Well everyone it is that time of year again the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have nominated the films as well as music artists, directors, actors, and producers of films that left the biggest impact culturally and influentially on the cinema goers in the year of 2015.
What does this exactly mean?
Do not expect the AMPAS to pick actors, films, writers, and etc., unless they believe that everyone should take notice of this film to be able to learn from and apply the techniques used to make your own film better. AMPAS does not want us to accept mediocrity from mainstream Hollywood. AMPAS wants us to look at films as an art.
If that means the film you loved or actor's performance you like is not selected, then maybe there is a reason. Maybe the voters want you to take notice to an upcomer actor who you should start paying attention to. Maybe there was something so special in an unknown film to the general public everybody needs to see this film.
There are plenty of great films that may have gone by unnoticed unless AMPAS nominated the film for an award. Sling Blade is one of those films that comes to my mind. Sling Blade is a film that I would never of seen, unless the film was nominated in some category and making Billy Bob Thornton into a household name.
We all know the popular films and actors in those films, so sometimes something out of the unknown is always good. If your looking for the popularity contest awards then the Golden Globes is your awards show for films.
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| Harrison Ford in Star Wars Force Awakens |
The complaints
Every year I hear complaints from people and these are the usual complaints.1. Fanboys/Fangirls of certain actors and actresses demanding the actor be nominated for everything that the actor is in who cannot look at the performance of the actor in the film.
Example 1: Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Sure I like the character Hans Solo and the actor Harrison Ford, but how was Ford's performance in the movie. To myself Ford was wooden and did nothing to really get him outside of his zone of comfort.
Example 2: Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful 8. Jackson gave a powerful performance in that film, but did Jackson do enough to act outside what we came to expect from him? No he played himself. I believe Jackson wins the moment he plays a character atypical from his normal persona.
My answer: The Academy is not about pleasing you. The Academy is about introducing you to a new world and nominating actors who went outside of their wheelhouse.
2. AMPAS is not going outside of its way to nominate films, actors, and more from minorities.
Do not get me started here in the past the voters have more than gone out of their way to make sure people of minorities or films about minorities won even if they did not deserve to win. The moves looked so bad that even the average person called them out for these moves.
Example 1: In 2002 Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, and Sidney Poitier won all the big categories for actors that year. Denzel played a role atypical to his usual role so not unexpected. Poitier paved the way for many actors of minorities the lifetime achievement award made sense. Berry's performance is the one that made everyone question. Anyone who had seen Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge! as Satine felt Kidman had this award in the bag.
Example 2: In 2014, AMPAS picked 12 Years a Slave as the best motion picture of the year to be politically correct and to avoid scrutiny. I am not saying 12 Years a Slave is not a great film, but the film was up against Gravity hands down the best true science fiction movie made in years. Year after year AMPAS has shown they have a distinct hatred towards science fiction and animated films when it comes to Best Motion Picture of the year.
My answer: Is yes you may have a point, but to be politically correct AMPAS has more than gone out of its way to make sure people other minorities have been nominated, won, and other films or actors that deserved a win get passed over.
There are many other complaints I could cover, but even one book would not be enough.
The Nominees for the 88th Academy Awards are and my predictions:
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| The Revenant |
For Best picture
Spotlight
The Revenant
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Room
The Martian
My prediction
Off all the films nominated The Revenant would be the easy pick. The Revenant has it all beautiful cinematography in which you could watch the film just for the scenery. Powerhouse performances from Hardy and DiCaprio. To be politically correct a minority for a director. However, Spotlight has a story and the docudrama feel that these voters seem to love and is the dark horse in this competition.
My guess is The Revenant will win, but there is a 20 percent chance of Spotlight winning. Either way both are good films and worthy of seeing.
The Snubs
To me Inside/Out and Straight Outta Compton are the biggest snubs in this category. Inside/Out is an animated film and most likely the reason why left out of this category, but the film grabbed my heart and felt like something fresh and new. Straight Outta Compton the big biopic had it all, but maybe AMPAS hates Rap or left out from being to politically correct from before.
Actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
Matt Damon (The Martian)
Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs)
Bryan Cranston (Trumbo)
Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)
My Prediction
This is the hardest category for me to pick from because the award is down to either DiCaprio or Redmayne. Redmayne pulled off a performance of a lifetime and seems to be the new Daniel Day Lewis or Meryl Streep if he plays a role he is going to be nominated. DiCaprio on the other hand has been nominated plenty of times, but never won. I am going with DiCaprio because I believe they are going to give him this award for his years of service in film, but don't be surprised if Redmayne wins. The dark horse in this bunch is Cranston playing Trumbo.
Snubs
No performance comes to mind that I saw this year from a leading actor fits this category. Maybe Samuel L. Jackson, but he needs to play someone other than Samuel L. Jackson.
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| Lily Tomlin in Grandma |
Actress in a leading role
Brie Larson (Room)
Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)
Cate Blanchett (Carol)
Jennifer Lawrence (Joy)
Charlotte Rampling (45 Years)
My prediction
To be honest this is the category I can't pick because I have never seen these films. So I am going with Jennifer Lawrence since the Globes picked her and Charlotte Rampling as the dark horse because she is the best actress of the bunch in my opinion.
Snubs
To be honest this reward belongs to Lily Tomlin for her performance in Grandma. Lily carries that film on her back and forces everyone around her to elevate their performance. Maybe AMPAS was uncomfortable because the film dealt with abortion and lesbianism. I also think with the number of nominations Mad Max got to not see Charlize Theron nominated is kind of weird.
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| George Miller |
Best director
Alejandro Iñárritu (The Revenant)
George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Tom McCarthy (Spotlight)
Adam McKay (The Big Short)
Lenny Abrahamson (Room)
My prediction
There is no competition Alejandro Iñárrituis the clear winner. The Revenant is a perfect example of film from start to finish you could watch multiple times for multiple reasons and still feel fresh. I could watch the film for the scenery itself one day, the action the next day, and the acting itself the following day. There is no dark horse in this competition.
Snubs
As far as I cam concerned there are no snubs for this category
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| Jennifer Jason Leigh |
Actress in a supporting role
Rooney Mara (Carol)
Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight)
Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)
Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
Rachel McAdams (Spotlight)
My prediction
I am going to go for a long shot here, but Jennifer Jason Leigh just pulled off a career resurrecting performance. To be honest, I saw a side to Jennifer I never knew she had to her before. So Jennifer Jason Leigh for the win.
Snubs
An honorable mention should go to Olivia Cooke for her performance in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. My only guess why she was not nominated is because she plays a dying person on the television show Bates Motel. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is definitely worth a rental.
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| Stallone as Rocky Balboa in Creed |
Actor in a supporting role
Sylvester Stallone (Creed)
Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)
Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight)
Christian Bale (The Big Short)
Tom Hardy (The Revenant)
My Prediction
Like it or not there is no competition for best supporting actor. Stallone is going to win this one hands down whether or not he deserves this award. Stallone is receiving this reward as a lifetime achievement gift for what he has done for the industry. Stallone is a perfect example of a model for actors to follow, if you can't get a role write one for yourself and refuse to give in. Stallone's career was a million to one shot, but he has proven write yourself roles and buy roles that suit your personality and you will be successful. Stallone was years ahead of his time, but Tom Cruise and Adam Sandler are people who followed his model.
Snubs
OShea Jackson Jr should have been nominated for his performance in Straight Outta Compton. My guess the reason of him not being nominated maybe the Academy felt playing his father Ice Cube did not take much.
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| Son of Saul |
Best foreign language film
Son of Saul
Mustang
A War
Embrace of the Serpent
Theeb
My Prediction
No prediction for this category. I have not seen any of these films, but this is why I love AMPAS I now have five films on my list to watch.
