Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan will pay tribute to filmmaker Rob Reiner at the Oscars.
Barbra Streisand is also in talks to honor Robert Redford.
The Academy Awards will be held on March 15.
While most late actors and filmmakers have to make do with a mention during the In Memoriam section of each year’s Academy Awards, some are considered worthy of more of a spotlight.
Rob Reiner, the director of ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ and other classics, who was murdered at his home along with his wife Michele in December, has been selected as one of those, with the movie’s stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to be joined by others who worked with the filmmaker on stage.
(L to R) Rob Reiner and Christopher Guest in ‘This Is Spinal Tap.’ Photo: Embassy Pictures.
Following Rob and Michele’s deaths, a group of the director’s closest friends and collaborators, including Crystal, Larry David, Martin Short and Albert Brooks, released a joint statement:
“Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master storyteller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever. Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?’ You have no idea.”
When and where can I see the Oscars this year?
The Academy Awards will air live March 15th on ABC and Hulu.
The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The ceremony will be televised live by ABC and streamed on Hulu.
Movies and TV Featuring or Directed by Rob Reiner:
(L to R) John Corbett and Nia Vardalos in ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’. Photo: IFC Films.
A young Greek woman (Nia Vardalos) falls in love with a non-Greek (John Corbett) and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.
Poppy’s (Emily Bader) a free spirit. Alex (Tom Blyth) loves a plan. After years of summer vacations, these polar-opposite pals wonder if they could be a perfect romantic match.
Reunited after 15 years famous chef Sasha (Ali Wong) and hometown musician Marcus (Randall Park) feel the old sparks of attraction but struggle to adapt to each others worlds.
Heiress Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn) hires carpenter Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell) to build a closet on her yacht—and refuses to pay him for the project when it’s done. But after Joanna accidentally falls overboard and loses her memory, Dean sees an opportunity to get even.
Everyone deserves a great love story, but for 17-year-old Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), it’s a little more complicated. He hasn’t told his family or friends that he’s gay, and he doesn’t know the identity of the anonymous classmate that he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing.
(L to R) Meg Ryan, Ross Malinger and Tom Hanks in ‘Sleepless in Seattle’. Photo: TriStar Pictures.
When Sam Baldwins (Tom Hanks) wife dies he is left to bring up his eight-year-old son Jonah (Ross Malinger) alone and decides to move to Seattle to make a new start. On Christmas Eve Jonah rings a radio phone-in with his Christmas wish to find a new wife for his dad. Meanwhile in Baltimore journalist Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), who is having doubts about her own relationship is listening in.
Expecting the usual tedium that accompanies a summer in the Catskills with her family, 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman (Jennifer Grey) is surprised to find herself stepping into the shoes of a professional hoofer—and unexpectedly falling in love.
William Thacker (Hugh Grant) is a London bookstore owner whose humdrum existence is thrown into romantic turmoil when famous American actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) appears in his shop A chance encounter over spilled orange juice leads to a kiss that blossoms into a full-blown affair. As the average bloke and glamorous movie star draw closer and closer together they struggle to reconcile their radically different lifestyles in the name of love.
In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold – until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.
More than a dozen Angelenos navigate Valentine’s Day from early morning until midnight. Three couples awake together but each relationship will sputter. A grade-school boy wants flowers for his first true love. Two high school seniors plan first-time sex at noon. A TV sports reporter gets the assignment to find romance in LA. A star quarterback contemplates his future. Two strangers meet on a plane. Grandparents together for years face a crisis. And an “I Hate Valentines Day” dinner beckons the lonely and the lied to.
Dakota Johnson in ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) finds herself torn between the perfect match (Pedro Pascal) and her imperfect ex (Chris Evans).
In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with (Miles Teller) and her first love (Callum Turner), who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.
In 1980s Italy, a relationship begins between seventeen-year-old teenage Elio (Timothee Chalamet) and the older adult man (Armie Hammer) hired as his father’s (Michael Stuhlbarg) research assistant.
In the not so distant future, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely writer, purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user’s every need. To Theodore’s surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system (Scarlett Johansson). This unconventional love story blends science fiction and romance in a sweet tale that explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all.
In Shotgun Wedding, Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. “’Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones—if they don’t kill each other first.
When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway-only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog’s broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.
After Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, good-natured Carey (Kyle Marvin) runs to his friends, Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Angelo Covino), for support. He’s shocked to discover that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage, that is until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.
When carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and reluctant maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti) have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.
The origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), who, after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year’s party, Tim’s father (Bill Nighy) tells his son ( Domhnall Gleeson) that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can’t change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.
(L to R) Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in ‘La La Land’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Mike (Tatum), an experienced stripper, takes a younger performer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film also stars Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Olivia Munn, and Matthew McConaughey.
Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the American dream. He has a good job, a beautiful house, great children and a beautiful wife, named Emily (Julianne Moore). Cal’s seemingly perfect life unravels, however, when he learns that Emily has been unfaithful and wants a divorce. Over 40 and suddenly single, Cal is adrift in the fickle world of dating. Enter, Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), a self-styled player who takes Cal under his wing and teaches him how to be a hit with the ladies.
Two modern-day cowboys (Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal) meet on a shepherding job in the summer of ’63, the two share a raw and powerful summer together that turns into a lifelong relationship.
Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal) and music student Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali MacGraw) share a chemistry they cannot deny – and a love they cannot ignore. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the young couple put their hearts on the line for each other. When they marry, Oliver’s wealthy father (Ray Milland) threatens to disown him. Jenny tries to reconcile the Barrett men, but to no avail.
During their travel from Chicago to New York, Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) debate whether or not sex ruins a friendship between a man and a woman. Eleven years later, and they’re still no closer to finding the answer.
(L to R) Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in ‘A Star Is Born.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and the dashing Westley (Cary Elwes) must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen (Christopher Guest), murderous princes (Chris Sarandon), Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can’t stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater (Gloria Stuart) tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose (Kate Winslet) boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Fabrizio De Rossi (Danny Nucci) win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic’s departure through to its death—on its first and last voyage—on April 15, 1912.
When a millionaire wheeler-dealer (Richard Gere) enters a business contract with a Hollywood hooker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), he loses his heart in the bargain.
(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in ‘The Notebook.’ Photo: New Line Cinema.
An epic love story centered around an older man (James Garner) who reads aloud to a woman with Alzheimer’s (Gena Rowlands). From a faded notebook, the old man’s words bring to life the story about a couple (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths.
Bruce Willis in ‘North’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Eleven-year-old North (Elijah Wood) has had it with his parents (Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus). They are always busy with their careers and don’t give North the attention he needs, so he files a lawsuit against them. The judge rules that North should either find new parents or return to his own parents within two months. Thus North starts off on a journey around the world to find parents that really care about him.
Jennifer Aniston in ‘Rumor Has It’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Sarah Huttinger’s (Jennifer Aniston) return home with her fiance convinces her that the sedate, proper, country-club lifestyle of her family isn’t for her – and that maybe the Huttinger family isn’t even hers – as she uncovers secrets that suggest the Huttingers are neither sedate nor proper.
(L to R) James Marsden and Woody Harrelson in ‘Shock and Awe’. Photo: Vertical Entertainment.
A group of journalists covering George Bush‘s planned invasion of Iraq in 2003 are skeptical of the presidents claim that Saddam Hussein has “weapons of mass destruction.”
(L to R) Diane Keaton and Michael Douglas in ‘And So It Goes’. Photo: Castle Rock Entertainment.
Nobody likes self-centered realtor Oren Little (Michael Douglas), and he prefers it that way. He’s deliberately mean to anyone who crosses his path and wants nothing more than to sell one final house and retire. His life turns upside-down when his estranged son drops off a granddaughter he never knew existed. Suddenly left in charge of her and with no idea how to take care of a child, he pawns the girl off on his neighbor, Leah (Diane Keaton) — but he eventually learns how to open his heart.
Nick Robinson in ‘Being Charlie’. Photo: Castle Rock Entertainment.
Charlie (Nick Robinson) is a troublesome 18-year-old who breaks out of a youth drug treatment clinic, but when he returns home to Los Angeles, he’s given an intervention by his parents and forced to go to an adult rehab. There, he meets a beautiful but troubled girl, Eva (Morgan Saylor), and is forced to battle with drugs, elusive love and divided parents.
(L to R) Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘The Story of Us’, Photo: Universal Pictures.
