2025 Oscar Nominations

Barry Morrow's "Rain Man" is a film that tells the story of Charlie Babbitt, a self-centered businessman who discovers he has an autistic savant brother, Raymond. The film explores themes of family, acceptance, and the challenges of autism. Dustin Hoffman's performance as Raymond is particularly noteworthy, earning him an Academy Award. The film's emotional depth and its exploration of the complexities of human relationships have made it a classic.

The novel takes place in a remote mountain inn in northernmost Japan during the winter of 1903, where a group of travelers are stranded due to a smallpox epidemic and a raging blizzard. The story revolves around the apprentice who runs the inn and his involvement with mysterious travelers, leading to murder, passion, and intense chases through the snow.

The Sing Sing Files is Dan Slepian’s cinematic account of challenging the broken criminal justice system. The book follows Slepian’s years of prison visits, court hearings, and street reporting that led to a series of powerful Dateline episodes and eventually to the freedom of six innocent men. At the heart of the story is Slepian’s deep and lasting friendship with Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, who aided Slepian in his investigations from his cell in Sing Sing until his own release in 2021. The book is a powerful argument for reckoning and accountability, highlighting the flaws in the justice system and the impact of wrongful convictions on individuals and society.

This would depend on the specific content of the book. Sartre's works often delve into existentialist philosophy, human freedom, and the responsibility that comes with it.

Ken Baker's "Man Made" offers a personal account of his journey with a pituitary tumor. The book details the physical and emotional challenges he faced, including the impact on his libido and overall well-being. Baker's story highlights the often-overlooked psychological effects of hormonal imbalances. He shares his experiences with treatment and recovery, offering hope and insight to others facing similar health issues. The book also explores themes of identity and self-discovery in the context of a significant health crisis.

In this book, Mike Waltz shares his personal experiences and lessons from his time as a Green Beret, advisor at the Pentagon and White House, and as a congressman. He applies the principles of unconventional warfare to leadership and governance, emphasizing traits such as restraint, moral high ground, and resilience. The book is praised by various notable figures for its insightful and inspirational take on leadership and the importance of maintaining a problem-centric mindset.

This book provides a comprehensive and riveting history of the Challenger disaster, which occurred on January 28, 1986. Higginbotham delves into the years leading up to the accident, detailing the ambitions, ingenuity, and political cynicism that undermined the space shuttle program. The narrative follows the seven members of the doomed crew and the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled to get the first shuttle into space. It highlights the ominous warning signs ignored by NASA, the investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers, and the broader context of the space race and its impact on the NASA space program. The book is a masterful blend of human drama and scientific detail, exposing the complex costs of innovation and the fatal compromises made in the pursuit of national prestige.

Directed by Jesse Eisenberg, 'A Real Pain' follows David and Benji, cousins who embark on a week-long road trip to Poland to honor their recently deceased grandmother. The film balances humor and heartbreak as the cousins navigate their differences and confront their family's history, including the Holocaust. The movie features a cast that includes Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, and Jennifer Grey, and it has received praise for its original screenplay and the performances of its leads.

This one-act play, 'I'm Still Here,' is a work by Ramona Baillie that has been performed at several venues including Central Alberta Theatre, New Ideas Festival, and The Arts & Letters Club. The play is part of Baillie's body of work that reflects her expertise in both stage and screen writing.

Anora is the first book in the Elven Princess series by Tessa Escalera. It follows the journey of a 12-year-old elven princess as she navigates the onset of war. The series is designed for middle-grade readers and explores themes of adventure, magic, and personal growth.

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

The Nickel Boys is a powerful and disturbing novel that delves into the horrors of Nickel Academy, a segregated juvenile reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. The story follows Elwood Curtis, a bright and idealistic young man who is falsely accused of stealing a car and sent to Nickel Academy. There, he and his friend Turner navigate the brutal and corrupt environment, marked by physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The novel explores themes of systemic injustice, human perseverance, and the lasting impact of trauma. It alternates between the 1960s and the present, as the dark history of Nickel Academy is uncovered and its survivors come forward to share their experiences.

In 'Wicked', Gregory Maguire delves into the life of Elphaba, the green-skinned girl who becomes the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. The story begins with Elphaba's childhood, marked by her unique appearance and her father's missionary work in Quadling country. As she grows older, Elphaba attends Shiz University, where she meets Galinda, who will later become Glinda. The novel follows Elphaba's journey through her involvement in resistance against the Wizard, her personal struggles, and her eventual transformation into the Wicked Witch. Maguire's narrative explores themes of social class, political oppression, and the nature of evil, creating a rich and vivid world that challenges the traditional view of Oz.

Conclave, written by Lawrence D. Klausner, is a novel that explores themes and settings that were relevant at the time of its publication in 1981. The book is known for its engaging narrative, although specific details about the plot are not widely available. It is a work of fiction that has been cataloged and sold through various bookstores and libraries.