It’s that time of year again: Hollywood’s finest are picking out their swankiest gowns and smartest suits in the hopes of strolling off the red carpet with a much-coveted Oscar. The 88th annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016. In recognition, Her Campus Bucknell has rated some of our favorite Oscar-nominated films – be sure to check them out in the Best Picture category!
Room
Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
Written by: Emma Donoghue
Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, Sean Bridgers, William H. Macy
Synopsis by Julia Shapiro: “Room” revolves around a mother-son duo, Joy and Jack, and their experience as captives in a cramped, 10-by-10 foot space called Room. Having spent his entire life in Room, five-year-old Jack has no conception of the real world, and Joy struggles to convince him that an infinitely bigger universe exists outside of his own. Thus, when the two finally make their great escape and enter society, both Joy and Jack alike find difficulty adjusting to their new reality.
Review by Julia Shapiro: “Room” is one of those movies that stick with you long after the screen fades to black. The story itself is incredible – Joy and Jack’s extraordinary circumstances feel disturbingly real. However, despite the gravity of the plot, the film never comes across as melodramatic or forced, a triumph that can be attributed to Larson and Tremblay’s performances. Larson effortlessly expresses the psychological and emotional desperation of raising a child in a seemingly hopeless universe, and Tremblay’s childish innocence serves as an unyielding source of light amid the darkness of Room. Philosophical and heartbreaking, harrowing yet remarkably life-affirming, “Room” stands in a league of its own. You’ll definitely need tissues on hand for this one.
Spotlight
Directed by: Tom McCarthy
Written by: Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
Synopsis by Julia Shapiro: Based on actual events, the film Spotlight is named after the Spotlight team, a group of investigative writers who worked for The Boston Globe. Set in 2001, the story follows the team as they try to unravel a string of allegations related to the Catholic Church. A large number of priests in the Boston area are accused of sexually abusing children in the Church, and it’s up to Spotlight to bring these well-kept secrets into the light.
Review by Kathleen McGivern: Spotlight was a raw and gripping film. Seldom does a two-hour film keep my attention for its duration, but Spotlight managed to do so. The acting was spot-on, with Mark Ruffalo well-deserving of his nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film primarily focuses on the reveal of the molestations occurring in the Church. A more comprehensive addition to the plot might have included details on the reporters’ personal lives; the film leaves the audience with only specks of information here. Nevertheless, the intense plotline made for an overall excellent film.
The Big Short
Directed by: Adam McCay
Written by: Charles Randolph and Adam McCay
Starring: Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Brad Pitt
Synopsis by Elizabeth Worthington: Based on a novel and a true story, The Big Short recounts the tale of four men in the financial sector who predicted the bursting of the housing and credit bubble and the subsequent onset of the financial crisis of 2008.
Review by Elizabeth Worthington: While immensely entertaining, The Big Short was a tad melodramatic and sensationalist in my opinion. Audiences likely left the theater with a sudden sense of distrust in the capitalist system, assuming that every powerful person therein is corrupt and greedy. Of course, corruption and greed do exist, but not everywhere, and I don’t find it necessary to create so much suspicion among the public. The movie also completely victimized the homeowners and placed all of the blame on the financial industry. People who bought homes and knew that they would never be able to pay off the mortgage are also partly to blame for the formation of the housing bubble, not just the bankers who approved their loans.
Brooklyn
Directed by: John Crowley
Written by: Nick Hornby
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleason, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters
Synopsis by Molly Farrell: Brooklyn tells the story of Ellis Lacey, a young woman from a small town in Ireland, and her experience moving to America in the 1950s. Ellis’ homesickness is cured when she falls in love with Tony, an Italian man. However, unfortunate circumstances pull Ellis back to Ireland, where she struggles to choose between two countries and the life that she lives in each.
Review by Molly Farrell: I can confidently say that Brooklyn is my new favorite movie – and that takes a lot for me to say. It is not very often that a movie makes me cry, and this one certainly did. Brooklyn is a perfect cultural depiction with a beautiful, unique love story. Watching Ellis find herself and her place in the world was inspiring. The plotline is simple, but the powerful conflicting emotions and surprises makes the movie a must see. It is a sincere and beautiful movie. I highly recommend everyone sees it!