Happy Oscars weekend! Since this year’s telecast is happening at the beginning of the month after a short month, I thought I’d combine my Oscar predictions with my monthly recap.
It’s currently less than 36 hours until the 97th Oscar winners are announced. Unlike last year, I have only managed to see eight out of the ten nominees. The ones I haven’t seen are Emilia Pérez and The Substance. This year’s award season has been quite a circus, with all the controversies surrounding Emilia Pérez and the AI debacle surrounding The Brutalist. Meanwhile, Sean Baker’s Anora, which I saw just a couple of weeks ago, has emerged as a major frontrunner in the race, something I did not expect. It’s won the PGA (Producer’s Guild Award) as well as the DGA (Director’s Guild Award), which have been a solid precursor for Best Picture winner.
The SHOULD-WIN category is the one I’m rooting for this year. You can head over to this post to see the full nominees. In any event, I’m only listing the WHO WILL/SHOULD WIN picks in 18 categories below, but I did fill out the complete Oscar ballot »
1. Best Picture
WHO WILL WIN: Anora
WHO SHOULD WIN: The Brutalist
2. Best Director
WHO WILL WIN: Sean Baker
WHO SHOULD WIN: Brady Corbet
3. Best Lead Actor
WHO WILL WIN: Adrien Brody
WHO SHOULD WIN: Adrien Brody
4. Best Lead Actress
WHO WILL WIN: Demi Moore
WHO SHOULD WIN: Fernanda Torres
15. Best Supporting Actor
WHO WILL WIN: Kieran Culkin
WHO SHOULD WIN: Guy Pearce
6. Best Supporting Actress
WHO WILL WIN: Zoe Saldaña
WHO SHOULD WIN: Zoe Saldaña
7. Best Adapted Screenplay
WHO WILL WIN: Conclave
WHO SHOULD WIN: Conclave
8. Best Original Screenplay
WHO WILL WIN: A Real Pain
WHO SHOULD WIN: A Real Pain
9. Best Cinematography
WHO WILL WIN: The Brutalist
WHO SHOULD WIN: The Brutalist
10. Best Film Editing
WHO WILL WIN: Conclave
WHO SHOULD WIN: Conclave
11. Best International Feature Film
WHO WILL WIN: I’m Still Here
WHO SHOULD WIN: I’m Still Here
12. Best Original Score
WHO WILL WIN: The Brutalist
WHO SHOULD WIN: The Brutalist
13. Best Sound
WHO WILL WIN: Dune Part Two
WHO SHOULD WIN: The Brutalist
14. Best Production Design
WHO WILL WIN: The Brutalist
WHO SHOULD WIN: The Brutalist
15. Best Visual Effects
WHO WILL WIN: Dune Part Two
WHO SHOULD WIN: Dune Part Two
16. Best Animated Feature Film
WHO WILL WIN: Flow
WHO SHOULD WIN: Flow
17. Best Costume Design
WHO WILL WIN: Wicked
WHO SHOULD WIN: Wicked
18. Best Makeup and Hairstyling
WHO WILL WIN: The Subtance
WHO SHOULD WIN: A Different Man
Let’s see how many predictions I get right tomorrow night!
Conan O’Brien will host the 97th Oscars.
It will air on Sunday, March 2, on ABC in the U.S. | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST
FEBRUARY VIEWINGS
It’s a short month, and somehow, I only got time to see 15 new-to-me films, most of them new releases. The only older movie I saw was the military drama based on a true story, Meagan Leavey, starring Kate Mara, which was better than I expected (review below). As for TV watching, I did finish Night Agent S2 and just started watching Silo S2. The 2nd season of Night Agent isn’t quite as great as the first one, but it’s still enjoyable. I’m excited for Season 3!
In any case, this is how I rate this month’s viewings on Letterboxd.
MINI REVIEW
MEGAN LEAVEY*
I saw this pop up on Netflix, and I was intrigued as it was highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring Kate Mara, it’s the real-life tale of Marine Corporal Megan Leave,y who bonded with Rex, her military combat dog, which intensified when they were stationed in Iraq. They tackled over 100 missions together, saving numerous lives along the way. I really enjoyed this one, and Mara is quite believable in the title role, who had a difficult relationship with her mom and stepdad when she enlisted.
Mara believably conveys her struggles when she can’t be with Rex, especially as she is dealing with PTSD. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, it offers a genuine glimpse into military life and combat deployments while keeping the focus mainly on the affecting relationship between Megan and Rex.
BONHOEFFER
The subject matter is intriguing as Bonhoeffer is one of the key players in Operation Valkyrie, the failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944 (though he’s overlooked in the movie Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise, perhaps because he’s a Christian pastor?). Bonhoeffer was a member of the German resistance and worked as a secret agent for German military intelligence, but the film focuses more on his early life and faith influences.
The film charts his education in Union Theological Seminary in New York when he met a Black fellow seminarian who introduced him to the Abyssinian Baptist Church. The character is definitely intriguing, but the movie feels a bit too polished. The script drags on, and the direction plays it too safe; it lacks the edge that the story really needs. Jonas Dassler has an earnest quality in the title role, but it’s August Diehl (who was excellent in A Hidden Life) who makes a real impression here.
52 Films By Women – 2025 Challenge
I am once again participating in this challenge. Per Women In Film (WIF) organization, the basic rules are simple: watch 52 films directed by women within one year and share what you watched on social media, using the hashtag #52FilmsByWomen to spread the word, and get more people talking about the women filmmakers that don’t always get attention.
