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-Best Picture-
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
I had seen all but "Bridge of Spies" by the time the official nominations for Best Picture this year were announced. I have now since seen all eight of these films and I can safely say these are probably the best that The Academy were going to put in this list. *cough* "Creed" and "Straight Outta Compton" *cough* Probably the biggest surprise being that "Mad Max: Fury Road", my personal favorite 2015 film, made the cut, being a pure action film. The rest are really good picks too. These were films non-superhero, animated or Star Wars, that were high on my favorites this past year. "Room" and "Spotlight" landed near the top of my favorites, as they were spectacular story and acting-wise from start to finish. In "Spotlight", Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams were amazing. While in "Room" Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay were perfect. "The Martian" and "The Revenant" had big time performances. Leonardo DiCaprio went all out while Matt Damon carried "The Martian" to way more than what I was expecting. While "The Big Short", "Bridge of Spies" and "Brooklyn" had big time stories headlined by great performances from Christian Bale, Tom Hanks and Saoirse Ronan. I wouldn't be shocked to see any of these actually win, but I the likely candidates for me are "Bridge of Spies," "Spotlight," "Mad Max: Fury Road" or "The Revenant." Also find a place for "Creed" on this list, Academy, it was awesome.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
I had seen all but "Bridge of Spies" by the time the official nominations for Best Picture this year were announced. I have now since seen all eight of these films and I can safely say these are probably the best that The Academy were going to put in this list. *cough* "Creed" and "Straight Outta Compton" *cough* Probably the biggest surprise being that "Mad Max: Fury Road", my personal favorite 2015 film, made the cut, being a pure action film. The rest are really good picks too. These were films non-superhero, animated or Star Wars, that were high on my favorites this past year. "Room" and "Spotlight" landed near the top of my favorites, as they were spectacular story and acting-wise from start to finish. In "Spotlight", Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams were amazing. While in "Room" Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay were perfect. "The Martian" and "The Revenant" had big time performances. Leonardo DiCaprio went all out while Matt Damon carried "The Martian" to way more than what I was expecting. While "The Big Short", "Bridge of Spies" and "Brooklyn" had big time stories headlined by great performances from Christian Bale, Tom Hanks and Saoirse Ronan. I wouldn't be shocked to see any of these actually win, but I the likely candidates for me are "Bridge of Spies," "Spotlight," "Mad Max: Fury Road" or "The Revenant." Also find a place for "Creed" on this list, Academy, it was awesome.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Actor in a Leading Role-
Bryan Cranston (Trumbo)
Matt Damon (The Martian)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs)
Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)
This is a HUGE example of The Academy being out of touch with what I think everyone else is seeing on screen. Trying to force Eddie Redmayne down our throats after half of a good film in "Theory of Everything" from last year. And I'm not sure anyone in the world has actually seen "Trumbo." No offense to Heisenberg himself. The two glaring omissions that would be on my list are Michael B. Jordan, who was spectacular in "Creed." As well as O'Shea Jackson Jr. for his performance in "Straight Outta Compton." Oh, these guys are African-American? Maybe that's why they're not on this list. Michael Fassbender was leagues better than Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs by the way. Even so, I don't think anyone would win over Matt Damon or Leonardo DiCaprio. Damon took a good film in "The Martian," and made it into a enjoyable science fiction action thriller set on Mars. While DiCaprio turned in a performance that made "The Revenant" really good, from only really okay, in my eyes. I think it's finally Leo's year, but I wouldn't be shocked of Damon somehow won.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Actress in a Leading Role-
Cate Blanchett (Carol)
Brie Larson (Room)
Jennifer Lawerence (Joy)
Charlotte Rampling (45 Years)
Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)
I've seen all but "Carol" from this list, but I never wanted to see this in the first place. Everyone loves Cate Blanchett, but I think she's only alright. Maybe it's me being a 25 year old man, and her always being in these deep, long, romantic dramas, that only work for me if I'm in a really adventurous mood. I found Jennifer Lawernce only okay yet again in her annual David O. Russel film with Bradley Cooper. Charlotte Rampling was fine in "45 Years" as well. I'm a the point where I'm not going to watch Oscar-bait simply because it's Oscar-bait. I'm not calling "Carol" Oscar-bait, but there's a lot of bait throughout all these nominations this year, as there is every year. The two big ones though, and I think no one else would have a shot against, are Saoirse Ronan in "Brooklyn" and Brie Larson in "Room." Ronan delivered a great performance of an immigrant leaving her home to come try to make it in America. While Larson delivered a spectacular and emotionally investing performance in "Room" that simply blew me away. I really hope she wins.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
I've seen all but "Carol" from this list, but I never wanted to see this in the first place. Everyone loves Cate Blanchett, but I think she's only alright. Maybe it's me being a 25 year old man, and her always being in these deep, long, romantic dramas, that only work for me if I'm in a really adventurous mood. I found Jennifer Lawernce only okay yet again in her annual David O. Russel film with Bradley Cooper. Charlotte Rampling was fine in "45 Years" as well. I'm a the point where I'm not going to watch Oscar-bait simply because it's Oscar-bait. I'm not calling "Carol" Oscar-bait, but there's a lot of bait throughout all these nominations this year, as there is every year. The two big ones though, and I think no one else would have a shot against, are Saoirse Ronan in "Brooklyn" and Brie Larson in "Room." Ronan delivered a great performance of an immigrant leaving her home to come try to make it in America. While Larson delivered a spectacular and emotionally investing performance in "Room" that simply blew me away. I really hope she wins.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Actor in a Supporting Role-
