Big Names, and Underrated Gems” | “Celebrating Oscars 2023 at the Library”

2024: “A Librarian Looks at Oscars 2024: International Diversification Finally Bears Fruit” | “The 2024 Oscar Season at the Library”

Don’t miss additional coverage for 2025: “A Librarian Looks at Oscars 2025: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”


LIBRARY PROGRAMMING AND PATRON INTEREST


Spreading the Word

Amy Morris, children’s services librarian at Dusenberry-River Library, part of Pima County Public Library in Arizona, says that the main library offers a list on its website of Oscar-nominated movies that are in its collection and details about their availability to check out. This list is helpful because Morris says patrons often ask about the nominated titles. She shares her library’s holds stats so far:

  • Wicked has 254 holds on 100 copies on order.
  • Conclave has 196 holds on 25 copies.
  • The Substance has 170 copies on 20 copies on order.
  • Dune: Part Two has 7 holds on 14 copies.
  • Nickel Boys has holds on the book and ebook.

Screenings

Rashmi Swain, adult education and career services librarian at Oak Park Public Library in Illinois, says the library’s 15th annual Oscarthon will be held this year on Feb. 22 and March 1. She shares that in addition to showing nominated movies, the library will provide snacks and raffle prizes. As of this writing, she’s in the process of deciding the lineup of movies depending on what’s available on DVD. “For example, Conclave, The Apprentice, The Substance, and The Wild Robot have already been checked out by patrons. [S]ome patrons have been asking for titles that have not yet been released in DVD/Blu-ray format,” Swain notes.

Joe O’Brien, adult services and acquisitions librarian at Livingston Public Library in New Jersey, will show as many nominated movies as possible on the big screen in the library’s program room. Popcorn will be served during each event. “We have already screened nominees like Dune: Part Two and Conclave, with WickedA Real Pain, and Anora scheduled in the coming months,” they share. “Any other nominated films that are covered under our public screening license will also be screened once they are available.” Wicked is already being advertised for a 1:30 p.m. showing on Feb. 22, and A Real Pain will get both evening (Feb. 25) and matinee (Feb. 27) showings. “Our DVD/Blu-ray copies of Conclave, Dune: Part Two, and The Substance have all been checked out,” O’Brien says. “I’m certain that other nominated movies will be borrowed as soon as they hit our shelves—especially Wicked, which a number of our patrons are eager to see.”

Contests

Dan Lodge, library supervisor at Dearborn Public Library in Michigan, runs an annual Oscar Contest that is open until March 1. “Entrants predict the winners of the major awards plus the tiebreaker Adapted Screenplay,” he says. “The Grand Prize is a couple of passes to a local theater, a DVD copy of Wicked, the book Welcome to Pawnee by Jim O’Heir, and a $25 gift card to Netflix.” Patrons submit their predictions via Google Forms. “Inside Out 2 is the only nominee that we have here at the library on DVD,” Lodge notes. There are three copies, all waiting to be checked out. “In fact, there is very little demand or requests for the nominees when they make it to video,” he says. Dearborn Public Library patrons must be watching the Oscar movies in other ways.

Pamela Hawks, adult services librarian at Cornwall Public Library in New York, is doing an Oscar Contest Pool for patrons. “The grand winner and one random winner will be eligible to win prizes. There are some nominees that are available on DVD/Blu-ray, and our library owns them all—we typically order movies the day they are released,” she says. “As you would imagine, the titles that are available are extremely popular, such as ConclaveThe Substance, and The Apprentice.”

Adriana Alvarez, assistant manager of studio services at Fountaindale Public Library District in Illinois, is hosting an Oscars Trivia Night on Feb. 19, when patrons will also fill out prediction ballots. “I am currently working on some fun and challenging trivia questions to make the night interesting. We will also have lots of snacks and prizes for this year’s participants,” says Alvarez. Most of the nominees on DVD/Blu-ray are on order for the library for when they’re released, she notes. “We do have copies of Conclave, Dune: Part Two, and The Substance ready for check out for our patrons.”

Take-Home Kits

Natalie Shadrick, adult/teen services programmer at the Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch of Campbell County Public Library in Kentucky, is providing Oscars Take & Make Kits that will be available for patrons to register to pick up from Feb. 21 through Feb. 28. The kits contain an awards ballot, a prediction bingo card for the Oscars ceremony, and two crafts. “One [craft] is a plain white popcorn box that patrons can color and design however they want. The other is a wooden frame that we’re going to paint to look like a film reel,” Shadrick explains. “I’m [also] going to include a few example [bingo] cards that can be … filled with generic predictions like ‘someone thanks their agent,’ but I’m also going to have a blank card that patrons can use to create their own, more specific predictions. My hope is that this allows our library patrons to play along with family and friends as they’re watching. I’ve also included a handout that lists all of the nominated films and where they can be found,” they add.

