SOPHIA: Conan O’Brien hosting
In an interview about hosting his second consecutive Oscars, Conan O’Brien said that he likes hosting because the actors are the focus of the show instead of him.
“I am there to facilitate, but I am not the one they are there to see,” O’Brien said. “I’m not what people are thinking about.”
For me, O’Brien is actually one of the best parts of the Oscars. In general, I think that hosts are essential to awards shows. Even if the biggest names in the most breathtaking outfits make an appearance during the ceremony, I will not enjoy watching it if the host’s monologue falls flat or if they fail to warm up the crowd. O’Brien did so well in his role that watching last year’s Oscars stands as one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had watching an awards show.
His natural charisma and comedic flair worked so well, from witty and quirky jokes (“Ball’s in your court, Estonia”—touché) to excellent interactions with John Lithgow and Adam Sandler. O’Brien is good at hosting because he can really connect with both the star-studded audience sitting in front of him and viewers at home. He transcends distance, screens and some people’s view that the Oscars are for those whose heads are in the clouds of fame and fortune. O’Brien is humble and relatable, bringing the show down to Earth for everyone to enjoy.
I wonder if he’ll reprise any bits from last year. Will he poke fun at Timothée Chalamet, who is nominated for an Oscar for the second year in the row? Personally, I want O’Brien to make another Sandler joke, à la Nikki Glaser. Regardless of whether he dazzles with recycled or new material, I am looking forward to a night full of his smart, superb jokes.
Plus, O’Brien played a therapist in the dramedy If I Had Legs I’d Kick You this year. Rose Byrne is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in this movie. Byrne’s fellow nominees are Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value and Emma Stone for Bugonia. Buckley just won the Actor Award for Best Actress, while Byrne won the Golden Globe for her performance in January. When Byrne won her Golden Globe, her husband, Bobby Cannavale, was not in attendance because he was buying his kids a bearded dragon. I look forward to seeing both of them at the Oscars, hopefully to celebrate Byrne’s victory!
ETHAN: Best Actor & Soundtrack
As the Oscars awards show looms closer, the winner for Actor in a Leading Role becomes increasingly more uncertain, Timothée Chalamet, known for his acting in Marty Supreme and multiple other well regarded films, was predicted by Polymarket as a large favorite at 79% chance of winning. Other actors shared minute percentages around 7%. These included Leonardo DiCaprio, at 9%, Michael B. Jordan at 6.9%, and Wagner Moura at 4.5%.
It is difficult to pick between these top four contenders. This past year Jordan played twins Smoke and Stack in Sinners, a personal favorite of mine. DiCaprio was nominated for One Battle After Another. Finally, Moura, the first ever Brazilian actor to be elected for this category, was nominated for The Secret Agent.
Recently, Jordan shocked Hollywood when he won “Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role” at the Actor Awards, previously known as the SAG Awards. Jordan expressed his astonishment as he admitted, “I wasn’t expecting this at all.” He was an unlikely winner, but winner nonetheless. Furthermore, as of when this article was published, his odds shot up to 37%, just slightly behind Chalamet’s 51%. Although Chalamet is still the favorite, I predict that Jordan will come out on top.
While Marty Supreme is an incredible movie to watch about persistence and determination, Jordan’s performance in Sinners completely blows Chalamet’s acting out of the water. Jordan’s portrayal of both twins in the movie is exceptionally hard to do, but he flawlessly pulls it off, showing each of the twins’ more sinister sides. Set in a particularly racist south, Sinners combines multiple complex storylines with music and vampires to create an exceptional movie. Fun fact, Jordan had to adjust his vocal and physical features without makeup, only acting, to portray the two characters differently. I personally loved Frank Ocean’s feature in the music track and I hope Sinners will win the award for Best Original Score alongside Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor Oscar award.
WANYA: Casting Award and Soundtrack
Every year I look forward to watching the Oscars, but this year I’m especially interested because of a change behind the scenes. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is introducing a new category recognizing achievement in casting through the Casting award, which feels long overdue. Casting is one of the most important parts of filmmaking, yet it’s often invisible to audiences. The right combination of actors can completely transform a movie, shaping the chemistry of scenes and how believable the story feels.
As someone involved in choir, musical theatre, and acting, that recognition feels exciting. When I perform, I realize how much the right voices and personalities matter. In choir, balance between sections determines whether a piece sounds full or chaotic. In theatre, the dynamic between actors can make a scene feel natural or forced. Casting in film works the same way, and giving it its own Oscar category acknowledges the collaboration that makes great performances possible. I cannot wait to see how this works!
Another part of the Oscars that I always pay attention to is Best Original Score. Soundtracks are one of the most overlooked elements of filmmaking. When people talk about movies, they usually remember the actors or the visuals, but music is what quietly guides the entire emotional experience. It tells audiences when to feel suspense, excitement, or sadness—even when they don’t consciously notice it.
This year’s nominees show just how varied film music can be. Alexandre Desplat’s score for Frankenstein leans into sweeping orchestration that builds a dark, gothic atmosphere. And Jonny Greenwood’s work on One Battle After Another experiments with unusual textures and instrumentation.
Having spent years around music through choir and theatre, I’ve learned how much sound can shape a performance. Film scores do the same thing, turning scenes into moments people remember long after the credits roll. Personally, I agree with Ethan, and have my eye on Sinners with their amazing work.
