Not long to go now, so here is the last in my series of special pre-Oscars posts. Here I’ll be looking at the main categories and giving my predictions. I’m going to outline what I think is the most likely to win, but also which one I would like to win.
You can check out my ranking of this year’s Best Picture nominees here, and my ranking of the Best Picture winners from the last 10 years here.
Which films do you think will take home the top prizes this year? Let me know in the comments below!
Original Screenplay
Nominees: Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (Bridge of Spies), Alex Garland (Ex Machina), Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley (Inside Out), Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), Jonathan Herman & Andrea Berloff (Straight Outta Compton).
Most Likely to Win: Having picked up the award at the BAFTAs, and with an outside shot at the Best Picture win, I think Spotlight has got this one in the bag.
My Pick: I love all of these (apart from Bridge of Spies), but my pick goes to Spotlight. The script is absolutely magnificent, and the driving force behind this film along with the wonderful ensemble cast performance. Straight Outta Compton has been massively overlooked in this years awards, and whilst it is great, it can’t compete with Spotlight.
Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: Charles Randoplh & Adam McKay (The Big Short), Nicky Hornby (Brooklyn), Phyllis Nagy (Carol), Drew Goddard (The Martian), Emma Donoghue (Room).
Most Likely to Win: The Big Short is a big awards favourite, and probably the most likely to take this one home, but it’s got some stiff competition, and this category is wide open.
My Pick: I’d love Room to win this one. With the novel’s author also penning the script, it is one of the most faithful book to film adaptations you’re ever going to find. It really maintains the childlike innocence in the narrative and absolutely deserves to win.
Visual Effects
Nominees: Ex Machina, Mad Max: Fury Road, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Martian, The Revenant.
Most Likely to Win: This is a really tough category, but with hardly any other nominations in other categories, this could be the one that The Force Awakens wins, but I think it’s probably going to go to Mad Max.
My Pick: Obviously I have huge Star Wars bias, so that is always going to be my pick, but I’d love to see Mad Max win anything so either of those and I’m happy!
Production Design
Nominees: Bridge of Spies, The Danish Girl, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant.
Most Likely to Win: Got to be Mad Max for this one! The world created is so beautiful in its brutality and completely draws you in from the start, despite the lack of set up.
My Pick: Mad Max. Always.
Music (Original Score)
Nominees: Thomas Newman (Bridge of Spies), Carter Burwell (Carol), Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight), Jóhann Jóhannsson (Sicario), John Williams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens).
Most Likely to Win: Ennio Morricone’s score for The Hateful Eight is wonderful, and seems the most likely to win.
My Pick: I don’t like picking against John Williams, but I absolutely adored the Sicario soundtrack. The tension it creates in it’s simplicity is staggering, and is undoubtedly the underdog pick in this category up against some real heavyweights, but would be thoroughly deserving. Everyone loves the underdog!
Makeup and Hairstyling
Nominees: Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin (Mad Max: Fury Road), Love Larson and Eva von Bahr (The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared), Siân Grigg, Duncan Jarman and Robert Pandini (The Revenant).
Most Likely to Win: I think this is between Mad Max and The Revenant, and I think the Academy will probably follow suit with the BAFTAs and pick Mad Max.
My Pick: Sticking with the favourite and picking Mad Max, although the work on The Revenant was equally great.
Film Editing
Nominees: The Big Short, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Spotlight, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Most Likely to Win: The editing work in Mad Max is nothing short of magnificent. Seriously, just watch the opening 10 minutes and that’ll be enough to convince you that this deserves to win.
My Pick: Has to be Mad Max, I see no other option here!
Directing
Nominees: Adam McKay (The Big Short), George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road), Alejandro G. Iñárritu (The Revenant), Lenny Abrahamson (Room), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight).
Most Likely to Win: One of the big ones, and I think this is Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s to lose for The Revenant.
My Pick: The things Iñárritu is able to achieve are mind-blowing and I think he’s set to win this for the second year running.
Costume Design
Nominees: Sandy Powell (Carol), Sandy Powell (Cinderella), Paco Delgado (The Danish Girl), Jenny Beavan (Mad Max: Fury Road), Jacqueline West (The Revenant).
Most Likely to Win: The costumes for The Danish Girl were undoubtedly beautiful, and it would be a popular Academy pick for this one.
My Pick: Absolutely my favourite in this category was Carol! The clear distinction between the two looks of the leading ladies did a lot for character development, and the costumes are stunning. After being snubbed in some of the other categories, it would be great to see it win for this one.
