As one season this month — spring — begins, another is set to come to a close. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is set to air March 15, capping off another year of cinema and its ensuing season of awards.
This year’s edition of the Oscars may prove to be a noteworthy one, in part due to the long overdue addition of an award for Best Casting — the first new category in the show since 2001. The five inaugural films in this category are “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent” and “Sinners.”
Ironically, every Casting nominee is also nominated for Best Picture, reflecting a year with a high ceiling but a low floor. The slate of films from 2025 is somewhat top-heavy, with a few generational masterworks but a large number of mediocre or disappointing films characterized by Hollywood’s overreliance on sequels, reboots and live-action remakes.
The Best Picture race has boiled down to two frontrunners in “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” The two have consistently cleaned up the major awards thus far, winning big in the precursor circuit of shows like the British Academy Film and Television Awards and Golden Globes. The acting races, on the other hand, remain wide open, with every category — save perhaps for Best Actress in a Leading Role, with Jessie Buckley leading for her role in “Hamnet” — remaining in stiff competition heading into the final days.
This is in sharp contrast to Oscars of recent memory, where many paths to victory –– such as Kieran Culkin’s Best Supporting Actor win for “A Real Pain” in 2025, or Robert Downey Jr.’s for “Oppenheimer” in 2024 –– were clear-cut from the outset of awards season. The upcoming ceremony promises a showcase of surprises, snubs and sleeper success stories, and it is in eager anticipation thereof that three Arts & Entertainment writers sat down to make their picks and highlight their favorite selections from the year.
Surprise
Caroline Lee, Senior Writer: “F1: The Movie,” Best Picture
It was somewhat surprising when Joseph Kosinski’s “Top Gun: Maverick” snagged a Best Picture nomination at the 95th Academy Awards, a tribute to the film’s restoration of the theatrical box office post-pandemic. It is even more surprising that three years later, Kosinski’s latest big-budget blockbuster has once again sped into the category, with “F1: The Movie” slipping past “Wicked: For Good” in the final turn of the awards race, despite lacking the same post-pandemic push. With Brad Pitt in the driver’s seat, the film was bound to take a victory lap at the box office this summer, but “F1” seems to have found another gear with audiences in its tried-and-true tale of a once rising star coming back for one last ride. For its undeniable charm and captivating action, “F1” is more than deserving of its nomination.
Matthew Wang, Staff Writer: “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” Costume Design
“Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the third in James Cameron’s blockbuster series, debuted to a noticeably more lukewarm reception and lower box office than its predecessors. Due to the relative underperformance, it was not expected by pundits to garner any nominations besides Visual Effects, the category both prequels previously won. Thus, it was a major shock when it also landed a nod in Costume Design as its only other nomination. The fact that none of the previous “Avatar” movies had been nominated in Costume Design made it all the more baffling — especially when “Wicked: For Good,” a preseason frontrunner, was shut out. Award season can feel very predictable, but this choice shows that the Academy still has surprises up its sleeve.
Zach Geller, Arts & Entertainment Editor: The entire Music (Original Song) category
The award for Best Music (Original Song) tends to be one of the less competitive, less widely talked-about categories in the ceremony, and this year is no different. However, the real surprises in this category lie in the stack of nominees. “KPop Demon Hunters” only received one spot in the category — for the chart-topping hit “Golden” — despite an album of energetic, catchy tracks sung by both the movie’s characters and the K-pop group TWICE. “Wicked: For Good,” one of the most financially successful films of last year, did not receive a single nomination for the two original songs added to the movie-musical’s second half. Instead, “Train Dreams” — a Nick Cave song that plays over the credits of the film with the same name — and “Dear Me” — a new track from Diane Warren from the documentary about the artist — received nods. The resulting composition of the nominees — especially overlooking films in which music and storytelling were intertwined — is a surprising oversight on the part of the Academy.
Snub
CL: “Jay Kelly”, Actor in a Supporting Role and Writing (Original Screenplay)
A late career performance vehicle about late career performance, George Clooney stars as the eponymous Jay Kelly in a film aching with regret and self-reflection. Written and directed by four-time Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, “Jay Kelly” fits the mold of a classic Oscars-bait drama, and yet walked away from this year’s nominations empty-handed. Yes, the race for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is particularly competitive this year, but notable nonetheless is the exclusion of Adam Sandler, who plays it straight in an earnest and compelling turn as Kelly’s manager. Baumbach and co-writer Emily Mortimer were also left out of the Writing (Original Screenplay) category –– a somewhat anomalous outcome given Baumbach’s three previous writing nominations.
MW: Chase Infiniti, Actress in a Leading Role
“One Battle After Another” has no shortage of memorable performances, but a standout is Chase Infiniti’s breakthrough as Willa Ferguson. Her first major film role, it is impressive how she manages to stand toe-to-toe with acting legends such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. With “One Battle After Another” winning top awards at the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards, and Infiniti racking up Best Actress nominations across major precursors, her first Oscar nomination seemed all but assured. Ultimately, though, she fell short, failing to make the final five. The ensemble-driven nature of the film could be the major reason for the snub, as Infiniti had noticeably less screentime than the other contenders. Still, her presence in this year’s award shows and campaign trail will be a significant career booster, and she remains one of the most exciting new faces to watch in the future.