After 15 years of marriage, Katie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her husband, Ben (Bruce Willis), have grown apart. While they keep up the facade of having a contented marriage, mostly to not worry their children, they aren’t happy together and argue frequently. While the kids are away at camp, Katie and Ben decide to separate and try to reassess their relationship to see if they should stay together or split up for good.
(L to R) Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson in ‘Alex & Emma’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Writer Alex Sheldon (Luke Wilson) must finish his novel within a month. If he doesn’t, he won’t get paid. And, if that happens, angry Mafia types to whom he owes money will come looking for him. In order to expedite things, Alex hires typist Emma Dinsmore (Kate Hudson) and begins dictating his novel. The book is about a doomed love affair between a character similar to Alex and a character named Polina Delacroix. But, as Alex falls for Emma, his work takes a different turn.
Morgan Freeman in ‘The Magic of Belle Isle’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.
In an effort to tap into his original talent, a wheelchair-bound author (Morgan Freeman) moves to a rural town, where he befriends a single mother (Virginia Madsen) and her three kids, who help reignite his passion for writing.
A scene from ‘Flipped’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
When Juli (Madeline Carroll) meets Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) in the second grade, she knows it’s true love. After spending six years trying to convince Bryce the same, she’s ready to give up – until he starts to reconsider.
(L to R) Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, and Christopher Guest in Bleecker Street’s ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’. Credit: Bleecker Street / Kyle Kaplan.
The now estranged bandmates of Spinal Tap are forced to reunite for one final concert, hoping it will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock ‘n’ roll.
(L to R) Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in ‘The Bucket List’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor.
(L to R) Whoopi Goldbreg and Alec Baldwin in ‘Ghosts of Mississippi’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
A Mississippi district attorney and the widow of Medgar Evers (Whoopi Goldberg) struggle to bring a white supremacist (James Woods) to justice for the 1963 murder of the civil rights leader.
Albert Brooks in ‘Albert Brooks: Defending My Life’. Photo: HBO.
Reiner profiles Albert Brooks, comedic legend, acclaimed filmmaker, talented character actor and a lifelong friend, who Reiner first met in their high school drama club.
(L to R) John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga in ‘The Sure Thing’. Photo: Embassy Films Associates.
Gib (John Cusack), a beer-guzzling slob, and Alison (Daphne Zuniga), an uptight Ivy-Leaguer, are an unlikely duo stuck together on a cross-country trip during Christmas break. At first they get on each other’s nerves but, as time passes, they find their divergent natures complement each other. Now they need to realize what they’ve already found before it’s too late.
(L to R) Michael Douglas and Martin Sheen in ‘The American President’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), one of the world’s most powerful men, can have anything he wants — and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd’s attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.
(L to R) Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell and Corey Feldman in ‘Stand by Me’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie (Will Wheaton), Vern (Jerry O’Connell), Chris (River Phoenix) and Teddy (Corey Feldman) encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys’ adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.
Kathy Bates in ‘Misery’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by a nurse (Kathy Bates) who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.
(L to R) Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Sex always gets in the way of friendships between men and women. At least, that’s what Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) believes. So when Harry meets Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) and a deep friendship blossoms between them, Harry’s determined not to let his attraction to Sally destroy it. But when a night of weakness ends in a morning of panic, can the pair avoid succumbing to Harry’s fears by remaining friends and admitting they just might be the perfect match for each other?
(L to R) Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean in ‘This Is Spinal Tap.’ Photo: Embassy Pictures.
“This Is Spinal Tap” shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.
(L to R) Cary Elwes and Robin Wright in ‘The Princess Bride’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and the dashing Westley (Cary Elwes) must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen (Christopher Guest), murderous princes (Chris Sarandon), Sicilians (Wallace Shawn) and rodents of unusual size. But even death can’t stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
Tom Cruise in ‘A Few Good Men’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore), are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson).
(L to R) Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner in Bleecker Street’s ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’. Credit: Bleecker Street / Kyle Kaplan.
Preview:
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, have been found dead at their home.
Reiner was a noted director and actor.
His work includes ‘Misery,’ ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally…’
Rob Reiner, the American filmmaker whose humane wit and classical storytelling helped define modern Hollywood comedy and drama, was found dead on Sunday at the age of 78. The cause has not yet been officially revealed.
