Now that we have gotten the lesser known but equally important Oscar categories out of the way, I think it is time to look at the other categories. These categories are the ones everyone will be talking about by Monday morning.
Best Costume Design:
Not going to win: The Danish Girl
Might contend: Mad Max: Fury Road and The Revenant
Nominees to look for :
Sandy Powell, Carol
Sandy Powell, Cinderella
I believe Sandy Powell will win Best Costume Design, and it will be for Ms. Powell's impressive designs for Carol. I honestly cannot see this award going to another costume designer for this year, as Ms. Powell was excellent last year.
Best Sound Mixing:
Not going to win: The Martian
Might contend: Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Nominee certain to win:
Gary Rydstrom, et al., Bridge Of Spies
At this point in the film industry, Gary Rydstrom may just be the most important and innovative sound engineer today. And clearly Mr. Rydstrom was innovative yet again for his designs used in Bridge Of Spies, particularly in the 5.1 mix I heard in the theater and on Blu-Ray.
Best Original Song:
Not going to win: Simple Song #3, from Youth
Nominees to look for:
The Weeknd, et al., Earned It, from Fifty Shades Of Grey
Anohni Hegarty, et al., Manta Ray, from Racing Extinction
Lady Gaga and Diane Warren, Til It Happens To You, from The Hunting Ground
Sam Smith, et al., The Writing's On The Wall, from Spectre
I happened to like Earned It and Manta Ray, even though their respective movies left much to be desired. Then again, The Weeknd is quite the good singer, and Anohni is someone that will likely get more notice stateside. I happened to like Spectre, and of course Sam Smith is one of the best singers out there today.
None the less, Till It Happens To You happens to be one of Lady Gaga's most impressive songs; to say nothing of it being one of Diane Warren's best too. I expect Gaga's performance to be one of the highlights of the show, as it was last year and most recently at the Grammys. Indeed, Vice President Joe Biden will be introducing her performance in advocacy of the rights of victims of sexual assault. And having seen The Hunting Ground, I am convinced this is the right way to honor the movie with a great song.
Best Documentary Feature:
Not going to win: Amy, Cartel Land, What Happened, Miss Simone?, and Winter On Fire: Ukraine's Fight For Freedom
Nominee certain to win:
Joshua Oppeneimer, et al., The Look Of Silence
Joshua Oppenheimer has brought forth a most amazing documentary that is a perfect companion piece to his 2012 film The Act Of Killing. I was most particularly impressed with the involvement and reporting taken place to expose the darker secrets of the 1965 purge of communists in Indonesia. This documentary will certainly win.
Best Foreign language Film
Not going to win: Embrace Of The Serpent, Theeb, and A War
Nominees to watch:
Danize Gamze Erguven, Mustang
Laszlo Nemes, Son Of Saul
Son Of Saul will win best Foreign Language film this year. It is not even close. A rather innovative debut for Laszlo Nemes which I think will be looked at as one of the defining movies of 2015, and perhaps a defining anti-war movie.
Best Animated Film:
Not going to win: Boy & The World and Shaun The Sheep Movie
Nominees to watch:
Charlie Kaufman, et al., Anomolisa
Pete Docter, et al., Inside Out
Hiromasa Yonebayashi, et al., When Marnie Was There
I still have yet to see Anomolisa, and hope t see it fairly soon. None the less, I thought Inside Out was one of the best films of 2015, and the best Disney and Pixar created in quite some time. Inside Out will in all likelihood be the recipient of a much deserved Oscar. By the way, if you have children; have them see Inside Out with you. It will be beneficial for the young and old.
Best Original Screenplay:
Not going to win: Bridge Of Spies
Might pull off an upset: Straight Outta Compton
Nominees to watch:
Alex Garland, Ex Machina
Pete Docter, et al., Inside Out
Tom McCarthy, et al., Spotlight
I was completely blown away by Tom McCarthy's writing in Spotlight. However, what Pete Docter accomplished with his team in creating Inside Out is astonishing. It resonates to anyone that has seen this movie, and I hope that Inside Out can be a positive influence on anybody that is in a depressive state. Again, I was completely impressed with the very intelligent writing.
Best original Score:
Not going to win: Thomas Newman, Bridge Of Spies
Contenders for the Oscar:
Carter Burwell, Carol
Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
Johann Johannson, Sicario
John Williams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
I have not yet seen The Hateful Eight, yet i did get to hear excerpts from Ennio Morricone's score. It is quite good, and might win the Oscar. I think that my sentimental pick would be John Williams, perhaps the most important composer of his field; apart from Mr. Morricone and Carter Burwell. None the less, the score to any Star Wars movie is of such importance, that without it the movies fall apart. So I am hoping John Williams will win the Oscar; yet I will not be upset if it goes to an equally deserving composer.