As for the availability of DVDs, Shadrick notes, “Of the 35 feature films that were nominated, we have nine either already on the shelves or on order. Hopefully, more of the nominees will get physical releases and we can order those as well.”


OPINIONS ABOUT THE NOMINEES


General Thoughts

Morris predicts, “Emilia Pérez has a lot of buzz and I think will win a good amount of awards. I would not be surprised to see The BrutalistThe Substance, and A Complete Unknown get their share too. Both of the Best Actress and Best Actor field are stacked with fantastic talent.” Alvarez agrees: “I think this year’s nominees definitely have strength in many areas. The acting in Conclave, The Brutalist, and The Substance definitely are strong contenders. The beautiful cinematography and special effects in Wicked, Dune: Part Two, and Nickel Boys were fantastic. Each nominee definitely stands out in their own ways and will make for a memorable awards ceremony.”

O’Brien shares, “I was happy to see a bunch of my favorite performances from the past year get nominated: Demi Moore in The Substance, Mikey Madison and Yura Borisov in Anora, Ralph Fiennes in Conclave, Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain, Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce in The Brutalist, and Ariana Grande in Wicked. I really would’ve loved to see Sebastian Stan get recognized for his role in A Different Man, but seeing him nominated for The Apprentice is cool too.” They also have strong feelings about the Best Director nominees: “Sean Baker, Brady Corbet, and Coralie Fargeat all did excellent work directing their films, but I’d say Baker is the most deserving winner. While The Brutalist and The Substance could both stand to be reined in from their excesses at times, Baker’s Anora struck a trickier balance with its comedic and dramatic elements without ever really going off the rails.” O’Brien “was disappointed, though not too surprised, that Edward Berger wasn’t nominated for Conclave. His work wasn’t as flashy or audacious as most of the nominated directors, but it’s still remarkable how efficiently he maintained the tension and intrigue throughout his film.”

“I am a big fan of Guy Pearce ever since L.A. Confidential. And I hope September 5 gets the Original Screenplay award—not a wasted moment in that thrilling film,” Lodge says.

Swain asserts, “I think The Wild Robot should receive an Oscar for Best Animated Feature because it is emotionally engaging and has stunning visual effects.”

“I recently saw A Real Pain and loved it,” Hawks shares. “I hope Kieran Culkin wins his first Oscar for his performance.”

The Best Picture Contenders

Anora posterAnora

A young escort from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

O’Brien says, “I love how this movie shifts gears after the first act, from a modern-day Pretty Woman into a gritty and volatile mob movie. Mikey Madison nails her performance and keeps you sympathizing with her on her tragicomic journey of disillusionment.”

Hawks is “looking forward to seeing this—I love Sean Baker’s other films such as The Florida Project and Red Rocket.” Shadrick has the same sentiment: “I wasn’t sure about this one until I saw that Sean Baker directed it. I absolutely loved The Florida Project, so Anora is now on my watchlist.” Alvarez decided she wants to watch it too.


The Brutalist posterThe Brutalist

When a visionary architect and his wife flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern United States, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious, wealthy client.

Swain believes “Adrien Brody’s excellent performance in The Brutalist should earn him an Oscar for Best Actor.” O’Brien also offers effusive praise, calling the movie an “awe-inspiring colossus about the eternal struggle between art and capitalism.” However, they note, “It stumbles over its own ambition toward the end of its lengthy run, but it rarely dragged for me, and it’s given me a lot to think about over the past few weeks.”

Alvarez and Morris both say they’re looking forward to the movie after its nominations caught their attention. Hawks, however, probably won’t be seeing The Brutalist: “I just can’t see sitting through an almost-4-hour movie—and I am married to an architect!!”


A Complete Unknown posterA Complete Unknown

New York, 1961. An unknown 19-year-old named Bob Dylan arrives with his revolutionary talent. He forges relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a performance that reverberates worldwide.

Lodge “enjoyed A Complete Unknown—the production design is top-notch, James Mangold is a craftsman filmmaker like Howard Hawks, and Timothée Chalamet and Ed Norton give great performances.”

Morris and Hawks will be watching. Hawks notes, “For the record, I am not a Dylan fan, but I heard Chalamet’s performance is perfection.”


Conclave posterConclave

When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.

O’Brien says, “For Best Actor I’m rooting for Ralph Fiennes, who conveyed a deep inner conflict with grace and subtlety—and because shockingly, he still hasn’t won an Academy Award in his entire career.” Lodge is also pulling for Fiennes, who is “wonderful” in Conclave. Hawks, who says she “really liked” the movie, singles out another actor: “I hope Isabella Rossellini wins an Oscar for her performance.”

O’Brien was on the edge of their seat during the movie, calling it “broadly appealing in the best way, and probably the most rewatchable movie of all the nominees.” Hawks says, “The direction and cinematography were stellar.” Lodge jokes that the movie has the “scariest hallways since The Shining.”


