S Poddar
The 2025 Critics Choice Awards turned out to be a night of glitter, glamour, and warm victories, all headed by Demi Moore. Having just won a Golden Globe in The Substance, a harrowing exploration into the tough realities of getting old in Hollywood, she collected her second win for Best Actress of the year. Her performance as a fading Oscar winner who turns to a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself has struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, cementing her status as a frontrunner for the upcoming Oscars. As she accepted her award at the ceremony in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Moore reflected on her journey with palpable emotion.
“This has been such a wild ride.”. When I started this journey on this film, I could never have imagined being here,” the 62-year-old actress shared. “This is so far beyond anything I could have hoped for.” Her words struck a chord deep within, leaving a message of hope for all those still traveling their own roads. “For anybody out there who is still on their journey, who is still struggling to find their way.”. Because it hasn’t happened, doesn’t mean that it isn’t happening. Dreams do come true. Moore’s co-star, Margaret Qualley, was visibly moved as she hugged the actress upon her win. The film itself had a stellar night, with Coralie Fargeat, the visionary behind The Substance, taking home the Best Original Screenplay award. The film also received recognition for its exceptional hair and makeup, further cementing its place as a standout of the year.
The evening was by no means exclusively about Moore. The Critics Choice Awards were really a celebration of the broad tapestry of film and television talent. Anora, this poignant story about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, walked off with the Best Picture statuette, while the best acting ensemble of the year turned out to be in the thrall of Conclave, a thriller featuring powerhouse performances by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini.
The winner of Best Actor was another Golden Globe winner and Oscar favourite: Adrien Brody for his riveting performance as a Hungarian-Jewish architect in The Brutalist. His acceptance speech was a moment of quiet triumph, reflecting the depth of his performance. The other big winners were Zoe Saldana, who shone brightly as best supporting actress in Emilia Perez, and Kieran Culkin, for his turn in A Real Pain.
Another big winner of the night was Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language musical thriller in which a Mexican drug lord is undergoing a gender transition. The film was honoured as Best Foreign Language Film, and its haunting song El Mal, performed by Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Camille Dalmais, won Best Song. Despite the critical acclaim for the film, it has faced recent controversy following the surfacing of old social media posts from Gascon that targeted Islam and George Floyd.
On the lighter side, the blockbuster musical adaptation Wicked swept three awards, including Best Director for John M. Chu. The comedy category saw a tie, with Deadpool & Wolverine and A Real Pain sharing the Best Comedy prize. Actor Ryan Reynolds of Deadpool & Wolverine took to Instagram to celebrate the win, humorously acknowledging the tie and congratulating the team behind A Real Pain.
The ceremony, hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler, wasn’t without its moments of levity.
Handler’s opening monologue included a cheeky nod to the recent controversy involving Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. “I want to acknowledge that we’ve been through a lot lately, not just here in Los Angeles, but our entire country,” Handler quipped. “Waking up every day, not knowing what news we are going to hear that will disappoint or horrify us. So, it is important in times like these to have a distraction. And that’s why I want to personally extend my gratitude. to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Thank you for providing us with that distraction. I’m grateful. I think we’re all grateful.” In the television categories, historical drama Shogun dominated, winning Best Drama and three of the four acting awards for stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Moeka Hoshi, and Tadanobu Asano. Hacks was named Best Comedy Series, with Jean Smart earning Best Comedy Actress, while Baby Reindeer took home Best Limited Series, and Jessica Gunning was honoured as Best Supporting Actress.
The Critics Choice Awards, which had been postponed in January due to the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles, took place last Friday, 8 February 2025. It was a night of resilience, one not only for the industry but for the city as well, because the stars gathered together to celebrate their achievements. For on this night, the power of storytelling came alive and the spirit of Hollywood was remembered.
For Demi Moore, it was not just an evening of being awarded but a culmination of decades of hard work and the dreams coming true. Standing on that stage, trophy in hand, her words reverberated far beyond the glittering room: “Dreams do come true.” And for one night, at least, they certainly did.