Christian Bale (The Big Short)
Tom Hardy (The Revenant)
Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight)
Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)
Sylvester Stallone (Creed)
I like everyone here! Everyone had great supporting performances in the films they were nominated for. This shouldn't be a long one for me to type out since I really don't mind seeing anyone from this list win. Kind-of wish that Michael Keaton had been nominated for "Spotlight" too cause everyone in that film was on point. In any event seeing Stallone winning for "Creed" would also be a win for Michael B. Jordan who was, as I stated above, unrightfully snubbed. Mark Rufflao is always awesome and seeing "Spotlight" get love tonight would be pretty sweet.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Actress in a Supporting Role-
Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight)
Rooney Mara (Carol)
Rachel McAdams (Spotlight)
Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)
Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
I've only seen "Spotlight," "The Hateful Eight" and "Steve Jobs." I thought Jennifer Jason Leigh was great in Tarantino's latest film. While I think the whole cast of "Spotlight" deserved nominations in all honesty, and I really would like to see Rachel McAdams take home the gold tonight. Rooney Mara is always fine and "Carol" has a lot of buzz behind it. Kate Winslet, for "Steve Jobs," has been nominated and won awards over the years as well. Plus she was really solid in the film. Go McAdams though, we're not biased here in this preview.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Animated Feature Film-
Anomalisa
Boy and the World
Inside Out
Shaun the Sheep Movie
When Marnie Was There
I love animated films. I grew up with them, as most kids did. I never really grew out of watching them, I more, expanded my horizons. I don't think nowadays you can only be someone who watches Disney or Pixar. You have to watch people making stop motion films like "Anomalisa." You have to, at this point, be watching almost everything that Studio Ghibli puts out, like "When Marnie Was There." Finally, Pixar, is still a force in the world of animated film and is as good as ever. "Inside Out" was my favorite animated film from 2015 and it could arguably be film of the year in some peoples minds. I would be pretty surprised if "Anomalisa" or "When Marnie Was There" beat out "Inside Out." All are worth your time though.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Directing-
The Big Short (Adam McKay)
Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller)
The Revenant (Alejandro G. Iñárritu)
Room (Lenny Abrahamson)
Spotlight (Tom McCarthy)
The director, a lot of the time, is someone who can be emotionally insensitive and seen as almost tyrannical. While more often than not, this is completely true, all the films we ever watch are helmed by one of these men. I think all of the directors of all these nominees were great. But the two that stand out for me are George Miller for the simply dazzling display throughout "Mad Max: Fury Road." His direction and storytelling through film is partly what has gotten Mad Max this far. After last year's "Birdman," Alejandro G. Iñárritu has followed up his surprising "one shot" film, with "The Revenant." A film that has a breathtaking performance, is visually stunning, but in my opinion is lacking in a lot of other places. Though I think it's a big possibility any of these guys take home the big prize, it should be one of these two.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Film Editing-
The Big Short
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It has been said, and pretty much documented as well, that if you're nominated for the Film Editing category, that you'll have an amazing chance to win Best Picture. With the exception of last year's "Birdman," 33 out of the last 34 nominees in Film Editing went on to win the big one. Now obviously it's cool to see Star Wars being nominated, it's probably not going to win. Sorry, Lucas. I could honestly not tell you who is going to take home best picture, so picking between the remaining four here would be a nightmare. I would lean towards, like in my Best Picture picks, "Mad Max: Fury Road" or "The Revenant" to win here, and likely, go on to win the big one.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
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The director, a lot of the time, is someone who can be emotionally insensitive and seen as almost tyrannical. While more often than not, this is completely true, all the films we ever watch are helmed by one of these men. I think all of the directors of all these nominees were great. But the two that stand out for me are George Miller for the simply dazzling display throughout "Mad Max: Fury Road." His direction and storytelling through film is partly what has gotten Mad Max this far. After last year's "Birdman," Alejandro G. Iñárritu has followed up his surprising "one shot" film, with "The Revenant." A film that has a breathtaking performance, is visually stunning, but in my opinion is lacking in a lot of other places. Though I think it's a big possibility any of these guys take home the big prize, it should be one of these two.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
-Film Editing-
The Big Short
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It has been said, and pretty much documented as well, that if you're nominated for the Film Editing category, that you'll have an amazing chance to win Best Picture. With the exception of last year's "Birdman," 33 out of the last 34 nominees in Film Editing went on to win the big one. Now obviously it's cool to see Star Wars being nominated, it's probably not going to win. Sorry, Lucas. I could honestly not tell you who is going to take home best picture, so picking between the remaining four here would be a nightmare. I would lean towards, like in my Best Picture picks, "Mad Max: Fury Road" or "The Revenant" to win here, and likely, go on to win the big one.
Who I Want to Win
Who Will Win