(L to R) Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, Carroll O’Connor and Sally Struthers in ‘All in the Family’. Photo: Sony Pictures Television,
Born March 6, 1947, in New York City, Reiner was raised inside the machinery of American entertainment. The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner and actress Estelle Reiner, he grew up absorbing the rhythms of humor, performance, and timing almost by osmosis.
He first became a household name as an actor, playing the opinionated, self-assured Mike “Meathead” Stivic on ‘All in the Family.’ The role made him a cultural lightning rod in the 1970s — but behind the scenes, Reiner was already preparing for a different kind of authorship.
Rob Reiner: Films and Creative Reach
(L to R) Kathy Bates and James Caan in director Rob Reiner’s ‘Misery’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Reiner’s directorial debut, ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ announced a filmmaker with a rare gift for satire — one sharp enough to skewer ego and absurdity without cruelty. What followed was one of the most astonishing runs in modern American cinema.
With ‘Stand by Me,’ he captured childhood with aching tenderness. ‘The Princess Bride’ became a timeless fairy tale, balancing irony and sincerity with effortless grace. ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ redefined the romantic comedy, pairing adult intelligence with emotional vulnerability.
Reiner refused to be boxed into a single genre. He pivoted to psychological horror with Misery, courtroom drama with ‘A Few Good Men,’ and political movies like ‘The American President,’ each time bringing a classical sense of structure and character-driven storytelling.
(L to R) Rob Reiner and Christopher Guest in ‘This Is Spinal Tap.’ Photo: Embassy Pictures.
Beyond filmmaking, Reiner has remained an outspoken civic presence, unafraid to align his art with his convictions. His work often grapples with power, responsibility, and the cost of silence — themes that echo his own engagement with social and political discourse.
He has also been a tireless advocate for creative collaboration, frequently crediting writers, actors, and crew as equal architects of his films’ success. In an industry increasingly dominated by spectacle, Reiner’s reverence for story has only grown more pronounced.
Rob Reiner: Legacy
Jack Nicholson in director Rob Reiner’s ‘A Few Good Men.’ Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Rob Reiner’s legacy is not defined by a single masterpiece but by an extraordinary consistency of craft. Few directors have moved so fluidly between comedy, romance, horror, and drama — fewer still have done so while leaving behind films that feel deeply personal and universally beloved.
Reiner was found dead at home alongside his wife, Michele. The couple is survived by their children, Jake, Nick and Romy.
(L to R) Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner in Bleecker Street’s ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’. Credit: Bleecker Street / Kyle Kaplan.
Movies and TV Featuring or Directed by Rob Reiner:
Following last year’s decent if unspectacular return to Oscar standard behavior, the 2025 ceremony was one heralded with some trepidation. There was a new host (comedian and talk show veteran Conan O’Brien), the need to pay tribute to Los Angeles in the wake of the devastating wildfires and speculation as to whether many of the categories would break the way they have in other awards shows.
As it turned out, it was a giant night for one movie which, while it had certainly been seen as a major contender, hadn’t been performing that way elsewhere. Some history was made and while the speeches had a political flavor at times, the show itself largely eschewed politics (beyond one smart gag about a certain sitting president and his attitude to Russia).
All said and done, despite a hefty running time (three hours and 45 minutes all told), this year’s Academy Awards is likely to be seen as largely a success. Read on for more of our thoughts…
Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the long-running stage musical may only have picked up a couple of trophies on the night (more on one of them below), but following a middling montage celebrating movies set in Los Angeles, the movie’s stars, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, kicked off the show properly with a blast of nostalgia and then smart use of ‘Wicked’s standout song.
The pair began with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” before segueing into “Defying Gravity” and the stylish presentation combined with powerhouse pipes proved to be just the right mix of celebration and spectacle.
There were the usual concerns in some quarters when Conan O’Brien was announced as this year’s Oscars host –– would he be too intellectual for audiences, was he enough of a “name”? As it turns out, he might just have scored a regular gig (assuming he wants this much pressure every year). Because by all estimations, he was a stellar emcee for the night.
Opening with a ‘Substance’ gag that was fairly expected but still played well, O’Brien’s monologue set the right tone: witty, entertaining and as usual, full of his trademark self-deprecating humor.
