The day is finally here! Our Features Editor, Amy, is bringing you all of her predictions for the 2016 Oscars.
Best Picture
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
Sure, give it to the self-indulgent macho-man movie that looks like it was shot in an Instagram filter. The Revenant seems like the most likely bet for best picture: an uninspiring call for a whitewashed Oscar’s that’s sure to be as uninteresting as it is micro aggressive.
Actor in a Leading Role
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Matt Damon, The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Leonardo DiCaprio is like the Final Destination of Oscar nominees; if we don’t give it to him now, he’ll just keep resurfacing, playing more and more unattractive, “serious awards” in his lifelong quest for an Academy Award. Throwing him the best actor bone is the only way to get hot movie star Leo back on screen, before it’s too late.
Actress in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
As hard as I’m pulling for Carol in any and all categories, Brie Larson’s performance in Room was #haunting.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Tom Hardy should win this award based on zeitgeist-ness alone. He was in three huge movies this year, and is pretty much a lock for best celebrity facial hair of 2016.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
While Jennifer Jason Leigh deserves all the love in the world for being the only woman in a Quentin Tarantino passion project, Alicia Vikander seems to be the frontrunner (lol sorry I didn’t actually watch The Danish Girl, I have a thesis to write!)
Directing
The Big Short
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
Mad Max: Fury Road was definitely extra. I can’t hate on George Miller for doing too much, ‘cause Mad Max was a hundred times more interesting to watch than any other movie that scored a nomination this year.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Big Short
Brooklyn
Carol
The Martian
Room
Giving this category to any movie that isn’t The Big Short would be an injustice. It’s witty, heartfelt, and informative; plus, anyone who thought to write in a role for Selena Gomez in a film about the financial crisis deserves infinite Academy Awards.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Bridge of Spies
Ex Machina
Inside Out
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton
Spotlight! Sry, @ Inside Out, but Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer’s harrowing screenplay is as close as you can get to a shoo-in.