Cinematography
Nominees: Ed Lachman (Carol), Robert Richardson (The Hateful Eight), John Seale (Mad Max: Fury Road), Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant), Roger Deakins (Sicario).
Most Likely to Win: Low key my favourite category in any awards show; I just love a pretty film! This category is ridiculously competitive this year, but I think the Academy will go for the obvious choice and give it to Emmanuel Lubezki for The Revenant. Lubezki is gold when it comes to cinematography, and this would be his third win in as many years. Wowsers.
My Pick: #DeakinsOrRiot. Initially I was okay with someone else winning this category, but after repeated viewings of Sicario, and after watching some more of Roger Deakins’ amazing work, I think I’m going to break things if someone else wins. It is absolutely criminal that he has never won an Oscar, and he is undoubtedly one of the finest cinematographers ever. Come on Roger, this year is your year!
Animated Feature Film
Nominees: Anomalisa, Boy & The World, Inside Out, Shaun the Sheep Movie, When Marnie Was There.
Most Likely to Win: I think Inside Out probably has this one, although there’s plenty of whisperings that Anomalisa could cause a massive upset. After being snubbed in the Best Picture category, I think Inside Out has to win this one.
My Pick: Inside Out would be my pick ALL DAY. It’s inching it’s way ever higher up my Pixar list, and is even just outside my top 10 films ever. It is absolutely perfect, and the best film Pixar have made in ages. Has to win, otherwise I might cry!
Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees: Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Rooney Mara (Carol), Rachel McAdams (Spotlight), Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs).
Most Likely to Win: So this category is an absolute sh*tshow this year, and not because any of them are bad or undeserving, but because The Academy simply cannot get it right when choosing who is a lead and who is a support. Alicia Vikander has as much screentime as Eddie Redmayne and should be in the lead category, Rachel McAdams is part of an ensemble cast, and finally Rooney Mara is arguably more of a lead than Cate Blanchett, but yet she finds herself here rather than in the lead category. Phew, now I have that out of my system, I think Alicia Vikander is highly likely to take this home. Arguably putting in a better performance than Eddie Redmayne does (my opinion!), she has huge emotional range and depth, and it’s a very Oscar-y film!
My Pick: Tough call, but I absolutely loved Rooney Mara’s performance in Carol, so she gets my vote!
Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees: Christian Bale (The Big Short), Tom Hardy (The Revenant), Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Sylvester Stallone (Creed).
Most Likely to Win: Despite possibly being the least well-known name on this list, I think Mark Rylance is probably the Academy’s favourite for this award. He is easily the best thing about Bridge of Spies and whilst not the most deserving in this category in my opinion, he seems like the favourite currently.
My Pick: Apart from that one shouty clip the use in the nominations reel, Mark Ruffalo gives a quiet, subdued, and wonderful performance in Spotlight, and is easily the best in his career. Stallone is a very popular choice as well, and because of the lack of Creed nominations, I’d be happy if he won as well.
Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees: Cate Blanchett, (Carol), Brie Larson (Room), Jennifer Lawrence (Joy), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn).
Most Likely to Win: Brie Larson absolutely nails the emotionally complex lead role in Room, and has wonderful chemistry with the outstanding Jacob Tremblay who plays her son Jack. Saoirse Ronan is great in Brooklyn also, and the consistently good Jennifer Lawrence is the best thing about Joy, but Larson has to be the favourite here.
My Pick: As soon as I saw Room I knew this was Brie Larson’s award. Her performance is stunning and I’d love her to win this.
Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees: Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Matt Damon (The Martian), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl).
Most Likely to Win: Is this even a question?! Prepare for the internet to break either way, Leonardo DiCaprio is taking this home.
My Pick: Whilst I loved Fassbender’s performance, no one deserves this performance more than Leo. Ignoring the much-talked about hardships he went through when filming The Revenant, the things he is able to achieve with so little dialogue are absolutely staggering.
Best Picture
Nominees: The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room, Spotlight.
Most Likely to Win: I’ll be thoroughly surprised if anything other than The Revenant wins this, and it certainly is a deserving pick in a very, very competitive category.
My Pick: I’ll eat my hat if Mad Max wins, but it is great it has received recognition. My pick goes to Spotlight; in my opinion a perfect film. Whilst The Revenant is the hot favourite, I think Spotlight stands a really good outside chance, and might just cause a well-deserved upset!
Sarah Saw a Movie 
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