This year around all the nominations in the Best Picture category were decent in their own way, but a valid argument does arise; regardless of the movies not being mediocre, most of them weren’t great enough to be part of the line-up
Here’s my ranking of eight films vying for the Best Picture Oscar next month along with their chances at winning
8
Brooklyn [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x2xonq7[/embed] Brooklyn is incredibly well-executed
It is charming, well-acted and easy to understand
It has all the trappings of a Best Picture nominee
Despite these factors, it has to be the worst film nominated because for all the craftsmanship and gorgeous period aesthetic, it comes across as painfully conventional and clichéd
It just isn’t nearly as good as any of its competitors
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning Brooklyn has a good shot at winning a couple of Oscars for its wonderful production and costume design as well as a slight chance at Best Adapted Screenplay for Nick Hornby
It may also be able to bag Best Actress for Saoirse Ronan but an Oscar for Best Picture seems extremely improbable
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] 7
Room [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x30spru[/embed] Room is half a great movie
The first half of the film features some of the most powerful cinematic moments produced in 2015
Performances from Brie Larson and newcomer Jacob Tremblay are astonishingly great
Unfortunately, everything that follows afterwards feels disjointed and contrived and lessens almost all the impact the film had managed to build up earlier
Despite this setback, the movie is worth watching for the two fantastic central performances
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning Best Actress for Brie Larson feels like a definite lock since she has won nearly every acting award leading up to the Oscars and has been a front-runner for some time
Best Adapted Screenplay for Emma Donoghue who adapted her own book for the screen, but I wouldn’t bet on Room winning Best Picture
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] 6
Spotlight [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x36ygbd[/embed] Tom McCarthy’s ode to investigative journalism emerged as one of the most riveting and important films of the year
It is a subdued and restrained film, but at the same time it is extremely engaging and powerful
A terrific ensemble cast led by Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and John Slattery makes the movie worth a watch
They have delivered captivating performances but the lack of much needed greatness holds Spotlight back
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning Spotlight was the front-runner for winning Best Picture since September; unfortunately the film’s Oscar campaign has fizzled out lately
It still has a decent chance at winning top prize, but the front-runner status is no more
Best Original Screenplay for Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer seems like a definite possibility
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] 5
Bridge of Spies [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x2xxxmv[/embed] Bridge of Spies has allowed Steven Spielberg to return to the prestige period-picture genre, which he has grown fond of lately, keeping in mind films such as War Horse, Lincoln and Munich
The result is an immaculately crafted courtroom drama cum espionage thriller in the form of Bridge of Spies
Now, the film is definitely flawed
It is covered in a layer of jingoism and schmaltz, but it is easy to look past the flaws because the film is genuinely compelling and engrossing
Not to forget, performances by Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance are truly wonderful which makes Bridge of Spies consistently engaging, if not always captivating
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning While Bridge of Spies received a handful of nominations, a win seems unlikely
Mark Rylance has the best chance of winning among all the nominees, but he too comes in at a distant third in the Best Supporting Actor category
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] 4
The Big Short [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x37jlf7[/embed] The Big Short could quite possibly be the most entertaining film made about finance
It focuses on the 2008 financial crisis with pin-point accuracy
Writer/director Adam McKay, whose resume includes comedies such as The Other Guys and The Anchorman movies, has delivered what I feel could be his best work so far, thanks to great casting with the likes of Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt
The subject-matter is undeniably complex but Adam McKay, through his sharply funny screenplay and exceedingly unconventional film-making techniques, keeps the film engaging throughout
The end result is a smart, enthralling and riveting tale of greed and power
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning Adam McKay and Charles Randolph’s screenplay, adapted from Michael Lewis’s book should take home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay if Brooklyn or Room don’t manage an upset
Best Picture seems like a long-shot but keeping in mind the film’s recent win at the Producer’s Guild Awards, it certainly isn’t impossible
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] 3
The Martian [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x2taepi[/embed] After years of making one dud after another, Ridley Scott has finally returned to form through a genre he has always excelled in
Anchored by a charming and entertaining central performance by Matt Damon, The Martian has emerged as one of his best works in quite some time
It is a wonderfully optimistic film which, despite brimming with tension and suspense, it never forgets to be a funny and is a straight-up enjoyable picture
Drew Goddard’s smart screenplay is full of some of the most memorable and quotable lines of the year
It is visually outstanding and the most ‘feel-good’ movie of the year
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning Even though The Martian bagged seven nominations, its chances of winning any Oscar range from slim to none
Ridley Scott was considered to be a major contender in the Best Director category but was unfortunately snubbed
The films best shots come under technical categories such as sound design and visual effects
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] 2
The Revenant [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x2yeml6[/embed] It was only last year that I found myself being absolutely floored by Alejandro González Iñárritu’s brilliance in the form of Birdman
One year later, Iñárritu has returned with a film that not only challenges Birdman’s level of greatness, but also its level of success
The Revenant is an immersive, haunting and jaw-dropping survival turned revenge tale
Leonardo DiCaprio has delivered the most committed and challenging performance of his career and is complimented by a menacing and show-stealing Tom Hardy
It is undoubtedly one of the most brutal, unflinching and starkly beautiful films of the year which quite simply exemplifies the power of cinema
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning First things first, Leonardo DiCaprio is definitely winning Best Actor, there’s simply no way he can’t
Tom Hardy could win Best Supporting Actor for his turn as the villainous Fitzgerald
If The Revenant does win Best Picture, it will be the first time a film directed by the same director will win two years in a row
The Revenant nabbed 12 nominations, the most nominations by any film and it has a great chance at a number of wins such as, Best Sound, Best Makeup, Best Cinematography and arguably the best one at winning Best Picture
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] 1
Mad Max: Fury Road [embed width="620"]http://www
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com/video/x22ay54_mad-max-fury-road-trailer_shortfilms[/embed] There were a lot of great films this year, but no film came close to matching the sheer ferocity and dynamism of Mad Max: Fury Road
George Miller brings new life to his long dormant franchise in the best way imaginable
This is a film which is thrilling, exhilarating, breath taking and exquisitely made
There’s almost a measure of controlled chaos to the entire film, which, along with its use practical effects, not only sets it apart from modern-day blockbusters, but stands as something they should all strive to be
Fury Road is an action behemoth, a visual spectacle and a work of art
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] Chances at winning Fury Road was nominated for 10 Oscars, second to The Revenant and while winning Best Picture seems highly unlikely, the film should dominate most of the technical categories
Wins for Best Visual Effects, Production Design, Sound and Video Editing all seem like sure bets, but the most significant award that Fury Road could take home may be Best Director for George Miller, which he is certainly poised to win
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Screenshot[/caption] So what do you think? Do you agree with my rankings? Let me know in the comments section below
| Date: | 29-Jan-2016 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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