Best Cinematography:
Roger Deakins, Sicario
Edward Lachman, Carol
Emmanuel Lubezki, The Revenant
Robert Richardson, The Hateful Eight
John Seale, Mad Max: Fury Road
John Seale quite honestly should win Best Cinematography, in recognition of a most impressive and groundbreaking action-adventure film. None the less, at some point Roger Deakins needs to get his much deserved Oscar. I do wonder if Sicario will be the movie to end the streak. It was shot very well too.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Not going to win: Drew Goddard, The Martian: from the Andy Weir novel.
Contenders for the Oscar:
Adam McKay et al., The Big Short: from the Michael Lewis book.
Nick Hornby, Brooklyn: from the Colm Toibin novel
Carol: adapted from the Patricia Highsmith novel,, initially named The Price Of Salt
Emma Donoghue, Room: adapted from her novel.
All four contenders are worthy of an Oscar. I would like to see Emma Donoghue win this important award, particularly in adapting her own novel to an excellent movie. Truthfuly though, I would hope that Adam McKay and his team win the award for their highly intelligent and multi-layered script of The Big Short.
Best Supporting Actor:
Not going to win: Mark Rylance, Bridge Of Spies
Contenders for the Oscar:
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
I personally would like to see Tom Hardy win Best Supporting Actor. Mr. Hardy's presence in The Revenant was just completely astounding, and he held his own. I also really liked Mark Ruffalo, whom I consider one of the better actors that can be involved with socially conscious films.
Yet, I think Sylvester Stallone will take home the Oscar this year. Creed was one of the more pleasant surprises in 2015: a worthy follow up and an important addendum to the Rocky movies. And Sylvester Stallone did a tremendous role which was surprisingly poignant once more. Indeed in light of Tony Burton (Duke in the Rocky movies) having passed away just recently, I am convinced that Mr. Stallone is going to receive his long deserved Oscar.
Best Supporting Actress:
Not going to win: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl; and Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Contenders for the Oscar:
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Again, I have not seen The Hateful Eight yet; but I do like Jennifer Jason Leigh and would be pleased with her winning. Having mentioned that, I was particularly impressed with Rooney Mara in her role in Carol. In my opinion, this is a stunning role that I would hope gets Ms. Mara an Oscar.
Best Actor:
Not going to win: Bryan Cranston, Trumbo; Matt Damon, The Martian; Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs; and Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl.
Going to win:
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
This is the one virtual lock for the Oscar season this year. Mr. DiCaprio is long deserving of an Oscar, and honestly the competition this year is not as impressive. Yet, Leonardo DiCaprio should prepare for his well deserved gold statue.
Best Actress:
Not going to win: Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Contenders for the Oscar:
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Soairse Ronan, Brooklyn
I have yet to see 45 years, though I do like Charlotte Rampling. Having mentioned that, in a rather tight and impressive category, I think Brie Larson should win Best Actress this year. It was quite revealing and impressive.
Best Director:
Lenny Abrahamson, Room
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, The Revenant
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Adam McKay, The Big Short
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
It would be a ballsy and brave move for George Miller to win the Oscar. I would hope Tom McCarthy gets this Oscar and some much deserved acclaim. Yet, I will not be surprised to see Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu win a second consecutive Best Director Oscar. A.G.I. is one of the most impressive and unique filmmakers of his or any era. The Revenant certainly proves this ideal.
Best Picture:
Not going to win: Steven Spielberg, et al., Bridge Of Spies, and Simon Kinberg and Sir Ridley Scott, et al., The Martian
Could pull off an upset:
Brooklyn
Room
Spotlight
Contending to win it all:
Brad Pitt, et al., The Big Short
George Miller, et al., Mad Max: Fury Road
Arnon Milchan and Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, et al., The Revenant
Once again, the ballsiest and most brave choice would be Mad Max: Fury Road. My personal choice would be Spotlight. None the less, the likely and more interesting Best Picture may be The Revenant. Perhaps AMPAS is awarding Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu The Revenant and from last year Birdman due to the oversight of not honoring 21 Grams and Babel years ago; both of those movies having become modern classics. Having mentioned that, Birdman and The Revenant are likely going to be modern new classics for many years to come.
I note this is last minute. None the less, this is before the show begins. So, now on with the show! My responses to come in a timely manner.
Happy viewing,
Robert
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