Dune: Part Two posterDune: Part Two

Paul Atreides unites with the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future.

Dune: Part Two was fun and immersive to watch,” Alvarez says. “The stunning special effects allowed viewers to be immersed in the characters and world of this epic science fiction story. The performances from the actors only strengthened the film; Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Javier Bardem were mesmerizing to watch on screen. I would have liked to see one of these great actors receive a nomination for their performance.” O’Brien adds, “Austin Butler’s performance still haunts my dreams, and Timothée Chalamet riding the sandworm is one of my favorite movie scenes of the year.”

Hawks gives it a review of “meh,” however: “I think it was better than the first film, but I have never been that entranced by Frank Herbert’s world.”

Alvarez wants the Oscars to continue to look at these kinds of movies. “After the success of Everything Everywhere All at Once,” she says, “I hope to see more science fiction and action movies make it on the Best Picture nominee list as they are often overlooked.”


Emilia Perez posterEmilia Pérez

Emilia Pérez follows four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. Cartel leader Emilia enlists unappreciated lawyer Rita to help fake her death so that she can finally live authentically as her true self.

Swain says, “Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón gave superb performances in Emilia Pérez.” O’Brien laments the movie’s shortcomings: “A musical about a transgender drug lord sounds amazing on paper, but the execution of it here felt clumsy and tone-deaf to me. I can’t help but fantasize about what this could have been in the hands of a director like Pedro Almodóvar, with his flair for blending comedy, melodrama, and queer empathy.”

Morris, Hawks, and Alvarez want to watch it, with Hawks saying, “I have read and heard such wildly different views on the merits of the film—I am looking forward to making my own judgments.” Shadrick will be doing the same; they say, “Based on the reviews I’ve read, I’m either going to absolutely love this movie or absolutely loathe it, and that makes me very excited to watch it.”


I'm Still Here posterI’m Still Here

A mother is forced to reinvent herself when her family’s life is shattered by an act of arbitrary violence during the tightening grip of a military dictatorship in Brazil, 1971.

Hawks wasn’t familiar with I’m Still Here until it was nominated. “A quick Google search shows me that I will watch this at some point, as a political thriller based on a memoir is right up my alley,” she says.

Shadrick will “normally avoid tearjerkers, but this one looks incredible.” Morris also wants to see the movie, but it’s not widely available in U.S. theaters until mid-February.


Nickel Boys posterNickel Boys

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys chronicles the powerful friendship between two young African-American men navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.

Nickel Boys is another movie with a limited U.S. theatrical distribution as of this writing.

Hawks is “looking forward to watching this—I loved the book and I am intrigued by the ‘experimental’ nature of the filmmaker’s process.”

.


The Substance posterThe Substance

A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

“Unapologetically revolting and diabolically bonkers” is how O’Brien describes The Substance. “I loved every minute of it. Its chances of actually winning Best Picture are probably zero, but the fact that a movie like this even got nominated brings me much joy.” They add, “I’m especially pulling for Demi Moore to win Best Actress, since she did exceptional work grounding an extremely bizarre film in a relatable human struggle.”

Alvarez calls the movie “visceral and at times hard to watch, but it definitely touches upon the strong subject of body image. Demi Moore’s performance was a bold approach to this character whose life is falling apart due to her younger self. That was probably what made the movie so interesting to me,” she notes, but says she “tried not to pay attention to” the graphic horror elements.

“I wasn’t sold on the premise alone, but the trailer looks like a wild ride,” Shadrick admits. “I’m super excited that it got a DVD release.”

“I absolutely will not see this film,” Hawks says. “I have a complete aversion to body horror films.”


Wicked posterWicked

Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Galinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.

“I’m a huge fan of musicals. For that reason, I’ve got to root for Wicked,” Shadrick shares. “I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve been waiting for this movie for over 10 years. Wicked was the first musical I fell in love with, and I’m so delighted it’s getting recognized.”

Morris laments, “I still have not seen Wicked!!” She’s not alone; Hawks hasn’t either. “I will, of course, get to it at some point,” she says. “I have family members that worked for years on the Broadway show, so at first, I was a little [unsure] about seeing it in the theatre. But I have heard good things and have come around!” O’Brien is another person who was won over. “I had never read the book or seen the Broadway musical, but after seeing the movie, I’ll be sure to buy a ticket for part two later this year. A fantastic production from start to finish,” they say.

Alvarez agrees, saying, “Wicked was a beautiful masterpiece of visual effects. I enjoyed the film and how it brought this Broadway blockbuster to the big screen. Visually, this is a stunning film; the story is strong as evidenced by its original success on Broadway. As for the acting performances by the actors, it is difficult to say as they were definitely aping the original Broadway cast.”


Movie posters and synopses are from imdb.com.


Brandi Scardilli is the editor of NewsBreaks and Information Today.

Email Brandi Scardilli

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