Hello, all my little movie-buffs! It’s that time of year again, our self-appointed national holiday: The Oscars. We get that creative little tingle in our bones, and we just can’t wait to see what this year’s host (Chris Rock) has to say, who will have the most touching acceptance speech, who will wear what and who will win what!
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve watched The Oscars, although now I have a bit more of an understanding and appreciation for them. I always wanted to go—that was the big dream. (Leo, darling, I’m still waiting on that invite. Take your time.) But obviously, that has yet to be the case; so like the rest of you, I drink champagne on my couch and take my guess at who the winner is just before the announcers do.
This year, I decided to watch all of the nominations (nearly) and give you my two cents on who I think the winners will be in (nearly) each category. Spoiler: I’m usually right on the mark.
Best Picture:
Nominees:
"The Big Short"
"Bridge of Spies"
"The Martian"
"The Revenant"
"Brooklyn"
"Mad Max"
"Spotlight"
"Room"
This is a tough one for me because they truly are all spectacular. Obviously, they have to be or they wouldn't have received the nomination. "The Martian" has to be one of my favorite movies of the year. I watched it on a plane and had to remind myself I was in public as I was fist pumping the air when Mark Watney (Matt Damon) had a victory on Mars. I genuinely wanted the movie to be based on a true story so we as Americans could have had that victory together, but then I guess that means some poor man would have been left behind on Mars, and that’s never good.
"The Big Short" was a great movie, but unfortunately for them, they will not be the winners. If they are, I will be quite surprised. "Bridge of Spies," also an amazing movie, but not the winner this year. Tom Hanks does an excellent job, as does Mark Rylance who is up for Actor in a Supporting Role, but I don’t believe it will make the cut considering what it’s up against.
"Mad Max," to my surprise, was unreal. I had low expectations of it going in, but I was gripped the entire movie, which was surprising for a movie with so little dialogue. It’s been a wild year for Tom Hardy, who was also in “The Revenant,” for which he is up for Actor in a Supporting Role.
“Room” was phenomenal; Brie Larson was gripping and had me in tears numerous times.
“Brooklyn” was the one movie in this category that I didn't get to catch this year, although I hear wonderful things, I don’t think they’ll talk home the prize this year. “Spotlight” told a story that mattered with an amazing cast, but I also don’t think they’ll take the prize. My choice for the winner of Best Picture is “The Revenant.” Although I know that with this admittance, Leonardo DiCaprio will be unlikely to win Best Actor, a win he should have had years ago, but I truly do think this movie was the best this year. It was shot in all nearly all natural light, in the elements, which I think is amazing. The images in that movie were unreal, and the acting was phenomenal too; I genuinely thought that Leo might die when he was being attacked by a bear. Everything about this movie hit the mark for me; it was just great film.
Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Bryan Cranston: “Trumbo”
Leonardo DiCaprio: “The Revenant”
Matt Damon: “The Martian”
Michael Fassbender: “Steve Jobs”
Eddie Redmayne: “The Danish Girl”
All of these actors are amazing. I can’t speak for “Trumbo” because that was another movie I missed this year, but I’m a huge fan of Cranston from his days as Walter White. Matt Damon, as you could probably tell from my rant about “The Martian,” blew me away. Well, I can’t say that because he typically does; he’s wonderful. Damon was excellent in this movie; he made an audience laugh at the fact that he was stuck on Mars, something I didn't expect. In fact, Matt Damon won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes, so I guess it’s not that surprising that he made me laugh.
Michael Fassbender was great in “Steve Jobs,” definitely a difference from Ashton Kutcher’s portrayal, but I can’t say a better difference; they both were excellent in their roles.