From threatening long-winded speeches with ‘Conclave’ star John Lithgow looking sad and disappointed to ejecting a tracksuit-clad, cheery Adam Sandler from the audience, he was assured and calm.
There were also solid gags about Timothée Chalamet’s yellow suit and bike safety, and a funny bit about promising to show stars’ early headshots if they rambled (Chalamet again, with an ultrasound image).
Later in the show there was the crack at Trump via a mention of ‘Anora’ (“I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian”) and a promise that the show was not made using A.I. (“We would never do that; we used child labor — hey, they’re still people!”)
6kPq40od
Yet despite a funny musical number (featuring a dancing Deadpool and a ‘Dune’ sandworm on piano) about not wasting the audience’s time, the show still ran very long, though that was more on the producers than the host. Which bring us to…
Perhaps the most egregious example of padding was the choice of the tribute to the music of James Bond. Introduced by former ‘Die Another Day’ star Halle Berry, it was a mishmash of performance art (Margaret Qualley showing off her well-honed dancing abilities) and karaoke night for the likes of Doja Cat and Lisa from Blackpink.
It’s a little ironic that the celebration of the venerable espionage franchise comes just as it has been fully swallowed up its corporate overlords at Amazon.
Also given special memorial treatment was music icon Quincy Jones, but despite a classy intro from Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, the choice of “Ease on Down the Road” from ‘The Wiz’ was a vaguely confounding one.
Still, if the opening montage fell flat, the respect for First Responders (who have been more a staple of recent award shows than Karla Sofía Gascón) worked much better. Initially seeming like a now-traditional wave-and-accept-applause moment, O’Brien and his writing team turned it around by having fire officers and others read out jokes he thought were too mean, including LAFD Captain Eric Scott kicking off the bit with, “well, our hearts go out to all of those who have lost their homes… and I’m talking about the producers of ‘Joker 2.’ ”
If last year was all about big-budget blockbusters with “Barbenheimer,” 2025 was the year indies struck back.
Sean Baker’s ‘Anora,’ whose combined budget ($6 million) and box office ($40.9 million worldwide) would barely cover some of the salaries for some of the giant movies, went on to take five statuettes, including Best Picture, Best Director for Baker (who also scored Best Original Screenplay and Editing) and Mikey Madison named Best Actress.
mF6ytgKq5I0FWjBWzwNvH2
Baker became the first person since Walt Disney in 1954 to win four Oscars in one night (and the first for one movie they have personally directed), and showed that the Academy was ready to root for the little guys again.
Madison’s win was something of a surprise itself –– while she’d been going toe-to-toe with ‘The Substance’ star Demi Moore all awards season –– there had been a narrative of Moore’s legacy forming around the Best Actress gong. Yet it was Madison who ended up taking the stage for a teary, heartfelt speech.
Madison wasn’t the only winner to express her feelings. While the Oscar stage is no stranger to strong emotion, there was the usual blend of politics and heart-string plucking.
Baker used his various triumphs as a combined rallying call to support movies big and small and for seeing films in theaters in this age of shrinking windows and streaming dominance.
Best Documentary Feature ‘No Other Land’s Palestinian co-director Basel Adra called for an end to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, while his Israeli collaborator Yuval Abraham insisted that there can be peaceful solution to the war in Gaza that honors both Palestinian and Israeli people, adding that “the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path. Can’t you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe and Basel’s people can be truly free?”
There were shoutouts to sex workers and immigrant children, while Team ‘Brutalist’ (especially composer Daniel Blumberg) seemed surprised and overawed by their wins, giving real, nervy speeches.
Kieran Culkin accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Supporting Role during the live ABC Telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
And then there was the comedic speech of the night, with predicted Best Supporting Actor winner, ‘A Real Pain’s Kieran Culkin proving once more to be anything but on stage. He was enthusiastic and funny, and got further laughs by pointing out to his wife, Jazz Charton that they’d talked about having more children after his Emmy win, and that she’d mentioned she’d only consider a fourth child if he won an Oscar. Whoops!
Culkin wrapped up his moment in the spotlight with:
“You remember that, honey? You do? Then, I just have this to say to you, Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith. No pressure. I love you. I’m really sorry I did this again. And let’s get crackin’ on those kids. What do you say? I love you!”