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| Inside Out |
Best animated feature film
Inside Out
When Marnie Was There
Anomalisa
Boy and the World
Shaun the Sheep Movie
My Prediction
Inside Out hands down is the winner. Every so many years an animated movie is made that should win best picture, but the Academy refuses to give the big prize to that film. That is why this category was created so films like The Lion King and Wall-E that deserved best picture can walk away with a consolation prize. The sad truth to this category.
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| Ennio Morricone |
Best original score
The Hateful Eight
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Carol
Bridge of Spies
My Prediction
Ennio Morricone for The Hateful Eight. Ennio has never won an Academy Award before for a film in which he scored. Morricone is a legend in the industry and I just can't see AMPAS not giving him the award. Sorry John Williams fans, but Star Wars: The Force Awakens is just not original enough to get the award not to mention Williams already has one of these trophies.
Best adapted screenplay
Carol
The Big Short
Brooklyn
The Martian
Room
My Prediction
AMPAS hates sci-fi films in my opinion when it comes to the highest honor, but this is one honor not too uncommon for a sci-fi film to win so I am going with The Martian.
Best original screenplay
Spotlight
Bridge of Spies
Ex Machina
Straight Outta Compton
Inside Out
My Prediction
Straight Outta Compton wins this category as AMPAS tries to remain politically correct. Don't get me wrong Compton is a great and should of been nominated for Best Picture, but trying to figure out AMPAS's thinking is enough to give anyone a migraine. Don't be surprised if Spotlight wins.
And now to the lesser categories
Best film editing
The Revenant
Mad Max: Fury Road
Spotlight
The Big Short
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
My prediction
Mad Max: Fury Road the film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and this is where a film like Fury Road wins every time.
Best cinematography
The Revenant
Mad Max: Fury Road
Carol
Sicario
The Hateful Eight
My Prediction
The Revenant the competition is not even close.
Snubs
Youth with Michael Caine. I highly urge everyone to watch this film the cinematography is simply breathtaking worth the price of the ticket alone.
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| Mad Max: Fury Road |
Best production design
Mad Max: Fury Road
Bridge of Spies
The Martian
The Danish Girl
The Revenant
My Prediction
Mad Max: Fury Road will win, but The Danish Girl probably deserves it.
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| Mad Max: Fury Road |
Best visual effects
Mad Max: Fury Road
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Revenant
The Martian
Ex Machina
My Prediction
Mad Max: Fury Road a visual thrill fest of a film
Best original song
“Simple Song” (Youth)
“Manta Ray” (Racing Extinction)
“Writing’s on the Wall” (Spectre)
“Til it Happens to You” (The Hunting Ground)
“Earned It” (Fifty Shades of Grey)
My Prediction
Writing's in the Wall
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| Body Team 12 |
Best documentary short subject
Body Team 12
A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
Chau, Beyond the Lines
Lasy Day of Freedom
No Prediction for this category
Best documentary feature
Amy
What Happened, Miss Simone?
The Look of Silence
Cartel Land
Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom
My Prediction
Amy
Best costume design
Carol
Cinderella
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Danish Girl
The Revenant
My Prediction
The Danish Girl, but Carol is the dark horse in this category
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| Star Wars: The Force Awakens |
Best sound mixing
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Bridge of Spies
My Prediction
Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Star Wars has to win category to keep the masses quiet
Best live action short film
Ave Maria
Shok
Day One
Stutterer
Everything Will Be Okay
No Prediction
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| Sanjay's Super Team |
Best animated short film
Sanjay’s Super Team
Bear Story
World of Tomorrow
Prologue
We Can’t Live Without Cosmos
My Prediction
Sanjay's Super Team
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| Immortan Joe in Mad Max: Fury Road |
Best makeup and hairstyling
Mad Max: Fury Road
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared
The Revenant
My Prediction
Mad Max: Fury Road
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| Star Wars: The Force Awakens |
Best sound editing
The Revenant
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
My Prediction
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
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