And then there were two. Leo and Eddie. This is a tough one for me because I am all about Leo, if you couldn't tell already. In fact, I had to be held back the other night at a bar because someone said, "'The Departed' just wasn't that good of a movie.” You must understand their ignorance, but I don't have time to explain it to you. I “ran into” Eddie Redmayne a few years ago in a little bodega in Postiano, Italy. It was right after “Les Miserables” had come out, and I couldn't quite put a name to the face. We ran into him a few more times throughout our trip, and every time I tried to get my family’s attention they were all preoccupied. Finally, when we were at the airport they noticed when Eddie and I shared a little wave to each other as to symbolically say, “Aren’t you the person I keep seeing?” So yes, Eddie Redmayne recognized me; it was probably the top 10 best moments of my life. So, you see how torn I am in my choice here, even though I’m not allowed to be biased.
As hard as it is to say that Leo isn't the winner this year, I truly don’t think he is. I mean he may be, and I hope he does because he truly deserves it, but Eddie was unreal. He really made me believe that he was a woman and it was one of the most beautiful personal journeys I’ve ever seen portrayed on a screen. I was so emotionally invested in this movie and I think it came at such an important time for transgendered people, and you can sense that Eddie feels the weight of that in his performance. Truly, I was surprised this movie wasn't up for Best Picture.
Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Cate Blanchett: “Carol”
Brie Larson: “Room”
Jennifer Lawrence: “Joy”
Charlotte Rampling: “45 Years”
Saoirse Ronan: “Brooklyn”
What amazing women in this category. You already know I didn't see “Brooklyn,” so I can't weigh in on Saoirse's performance; although I heard she was wonderful. I love Jennifer Lawrence, and she was great in “Joy,” but I don't think this is her year. Charlotte Rampling was elegant in her struggle to support her husband of 45 years, who just discovered his old lover who had been frozen in time (kind've a weird plot for a movie now that I write it out). Brie Larson was spectacular and I'm honestly torn between her and Cate Blanchett for this nomination. I always like the underdog and since this is Larson's first nomination, I would be super excited for her. Additionally, she deserves it. She was spectacular, which you already know from my description of “Room.” Cate Blanchett was amazing: what a movie, what a role. She was entirely Carol; I forgot who I was watching on screen. But, since I have to pick one, I'm going to go with Brie Larson; it was not an easy role to play and she completely nailed it.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
Christian Bale: “The Big Short”
Tom Hardy: “The Revenant”
Mark Rylance: “Bridge of Spies”
Sylvester Stallone: “Creed”
Mark Ruffalo: “Spotlight”
OK, I'll speed it up now since I've gotten a little carried away. Christian Bale has to take this one; he was amazing. I'm not entirely sure how he did that thing with his eye and that may be the most impressive part. But he was just so perfectly weirdand brilliant, so I have to give him this one.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
Jennifer Jason Leigh: “The Hateful Eight”
Rooney Mara: “Carol”
Alicia Vikander: “The Danish Girl”
Kate Winslet: “Steve Jobs”
Rachel McAdams: “Spotlight”
Rooney Mara did it for me in this category. Maybe I'm slightly biased because we went to the same high school, but I love her acting and I think she played this role so eloquently, as she usually does.
OK, now
I'll just tell you the rest of the typical favorite categories and my picks for
winner.
Animated Feature Film
Nominees:
“Anomalisa”
“Boy and the World”
“Inside Out”
“When Marnie Was There”
“Shaun the Sheep”
Cinematography
Nominees:
“Carol”
“The Hateful Eight”
“The Revenant”
“Sicario”
“Mad Max”
Directing
Nominees:
“The Big Short”
“Mad Max”
“Spotlight”
“Room”
“The Revenant”
Documentary Feature
Nominees:
“Amy”
“Cartel Land”
“The Look of Silence”
“What Happened, Miss Simone?”
“Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom”
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Nominees:
“The Big Short”
“Brooklyn”
“Room”
“Carol”
“The Martian”
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Nominees:
“Bridge of Spies”
“Ex Machina”
“Inside Out”
“Spotlight”
“Straight Outta Compton”
Enjoy the night! (I hope I'm right.)