Best reaction to that? Culkin’s former ‘Succession’ co-star J. Smith Cameron, who played the long-suffering Gerri Kellman to his foul/motormouthed Roman Roy, offering the perfect tweet:
For the most part this year, the presenters did not embarrass themselves and the bits were relatively painless.
We got Ben Stiller slowly being swallowed by scenery to introduce Best Production Design, June Squibb admitting she’s being played by ‘Nosferatu’ star Bill Skarsgård in prosthetics whenever she’s at an event and Robert Downey Jr. following Conan’s comedic lead and then going sentimentally honest handing out Best Supporting Actor.
Some awards, such as Best Costume Design were presented by the stars of the nominees’ movies, and that proved to be a mixed bag, since they worked on an emotional level, but tended to drag a little. Thank goodness then, for John “I love a roomy cassock” Lithgow and ‘Wicked’s Bowen Yang bringing the funny.
A highlight? Rock icon Mick Jagger taking the stage to present Best Original Song, full of jokes about how Bob Dylan was asked to do his job first (which was true; the Academy offered the subject of ‘A Complete Unknown’ to host and perform, and he turned them down).
Was this the start of a stealth campaign to get Jagger a belated, throwback Oscar for ‘Freejack’? Your guess is as good as ours. And our guess is, “maybe?”
Sean Baker wasn’t the only filmmaker making history on Oscar night. ‘Wicked’ costume maestro Paul Tazewell became the first black person to win his category, making emotional note of the fact.
And while we all knew she would scoop her trophy (despite, er, being much more a lead than a supporting turn), Zoe Saldaña was gracious in victory and was clearly moved by becoming the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar as one of two for ‘Emilia Pérez.’
‘Flow’ surprised in the Animated Feature category, and became the first Latvian Oscar winner. “Ball’s in your court, Estonia,” quipped O’Brien after the team left the stage.
Proving that stars don’t have to just recreate classic scenes for Super Bowl commercials, ‘When Harry met Sally’ leads Billy Crystal (no stranger to Oscar hosting, he quipped “I used to work here,” following Ryan’s question of how long ago with “nine tuxedos…”) and Meg Ryan came on stage to give out Best Picture.
They were a classy, classic wrap to a successful event, which ended with ‘Anora’s Best Picture triumph.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer, director and actress Meg Ryan, as well as actor David Duchovny about their work on ‘What Happens Later.’
They discussed their new movie, Ryan’s writing process, the themes they both wanted to explore, Duchovny’s experience sharing all his scenes with Ryan and working so closely with his director, how Ryan planned her shots with cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek, and shooting the final dance sequence.
(L to R) David Duchovny and Meg Ryan in Bleecker Street’s ‘What Happens Later.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.
Moviefone: To begin with, Meg, can you talk about developing the screenplay for the film, and what were some of the themes as a director you were excited to explore with this movie?
Meg Ryan: The perspective of two people looking back on their future that they didn’t have together. I thought that was just this mature perspective on two people trying to understand a life lived without one another. I thought that was just an interesting perspective to tell the story from the road not taken. Then they had this opportunity to go back and figure it out. They’re significant, obviously in one another’s lives because of this heartbreak and that they end up being able to be grateful about that.
David Duchovny in Bleecker Street’s ‘What Happens Later.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.
MF: David, as an actor, what were some of the themes that you were excited to explore on screen with this role?
David Duchovny: What I liked is that after they split up back in the day, they split up for reasons about one another that turned out to be incorrect. So, in a way, they went, and they lived their entire lives on these false assumptions about one another or pushing against something. “Oh, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to do this.” Then you come back 25 years later and you’re like, “Oh my God. I structured my whole life around a misperception in many ways.”
(L to R) David Duchovny and Meg Ryan in Bleecker Street’s ‘What Happens Later.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.
MF: David, you share pretty much all your scenes in the movie with Meg, who is also the director. What was it like for you to be in a project where you are only acting opposite one other actor, who also happens to be the filmmaker?