ZG: “No Other Choice,” All Categories
In one of the most shocking turns of events from the announcement of the Academy Award nominees, “No Other Choice” was completely shut out from all categories. Much like “Jay Kelly,” “No Other Choice” is the latest work of art from an accomplished auteur — in this case, Korean director Park Chan-wook. However, it was completely snubbed from every category at the Academy Awards. The shutout is made particularly egregious in the face of the thoughtful directing, a beautiful use of cinematography, spectacular screenplay — adapted from Donald Westlake’s novel “The Ax” — and a career-best performance from Lee Byung-hun, each of which transform the film into a modern masterpiece. The complete lack of representation from “No Other Choice,” which was South Korea’s selection for the International Feature Film category, is truly baffling and marks a clear blindspot for this year’s nominees.
Sleeper
CL: Delroy Lindo, Actor in a Supporting Role
Some would argue that Sean Penn has already locked down the Best Actor in a Supporting Role trophy for his performance in “One Battle After Another,” following wins at the BAFTAs and the Actor Awards. Absent from those competitions, however, was Delroy Lindo, his performance as world-weary blues musician Delta Slim embodying the heart of “Sinners” and grounding both the film’s comic relief and much of its emotional weight. One of the film’s standout moments –– a raw and powerful musical tribute following a monologue about the lynching of a fellow musician –– was reportedly improvised by Lindo, who later fought to keep the scene in the final cut. His unexpected nomination marks the first Academy recognition for the widely respected industry veteran, a few years after being notably passed over for his performance in Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods.” The combination of a career overdue for recognition and a scene-stealing performance leaves Lindo as the race’s most compelling sleeper.
MW: “Train Dreams,” Cinematography
Best Cinematography continues to be an unpredictable race, with three different films as strong contenders. “One Battle After Another” won the BAFTA, pulling ahead as the frontrunner. “Sinners,” looking for a big night in March, is also in the midst, and its win would be a historic one with Autumn Durald Arkapaw — the first woman of color ever nominated for the category. A film whose chances can not be discounted, however, is “Train Dreams,” shot by Brazilian cinematographer Adolpho Veloso. It won Best Cinematography at the Critics’ Choice Awards, proving its recognized strength in the category. With gorgeous shots of the forest and an emphasis on natural light, “Train Dreams” feels reminiscent of previous winners like “The Revenant,” meaning its style clearly appeals to the Academy’s taste. All three films have a realistic shot and it is anybody’s game come Oscars night.
ZG: Emma Stone, Actress in a Leading Role
Jessie Buckley is the strong favorite to win in this category, having swept the equivalent prize at all awards season precursors following her performance as Agnes Shakespeare in “Hamnet.” A recent cat-based controversy, though, has left the door open for another potential awards contender. Enter Emma Stone, whose absurd, deeply expressive performance in “Bugonia” as a pharmaceutical company CEO at the center of a conspiracy plot should not be discounted for its potential to bring home Best Actress in a Leading Role. The Academy has shown its admiration of Stone in the past, awarding her the Best Actress prize twice, in 2017 and 2024. The latter of these awards was for her performance in “Poor Things,” directed by the same twisted mind behind “Bugonia” — the Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos. Although it will be difficult for Stone to surpass the pole position in which Buckley has cemented herself, let alone surpass veteran actresses like Rose Byrne and Renate Reinsve in the race, she can never be counted out at the Academy Awards, especially for a performance as dynamic and physical as that in “Bugonia.”
Should Win
CL: Timothée Chalamet, Actor in a Leading Role
Any casual follower of pop culture is familiar with “Marty Supreme” and with Timothée Chalamet’s singular exploits in its promotional rollout and subsequent success, both critical and box office. For his extraordinary performance as fictional ping-pong player Marty Mauser, which is equal parts riveting and horrifying in its brutal commitment to character, Chalamet was the early frontrunner for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Two losses at the BAFTAs and Actor Awards, however, as well as some tragically misconstrued takes on ballet and opera currently circulating in the media, have recently set him back in the race. That being said, while the two other frontrunning performances by Michael B. Jordan and Leonardo DiCaprio are undeniably great, they are not ones whose success hinges entirely on themselves, whose film and actor are infused with the same indomitable drive and desire to achieve. “Marty Supreme” would not be possible without Timothée Chalamet, and that is something that the Academy should honor.
MW: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Actress in a Supporting Role
It is not often that subtle acting gets rewarded by the Academy, as grand, showy displays of emotion are usually preferred. But it will be hard to find a performance as quietly moving and tender as Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas’ portrayal of Agnes Borg Petterson in “Sentimental Value.” The film primarily focuses on the estranged relationship between father Gustav Borg and daughter Nora, played by Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve, respectively. It is Lilleaas, however, who elevates the film to greater heights, playing Nora’s sister as she attempts to mend her family’s broken bonds. She is at the heart of the film’s core scenes, and her ability to convey a range of emotions with just her eyes is second to none. The reserved, unflashy nature of her performance and her status as a lesser known international actor stacks the cards against her, but in the rare chance that she does win, it would be one of the most inspired choices the Academy has ever made.
ZG: “One Battle After Another,” Best Picture
Although 2025 was not the most consistent year for film, it resulted in several instant classics that exemplified the magic and artistry only attainable on the silver screen. The greatest of these is Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling, prescient epic “One Battle After Another.” The events depicted on screen are torn straight out of the headlines for its depiction of revolutionary responses to oppressive government actors — despite Anderson beginning to write the screenplay in the early 2000s — reflecting the contentiousness of the American political climate while maintaining a hopeful tone for the future. The magnificent screenplay is accompanied by several standout acting performances — four of whom are nominated for Academy Awards themselves — breathtaking camerawork and an enchanting score from Jonny Greenwood. Both to honor the legendary career of Anderson and to acknowledge the significance of “One Battle After Another” to the contemporary socio-political environment, the film deserves to take home the top prize at this year’s Academy Awards.
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