The awards season is drawing to a close. Finally. As always, its the prestigious pre-finale: the Oscars.
As we get keyed up for Leonardo’s long-deserving win (yes, he will win), I wanted to review the main contenders and give my two cents as to the show’s wins and snubs. My personal predictions. And although my colleague wrote a post on the subject not long ago, I’m going to veer away from the #OscarsSoWhite debate. Let’s focus on the gold at the end of the tunnel here.
The 88th Annual Bob Hope Masochism did not fall short of good selections this season. The past few years have been, in my opinion, weak. I’ve worked at seeing a healthy number of the films that are filling up the meaty categories (specifically the Big Five), and I can only imagine the nights the voters have been tossing and turning in their beds, weighing whether to go chrome or let Alejandro win for a second time in a row. Let’s veer away from the subtleties and say what’s really on our minds–more specifically, mine.
Original Score: Ennio Morricone for The Hateful Eight. After five previous nominations in the category, it is almost certain he is taking home gold this year. He has won all the other major movie awards, including the Golden Globe. Pushing 90 years old, his biggest competition will be John Williams for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But I’d wager that even after the honorary award in 2007, the Academy will grant him a well-deserving win.
Animated Feature: Inside Out, directed by Pete Doctor and Ronnie del Carmen. Although the award has only been around for fifteen years, Pixar has managed to steal 7 statuettes, and I’d wager they are going to go for 8 this year. If for by some reason they don’t, I could see Anomalisa winning, mainly for the purpose that it’s Charlie Kaufman trying his hand at stop-motion. I mean…who would have thunk it?
Best Original Screenplay: Spotlight. This film is one of the biggest Oscar buzzes this year, and I firmly believe they will not go home without at least one award to show for it. If not them, I’m going to side with Inside Out nabbing it for their quirky, unique premise of a story. Then again, we might, might, might find Ex Machina winning.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Room. Same reason as with Original. I don’t see Room going home empty handed. If not Room, it’ll go to The Big Short. Possibly Carol.
Best Supporting Actress: This category is the one I struggle with the most. Any of them could win, really. Due to the Golden Globe win last month, I’ll put my vote in for Kate Winslet in Steve Jobs. If not her, maybe Rooney Mara for Carol.
Best Supporting Actor. Sylvester Stallone for Creed. I’m more than confident he’ll win this year. I would be fine if Tom Hardy won for The Revenant. Small chance the Academy will recognize Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies, though. They are capable of those backhanded slaps to the face…
Best Actress: Brie Larson.
Best Actor: There will be riots on Hollywood Boulevard if Leonardo DiCaprio goes home without his much-anticipated Oscar. I don’t know if I would personally categorize his performance of Hugh Glass as his best, but it certainly merits an Oscar for his exceptional work over the last twenty-plus years. By some small chance he is so severely snubbed, I could see Matt Damon accepting the award and saying: “I had my money on Leo.”
Best Director: These are the game changers. It’s a toss up between Alejandro Inarritu and George Miller for The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road, respectively. Both films have snagged the most nominations this year, so you would think one of the two would go home with the big ones. But the Oscars have come out of left field with totally different wins. To Tom McCarthy and Adam McKay are not totally out of consideration. But I’m going to suspect the Australian action director, Miller will win.
Best Picture: The Revenant. It’ll come down to that, or Mad Max: Fury Road. Possibly Spotlight, once again depending on how the Academy is set on judging this season. But it’ll look nice on the morning-after newstream that Leo helped bring home his Best Actor trophy and Best Picture of the year.
I’ll be tuning in to ABC at 7:00pm on February 28th. Those of you who would like to follow my Oscar feed via Twitter, here’s the account to find me by: mrmorganhauer. Lot of developments will happen over the course of that much anticipated evening. Looking forward to it.
Who do you think will win? Who do you think deserves to win? Where do you think I went wrong? Please shout out and let me know what you think.
Saved at the Movies 