DD: I don’t think I’ve worked with an actor who was directing before. That’s a good question. I don’t think I have. But that aside also, I’ve never done as much work in a movie with just one other actor. I can’t think of any other movie that is just one other actor. So, I just consider myself lucky on both counts to have Meg as a performer, just a great living, breathing, organically reacting person, actress, honest, truthful, funny, and all those things. But also, as a director, just really nurturing, confidence building, freeing, perceptive, gentle, and smart. I ran out of adjectives. I ran out of words.
(L to R) Cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek and director Meg Ryan on the set of ‘What Happens Later.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.
MF: Many of the scenes in the movie play out in long masters without much cutting in between, allowing the performances to really playout and resonate with the audience. Meg, can you talk about setting up those shots and working with cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek?
MR: I got there about five or six weeks before David got there, and the DP was there the entire time. We shot listed everything as best we could. We were very prepared so that we could throw it all away when the performers get there and different things take over, but you had that in your back pocket. So, a lot of the conversation was about how we’re going to marry these locations and then how the magical reality would progress. That had to do with reflections and all kinds of things. The airport voice, all kinds of things that ended up contributing to that. But Bartosz Nalazek is from the Polish Avant Garde Theater School, and I think he just did a beautiful job. We didn’t have a lot of money, so what we had to do is figure out how to really take things away. So, after we shot, and we were in the color part of the post-production, we took away as many monikers as we could. Many things like gate numbers, advertising and all that stuff just kept getting simplified and eliminated, changing the color of the background, keeping the palette all the same, all that stuff to contribute to the progressive stillness and enchantment of this environment.
(L to R) Meg Ryan and David Duchovny in in Bleecker Street’s ‘What Happens Later.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.
MF: David, as an actor, was it freeing to work in that way?
DD: For me as an actor in those shots where she’s letting the scope of the place, because we were shooting in an airport, which is huge and open, and we were shooting in a museum, which is huge, open and beautiful. She allowed me as an actor to exist in these long takes, which you never get to do. Sometimes it’s good that you don’t get to do it, but we were on top of it and we were really playing against one another very well and organically, I thought. You see it, and it’s not created by the editor, it’s created by Meg and I on the day in that space.
(L to R) David Duchovny and Meg Ryan in Bleecker Street’s ‘What Happens Later.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.
MF: Finally, Meg, can you talk about shooting the dance sequence?
MR: Even just the dance sequence, just the two of us were alone in this giant room. The camera was across a lake in another building and there was maybe a big helium balloon that lit that place, and they would just say, “Go.” Then the music would start and we would just dance. It was the last night we were shooting. So, the freedom of that, I loved that so much, and you can feel it. In fact, I have a friend who saw the movie, and that’s the part where she just couldn’t stop crying.
9sCwtgwOwWNxsK7M5iGgT7
What is the plot of ‘What Happens Later’?
The film follows two exes (Meg Ryan and David Duchovny) who, after bumping into each other when their flights get delayed due to a snowstorm, spend the night at the airport reliving their past.
One of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time is now 30 years old. “When Harry Met Sally” is a terrific reminder that the best rom-coms are truly timeless. Celebrate this anniversary with some fun trivia about the making of this modern love story.
1. Both director Rob Reiner and writer Nora Ephron drew from their own personal lives while making the film. Ephron based Sally on herself and several friends, while Reiner’s struggle with his divorce influenced the portrayal of Harry.
2. Reiner has a cameo in the film during the New Year’s Eve scene. He’s the unseen person announcing that the new year is happening in ten seconds.
Columbia Pictures
3. Ephron originally envisioned the movie’s title as “When They Met.” Other potential titles included “Boy Meets Girl,” “Just Friends” and “Words of Love.”
5. Katz’s Deli still pays tribute to the film’s most famous scene by displaying a sign that reads “Where Harry met Sally… hope you have what she had!”
Columbia Pictures
6. That fake orgasm scene was added to the movie on the fly after it was decided Sally needed more to talk about in the deli. Meg Ryan chose the topic of conversation and Billy Crystal came up with the line, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
7. It took no fewer than 60 takes to pull off the scene where the four characters are talking on the phone simultaneously.
Columbia Pictures
8. Harry can be seen the Stephen King novel “Misery” in one scene. Ironically, Reiner went on to direct the film adaptation after completing “When Harry Met Sally.”
9. The scenes featuring couples relating how they met were performed by actors, but the material itself was taken from real-life testimonials Reiner collected.
