The 2025 Oscars are shaping up to be one weird, depressing night

nypost.com:

no bueno for the ceremony, which has seen its ratings cut in half over a cruel decade of cord-cutting and disinterest.Too bad, because last year things were looking up with “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.” Big hits, big stars, real emotional investment from movie fans.This award season, hobbled by the 2023 Hollywood strikes that delayed production and whole projects, is a total about-face from that.Most pundits can barely agree on more than a few films that will be nominated. “Anora,” “Conclave,” “Emila Perez” (starring Selena Gomez), “Dune: Part Two” and “The Brutalist” are pretty safe bets, but there are five more slots for some dumb reason.Consider that by Nov.

3, 2023, we’d already seen every eventual Best Picture nominee at either a festival or normal movie theater, and there was a general consensus on what would be honored.Everybody knew that “Oppenheimer,” which grossed nearly $1 billion, would probably win.

And it was becoming clear that “Barbie” ($1.4 billion) would be in the mix.Late addition juggernauts are not uncommon. “Titanic” hit theaters on Dec.

19, 1997, and “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” started its run on Dec. 17, 2003.But nothing like them — not even close — is on the way.