Movie fans and music lovers listen up! The 2025 Oscars had some seriously memorable moments and two big ones are Queen Latifah's awesome tribute to the legend Quincy Jones and the absolutely bonkers Brooklyn mansion that basically stars in the Oscar-winning movie 'Anora'. Let's dive into all the details.
Queen Latifah's Energetic Oscars Tribute to Quincy Jones: 'Ease on Down the Road' Rocks the Dolby Theatre
Get ready for some serious musical royalty. Queen Latifah took the Oscars stage to honor the one and only Quincy Jones who sadly passed away last November. Jones a true icon in music and film was given a special tribute during the ceremony and Latifah totally brought the house down.
Remember 'The Color Purple'? Latifah starred in the recent movie version and Jones produced the original 1985 film. To honor him Latifah performed "Ease on Down the Road" from 'The Wiz' another movie Jones produced back in 1978. It was a high-energy performance with Latifah in a stunning gold dress surrounded by dancers and singers. The crowd in the Dolby Theatre loved it! Stars like Cynthia Erivo and Colman Domingo were seen dancing and getting into the groove. It was a real celebration of Jones' incredible career.
This Oscars tribute came just after the Grammys also honored Jones last month. At the Grammys Will Smith gave a heartfelt introduction and artists like Cynthia Erivo Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monáe performed some of Jones' iconic songs. It's clear everyone in Hollywood wanted to pay their respects to this music and film giant.
Social Media Sounds Off: Was the Quincy Jones Oscars Tribute Good Enough?
While Queen Latifah's performance got the Oscars crowd going some folks online had mixed reactions to the Quincy Jones tribute overall. Some felt that choosing "Ease on Down the Road" a song some people might not know wasn't the best way to showcase Jones' massive impact. They pointed out that Jones has so many famous and popular songs to choose from maybe something more widely recognized would have been better.
Others also noted that the tribute felt a bit short especially compared to other musical segments during the Oscars like the James Bond tribute which was longer and had more performers. Some fans on social media even suggested that the BET Awards might be a better place to give Jones a truly expansive and fitting tribute. It seems like while the intention was good some felt the Oscars tribute could have been even bigger and better to fully honor Quincy Jones' legacy.
From 'Anora' to Reality: Inside the Mind-Blowing Brooklyn Mega-Mansion That Stole Scenes
Okay now let's switch gears and talk about this incredible house from the movie 'Anora' which snagged a bunch of awards at the Oscars including Best Director for Sean Baker. This movie isn't just winning awards it is also making everyone drool over this insane Brooklyn mansion featured in the film.
This place is seriously over-the-top. It’s a 14000-square-foot waterfront mansion in Mill Basin Brooklyn and it is wild. Think marble everywhere mirrors leather walls a huge pool a home theatre you name it. The movie uses this mansion as the home of a Russian oligarch and it is the perfect setting for the story of crazy romance and over-the-top wealth in 'Anora'.
Turns out this mansion is real and it even has a history as wild as the movie itself. It used to belong to Anna Anisimova who was nicknamed "Russia's Paris Hilton". Her billionaire dad bought it back in the 90s and they totally decked it out with all kinds of luxury. The current owner Michael Davidoff actually rented it out for the movie filming and he said he was blown away when he finally saw 'Anora' and realized how perfectly the house fit the film. He even let the cast stay there during filming. Davidoff calls it "the jewel of New York City" and says there is nothing else like it in the five boroughs.
Movie Magic in Mill Basin: Brooklyn's Best Kept Secret Gets its Hollywood Close-Up
Mill Basin Brooklyn might not be the first place you think of for Hollywood glamour but this neighborhood is apparently a hidden gem. It's a waterfront area with huge houses and a mix of people from different backgrounds. Local real estate folks call it Brooklyn's "best-kept secret". Waterfront mansions there can go for serious money but it's still a bit off the beaten path compared to Manhattan.
The 'Anora' mansion though is in a league of its own. It’s this crazy mix of styles with limestone stucco and dark glass that production designers said was a goldmine for the movie. They barely had to change a thing because it was already so perfectly opulent and a little bit surreal. The movie definitely gives you a peek into a world of Brooklyn wealth that most people never get to see and it is all thanks to this over-the-top amazing mansion.
Key Highlights: Oscars Quincy Jones Tribute & 'Anora' Mansion Mania
- Queen Latifah's Oscars Performance: Delivered a high-energy tribute to Quincy Jones performing "Ease on Down the Road".
- Grammys Also Honored Jones: Star-studded tribute at the Grammys included performances and heartfelt words from Will Smith.
- 'Anora' Movie Mansion: Real-life Brooklyn mega-mansion featured in the Oscar-winning film is a major highlight and character itself.
- Mill Basin Brooklyn Spotlight: 'Anora' puts this often-overlooked wealthy Brooklyn neighborhood on the map.
- Mixed Reactions to Oscars Tribute: Some felt the tribute could have been longer and featured more popular Quincy Jones songs.
From Music Legend Tributes to Real Estate Eye Candy: The Oscars Had It All
So the 2025 Oscars gave us a bit of everything from heartfelt musical tributes to a glimpse into the world of crazy rich Brooklyn real estate. Queen Latifah honored Quincy Jones in style even if some fans had opinions on the tribute choices. And 'Anora's' mansion became an unexpected star showing off a side of New York City that is both opulent and a little bit surreal. It's these kinds of moments that make the Oscars so much more than just an awards show it's a snapshot of our culture and what captivates us right now.