Oscars 2025: ‘Anora' wins big at 97th Academy Awards
The big winner at the 97th Academy Awards was the independent film, 'Anora,' which picked up golden statues for best picture, best actress, best director, best editing and best original screenplay. Erik Davis, managing editor at Fandango, breaks down the highlights, surprises and snubs from this year's Oscars.
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Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Four Weddings and a Funeral secrets from Hugh Grant row to Liz Hurley's dress
It's been over three decades since Four Weddings and a Funeral was released on the big screen, and the Richard Curtis rom-com still holds a special place in the hearts of audiences everywhere For over thirty years, Four Weddings and a Funeral has shown that a film with a lot of heart can go a long way. Despite being one of the most beloved romantic comedies out there, and helping catapult some of its stars to new levels of fame, it was actually a really low-budget project. It cost only £3 million to make - which might sound like a lot, but in Hollywood terms is as cheap as chips - and was shot over just six weeks. But despite being a small movie, Four Weddings is still one of the British public's favourite rom-coms after all these years, and it cemented Hugh Grant as a household name in the UK, along with his girlfriend Liz Hurley. Her stunning and risque Versace dress - the barely-there piece was held together with safety pins - captured serious attention at the Four Weddings premiere, and has become an iconic moment in fashion history. The movie's producer, Duncan Kenworthy, remembered discussing what Liz might wear when going for lunch with her and Hugh the week before the premiere, "Liz said, 'I have absolutely no idea at this point'," he said, adding that "With every piece about Liz came a mention of the film, so it was great publicity. The premiere was an extraordinary event." After the film's release on March 11, 1994, even the movie's theme song - Love is All Around by Wet, Wet, Wet - found major success, and spent 15 weeks at the top of the charts. Pretty much every character in the film has become totally beloved by audiences, from the floppy-haired Charles as lead, to his quirky flatmate Scarlet, and the laugh-a-minute, over-the-top Gareth. Duncan, 73, has said that they were totally consumed by their "little film" during the two years production took and that due to issues finding finance for the film, "We were making it for a long time in our heads before we actually made it in reality". However, even though they were working on a budget, everyone around them really believed that Four Weddings would go the distance. "I remember sitting and watching the Oscars on telly with friends the year before we made Four Weddings and they all said, 'You'll be there next year' and laughed," Duncan explained. "Literally a year later, there I was, at the Oscars, with a Best Picture nomination. It was unthinkable, really. In those days there were only five nominees for best picture at the Oscars. It shows what a big impact the film made – not just with the public but within the film world, too." Despite its popularity, Four Weddings and a Funeral didn't take home Best Picture, but to be fair, they faced some pretty stiff competition that year, with other nominees in 1995 including Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, and Forrest Gump - with the latter taking home the statue. Four Weddings did manage to score a host of BAFTAs, however, for its depiction of Hugh Grant as the slightly-hopeless Charles attending a series of landmark occasions in his loved one's lives - and falling in love with American socialite, Carrie - played by Andie MacDowell. Casting the film presented the production team with a few challenges, particularly when it came to the lead role of Charles. Whilst it might seem impossible to imagine anyone else playing him now, Richard Curtis is said to have had more than few doubts about his ability to carry the role. Over 70 people were auditioned for the role, but in the end it came down to Hugh Grant and one other choice. "It sounds odd now but the other actor in the frame was Alan Rickman, who'd really cut through in the Robin Hood movie. Mike, Richard and I simply couldn't agree which of them to cast, so we voted in secret," Duncan explained. "We were an odd number, and it came out 2 to 1 in favour of Hugh Grant. It's a cause of enormous delight to me that it was Richard who nearly ended Hugh's romcom career before it even started." Hugh Grant has also revealed that Richard Curtis definitely was not a fan of him during the auditioning process, saying "[My audition] was in front of Mike Newell, the director, who seemed to quite like me, and Richard Curtis, who seemed to want me dead. He really hated me. Apparently there was a bit of a fight between them.... and Richard didn't want me at all." The actor also revealed that before the movie's release, he thought it would be a total flop, and he said as much to his friend Sam Neil over dinner one night. Later, Hugh said about his initial impression of the rom-com "I was clearly wrong and the film changed my life. It was the beginning of a happy friendship with Richard Curtis, and I've always had the greatest respect for Mike Newell who taught me things I use to this day." Despite the rocky start to Richard's impression of Hugh, the pair went on to make two other iconic rom-coms together, Notting Hill and Love Actually, so the actor obviously convinced him eventually that he had it in him. Finding someone to play Carrie also presented some challenges, Duncan explained, and after an extensive auditioning process in the US, they offered the role to two actresses - both of whom turned it down. Back in the UK, they heard on the grapevine that established actress Andie MacDowell was in town, and quickly arranged a meeting, "We found out Andie MacDowell was staying at The Dorchester, so Mike and I arranged to meet her in the bar. As soon as we met her, Mike knew she was the one," the producer said. And it was Andie who would end up delivering probably the film's most famous - and cheesy - line after Hugh Grant's character declared his undying love for her as the pair stood in the pouring rain. "Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed," Carrie deadpans, a delivery that Duncan thinks in hindsight might have missed the mark. "Of course Carrie knows it's raining! She's drenched, he's drenched. She means it ironically,' he explained. 'If Andie had said it with a smile, no one would have mentioned it!' Four Weddings and a Funeral is packed with laughs - and at the funeral of Gareth more than a few tears - and it's popularity is such that it has even born a TV show. Created by Mindy Kaling, the show over ten episodes followed the framework of the film - but it didn't resonate with the public in the same way the film had. When it comes to the continued love for Four Weddings, and its longstanding legacy, Duncan said: "To think there's still interest in the film, all these years later, is surprising but lovely."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