I watched a total of 4 new-to-me films #directedbywomen last month. I ranked them on Letterboxd, so you can follow my #52FilmsByWomen list as I will be updating it regularly.
February 2025 Movie of the Month
MAESTRA
review upcoming
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
I just added Maestra to my watchlist. I just A Real Pain earlier today and it is an amazing film. Review might come tomorrow. I think the best film I saw last month is most definitely Anora as I want that film to win. I was hoping to watch The Brutalist last month but it went away at my local multiplex too quickly and it would play at certain times where I don’t even get up that early. I don’t even go to the movies at night because it costs too much. I go in the early-mid afternoon.
I love Maestra! I wish it had been nominated for Best Documentary. A Real Pain really surprised me, and I’m glad Kieran won.
I hope you get to see The Brutalist soon, it’s an astonishing film. I hear ya, theater tickets are so expensive!
I’m happy for Kieran as well but… HOLY SHIT! Anora!!!! 5 Oscars! 4 for Baker (and his wife and another producer for Best Picture) and one for Mikey! HOLY SHIT! That surprised the fuck out of me in a good way. I love it!
I’m way out of the loop when it comes to the Oscars, I thought the show already happened. Lol! But once I get a new projector, I’ll catch up on some of the nominated movies like Conclave, Anora and The Brutalist.
I only watched two movies last month. Liam Neeson’s In the Land of Saints and Sinners, which you mentioned last month. I really liked it too, it’s definitely a western style film that took place in the 1970s in Ireland. Somehow it worked! Then I revisited Bong Joon Ho’s The Host, a film I wasn’t a big fan of when it came out in the mid 2000s. But it was the film that introduced western audiences to Joon Ho and one of the early South Korean films to be a success here in the States. I liked it better this time but I didn’t know much about South Korean’s politics at the time and didn’t get all the jabs that Joon Ho threw at his government.
Then I watched more TV series. Finished De Niro’s new Netflix’s series Zero Day, it’s pretty good but kind of end on a whimper. Then finished Cobra Kai’s final season. Started Reacher new season on Prime.
You’re right about The Night Agent season 2, it kind of ended on a whimper after a promising start. Just like Silo season 2 though, it feels like it was set up for season 3.
Hey Ted!! Sorry I missed this comment. I think you should watch Conclave and THe Brutalist with your new projector, they are both stunning films!
In the Land of Saints and Sinners is good indeed, wish Neeson does great thrillers like that more, ahah. I haven’t seen The Host, is it violent? I am curious about Mickey 17 though, too bad there’s no press screening for that one.
Not sure yet if I wanna see Zero Day, De Niro gets so political it turns me off.
I wish The Night Agent S2 were as good as the first but still okay I guess, I’m still looking forward to S3!
No, The Host wasn’t that violent at all. It was advertised as this monster movie but as usual with Joon-Ho’s films, he injected a lot of political messages in it. I heard that Mickey 17 is similar to The Host, I’ll find out when I see it on Friday night. The first movie I’ll be seeing in theater in a months. Lol!
If you’re not into political thrillers, Zero Day won’t be something you’d enjoy. The show was created before the election, so I think they assumed Harris was going to win since the President in the show is played by Angela Bassett. But the show is quite relevant to our current political climate here in the States.
For what it’s worth, these are my predictions:
Best Picture: Conclave (Pope Oscar XCVII)
Director: Sean Baker
Actor: Adrien Brody
Actress: Fernanda Torres
Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin
Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana
Original Screenplay: A Real Pain
Adapted Screenplay: Conclave
International Feature: I’m Still Here
Animated Feature: Flow
Documentary Feature: Porcelain War
Live Action Short: A Lien
Animated Short: Magic Candles
Documentary Short: Incident
Original Score: Conclave
Song: El Mai (Emilia Perez)
Cinematography: The Brutalist
Production Design: Wicked
Film Editing: Conclave
Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
Sound: Dune: Part Two
Costume Design: Wicked
MUAH: The Substance
Oh so you got at least 11 right! I did not expect ANORA would sweep the Oscars like that, wow! I still wish Demi had won (or Torres who’s incredible!) and I really thought The Brutalist would win Best Picture with Baker winning Best Director, oh well.
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How’s it going on Letterboxd?
Heading over to see what you got right. I see some rights and wrongs, and I’m heading over! xx
Hey Resa!! I’m still getting the hang of Letterboxd but I’m trying to be diligent in logging a few times a week, ahah.
I did worse with the ballot than last year 😀
Btw so sorry for missing your email, but I’ve replied! XOXO
Lol… about the ballot. OH WELL!
You can mock me in Emmy season.
I wish Demi Moore would have won. That’s about my only comment.
I read your Oscar results post last night, but was so tired, I couldn’t comment. I’ll be back!
I got your reply mail! No worries. XOXO
I wish Demi would’ve won too! But my hope is they’ll atone for her by giving her more prominent roles in the future. I mean, she is NOT past her prime. A lot of these actresses ought to be able to work til they’re in the 80s like June Squibb, Judi Dench, etc.
THANK YOU for your awesome email about Sir Christopher. Fascinating!!
I’m happy you like the scoop (although everyone who has had to work “closely” with him knows).
I hope she gets more roles, too!
There’s not a lot roles available for older women, and Helen Mirren seems to get most of them.
Same goes for men, but to a much lesser degree.
I’ve been so busy, I haven’t got back to your Oscars post, but I will! xoxox