We are a week and a half away from the 2016 Academy Awards. This year’s Oscars are as confusing as I can remember from recent years. Best Picture continues to scratch heads, while Best Actor seems to be a lock. Here’s an in-depth look and my Oscar predictions for the main categories.
Best Picture
Nominees: ‘The Big Short,’ ‘Bridge of Spies,’ ‘Brooklyn,’ ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ ‘Room,’ ‘The Martian,’ ‘The Revenant,’ ‘Spotlight’
This could be the category that’s the most hard to predict. Three movies have a real shot to win it with one dark horse. “Spotlight” seems to have the edge from all the love it’s gotten from previous awards shows, but “The Big Short” and “The Revenant” have gained serious momentum as well. We have to look at it as what does the movie mean, rather the enjoyment had from watching it. “Spotlight” is based on a true story about the abuse of children by the Catholic Church’s priests and the team that unveiled the story from the Boston Globe, which means a lot. It was, personally, the best film of 2015. “The Big Short” was about the housing market crash, which is important, and witty comedy was added to it and made viewers feel smart. “The Revenant” was just a great, powerful film that was based on a true story which featured some of the best cinematography that I can remember. The other movie that had momentum at first, which has lost some of its fire is “Mad Max: Fury Road.” It had excellent visual storytelling and was the most fun I’ve had in a theater in a long time. I just don’t think it has a chance anymore.
Will Win: ‘Spotlight’
Chance: ‘The Big Short,’ ‘The Revenant’
Best Actor
Nominees: Leonardo DiCaprio (‘The Revenant’), Michael Fassbender (‘Steve Jobs’), Bryan Cranston (‘Trumbo’), Matt Damon (‘The Martian’), Eddie Redmayne (‘The Danish Girl’)
This category is the biggest lock of the 2016 Oscars. I have no doubt Leonardo DiCaprio will finally win his first Oscar for Best Actor. His performance was great, but it also has to do with the competition. I can’t see anyone taking the gold away from him. Plus, he already has all the momentum in the world. So, go ahead and put the big bucks on the novelty bet section, you’ll get the payout.
Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Chance: Leonardo DiCaprio
Best Actress
Nominees: Cate Blanchett (‘Carol’), Brie Larson (‘Room’), Jennifer Lawrence (‘Joy’), Charlotte Rampling (’45 Years’), Saoirse Ronan (‘Brooklyn’)
The Best Actress race is really between Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan. Larson was wonderful in “Room” and has won a considerable amount of awards so far with her performance. I would’ve liked to see more love for Cate Blanchett for her work in “Carol.” Ronan was remarkable in “Brooklyn” and I’m very excited for her to get the support she’s received so far. I believe Larson takes the gold here.
Will Win: Brie Larson
Chance: Saoirse Ronan
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Christian Bale (‘The Big Short’), Tom Hardy (‘The Revenant’), Mark Ruffalo (‘Spotlight’), Mark Rylance (‘Bridge of Spies’), Sylvester Stallone (‘Creed’)
This one might qualify to have a “should win” asterisk mark. People believe giving Sylvester Stallone the award is the right thing to do but believe Mark Rylance deserves it more. Christian Bale should be replaced with Steve Carell here for I believe he was more impressive. Mark Ruffalo proved his amazing talent again in “Spotlight.” It seems as if everything is leaning towards Stallone though for another Oscar for Rocky.
Will Win: Sylvester Stallone
Chance: Mark Rylance
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Jennifer Jason Leigh (‘The Hateful Eight’), Rooney Mara (‘Carol’), Rachel McAdams (‘Spotlight’), Alicia Vikander (‘The Danish Girl’), Kate Winslet (‘Steve Jobs’)
It’s another battle between two for Best Supporting Actress, just like for Best Actress. This time, it’s between Alicia Vikander and Kate Winslet. It’s really hard to say who’s going to win. Vikander had two wonderful performances this year, but the Oscar is for her work in “The Danish Girl,” which very easily could’ve been switched for “Ex Machina.” Winslet was great in “Steve Jobs,” but I don’t think it was quite enough.
Will Win: Alicia Vikander
Chance: Kate Winslet
Best Director
Nominees: George Miller (‘Mad Max: Fury Road’), Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu (‘The Revenant’), Tom McCarthy (‘Spotlight’), Adam McKay (‘The Big Short’), Lenny Abrahamson (‘Room’)
Does George Miller win for arguably the most exciting movie of the year “Mad Max: Fury Road” or does Alejandro Iñárritu win his second in a row for “The Revenant?” This is the real story line here and it’s difficult to say who will win because both have won multiple times during the pre-Oscars award shows already. It’s a true 50/50 shot. “Fury Road” is as close to a masterpiece as an action movie can get. But, I think the Academy will lean the other way.
Will Win: Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu
Chance: George Miller
Best Cinematography
Nominees: John Seale (‘Mad Max: Fury Road’), Roger Deakins (‘Sicario’), Emmanuel Lubezki (‘The Revenant’), Ed Lachman (‘Carol’), Robert Richardson (‘The Hateful Eight’)
What a year for beautifully shot movies. “The Revenant” was shot with predominately natural light, which is super impressive with such harsh conditions. “Carol” was astonishingly beautiful featuring brilliant colors. I really loved the way “Fury Road” looked, as well as “Sicario.” I think it’s really down to two names, but I could absolutely see two others with a surprise victory. The race is really between Emmanuel Lubezki and John Seale, with Ed Lachman and Roger Deakins with a possible upset. Lubezki gets the hat trick here.
Will Win: Emmanuel Lubezki
Chance: John Seale
Who do you think takes home the gold in these categories? Any upsets in the making?
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