WWII film that 'blows Dunkirk out of the water' is leaving Netflix soon
This powerful hit drama is leaving Netflix later this month Joe Wright's cinematic masterpiece Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, has made an indelible impact with its seven Oscar nominations and a box office return that quadrupled its budget. Set against the backdrop of World War 2, Atonement is a riveting tale that unfolds over one sultry day in 1935, with consequences rippling through the decades. The film boasts an epic five-minute continuous shot featuring 1,000 extras that captures the Dunkirk evacuation chaos from McAvoy's perspective. For those intrigued, time is ticking to watch this war drama on Netflix, as it departs the service on 16th June. The film enjoys an impressive 83% 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critical consensus reads: "Atonement features strong performances, brilliant cinematography, and a unique score. Featuring deft performances from James MacAvoy and Keira Knightley, it's a successful adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel." Atonement clinched the Best Film accolade at the BAFTAs, took home the Best Original Score at the Oscars, and earned Saoirse Ronan an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress at just 13 years old, reports the Express. Launching both the 2007 Venice and Vancouver Film Festivals, the film also marked Wright as the youngest director ever to open the former at only 35. Critic Andrew Collins gave the film a glowing five-star review in Radio Times, declaring: "Atonement transcends the expectations of its country-house setting, via the privations of war, to deliver a knockout twist that works better on the screen than it did on the page." Bruce Newman, another film critic, praised the first part of the movie, stating: "In its first 45 minutes, Atonement achieves a kind of perfection rare even for big Oscar-bait movies," but he added a note of caution: "Every facet of the filmmaking is the equal of any picture released this year. The rest of the movie isn't so bad." The film has stirred up quite the conversation among fans, with one standout review on Letterboxd proclaiming: "13 years old saoirse ronan was robbed of that oscar for her performance as THE DEVIL." On Google, a fervent admirer of the film compared it to Dunkirk (2017), expressing: "I deeply appreciate Atonement for other reasons and while the films are about 10 years apart I am utterly perplexed by how Nolan's Dunkirk became the critical darling it is, especially since this film exists. Get Netflix free with Sky This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £15 Sky Get the deal here Product Description "This film isn't about the evacuation of Dunkirk or WWII (those elements form the background for a fully realized troubled romance and family drama) and YET this film spends about 20 minutes on Dunkirk and it conveys the horror, defeat and dread of it it far sharper and more resonant than Nolan's film does for its entire run time." Another popular opinion on Letterboxd, which attracted over 6,000 likes, succinctly put it: "the five-minute long take on the beach >>>>>>> dunkirk (2017)". Atonement is available to stream on Netflix until Monday, 16th June.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC removing 'masterpiece' film from iPlayer in days with fans urged to watch
The hit movie will leave th BBC iPlayer soon The clock is ticking for film buffs to catch a classic, Oscar-winning film on BBC iPlayer before it's taken down, reports Surrey Live. The film has garnered a global fanbase and was met with rave reviews from both audiences and critics upon its release. One fan gushed on Rotten Tomatoes: "Absolutely amazing. With invigorating writing and an amazing story surrounded by an amazing cast and even better music this movie is a modern movie classic!". Another chimed in: "This Movie is amazing. From the way it was written and portrayed by the actors to the way it was received, amazing [sic]." A third declared: "Masterpiece. My favorite musical of all time. My favorite movie of all time [sic]." A fourth praised: "one of the best movies of the century, you dont need to like musicals to like it. many movies have been about actors and musicians but this is the best of all [sic]. ". Another viewer confessed: "Very few movies have affected and haunted me like La La Land. I couldn't sleep the first time I watched it because of how it ended. I think it moved me a little too much. "The emptiness of their relationship not bringing closure was tough to swallow." La La Land, released in 2016, is a musical romantic comedy-drama that shines a light on Hollywood. Hailing from the creative genius of Damien Chazelle, the mastermind behind the Oscar-winning Whiplash, La La Land chronicles the love story of aspiring actress Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) and jazz musician Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling), both striving to make their mark in the city of dreams, Los Angeles. Their relationship is tested as they navigate the harsh realities of a city notorious for shattering aspirations. La La Land, a musical spectacle, bagged numerous Oscars, including Best Actress for Stone and Best Director for Chazelle. The film also marked a reunion for Stone and Gosling, who had previously shared screen space in the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love. In addition to its Oscar haul, the film scooped up a host of awards, including Golden Globes, BAFTAs, among others. La La Land is often hailed as one of Gosling's most remarkable performances, with the Canadian actor boasting an impressive repertoire of roles spanning from romantic drama The Notebook, Blue Valentine, action-packed Drive, Blade Runner 2049, Barbie to The Big Short.
