As the Academy Awards rapidly approach, everyone is wondering and waiting to find out who the big winners will be.
This year’s movies such as “The Revenant,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and “Spotlight” are clashing it out for the night’s big awards, and the Best Picture race is still up for anyone’s taking.
For some, the most exiting award will be for Best Actor, in which Leonardo DiCaprio might finally hoist the statuette for his role in “The Revenant.”
It has been an interesting nominee selection this year with the controversial lack of diversity among the nominees which will spur some much needed change within the Academy itself. So, who will score big at the 88th Academy Awards? Look no further, check out my guide to who will be leaving Hollywood Sunday night with the gold.
Best Picture
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
And the Oscar goes to…The Revenant. This epic revenge tale of one man’s struggle with survival showcases some of the most cinematically intense scenes I have ever witnessed on the big screen. If you are ever having a bad night, watch this movie because you will realize how little your problems are watching Leo sleep naked inside a horse carcass. This award is still up for grabs if Alejandro G. Iñárritu (dir. The Revenant) wins Best Director, Best Picture might go to the SAG Award winning cast of Spotlight or the post-apocalyptic action adventure Mad Max: Fury Road.
Best Director
Adam McKay, The Big Short
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant
Lenny Abrahamson, Room
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
And the Oscar goes to… Alejandro G. Iñárritu. For years it was looked at as the director who won Best Picture most likely should win the Directing award as well. However, more recently that hasn’t been the case. In 2012, Argo took home best picture while Ang Lee won Directing for Life of Pi. The following year, 12 Years a Slave received Best Picture, while Gravity’s Alfonzo Cuáron won Best Director. In this case, Iñárritu wins regardless and takes home directing for the second year in a row.
Best Actor
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Matt Damon, The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
And the Oscar goes to…Leonardo DiCaprio. Fifth time is the charm for Leo. There is no way that it can’t be him: I mean seriously if he loses you will be able to hear him proclaim, “What more do you want from me!?” If somehow he does come out empty-handed, I can see Twitter being bombarded with “Leo losing” memes the next morning.
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
And the Oscar goes to…Brie Larson. WARNING: if you are claustrophobic Room will make you so very uncomfortable like it did for me. I found myself pausing the movie just to take a break from the anxiety this film created. The mainstream buzz of her performance leads me to believe she will soon be the next Jennifer Lawrence of the industry. Wrap it up, this award is set in stone!
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
And the Oscar goes to…Sylvester Stallone. This is his first time being nominated since we saw him in the first Rocky in 1976; Stallone has rejuvenated a character with new life and it has paid off. There is a close race for this award however, and one that featured one of the biggest snubs in recent awards. Beasts of No Nation actor, Idris Elba, gave one of the greatest performances I have seen in the past few years and yet, no nomination. Check out the movie on Netflix and see for yourself his remarkable performance.
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
And the Oscar goes to…Alicia Vikander. It was a break-out year for her in which she stared in Best Picture nominated,The Danish Girl, a sci-fi thriller,Ex-Machina, and the summer blockbuster The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Kate Winslet is a very close second because the Academy really does love her to death but for me, Vikander for the win.
And here is the rest:
Animated Feature Film: Inside Out
Cinematography: Mad Max: Fury Road
Visual Effects: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Costume Design: Carol
Makeup and Hair Styling: The Revenant
Documentary Feature: Amy
Documentary Short: Body Team 12
Sound Mixing: The Revenant
Sound Editing: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Film Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road
Original Song: “Til It Happens to You,” The Hunting Ground
Production Design: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Score: Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
Animated Short: World of Tomorrow
Live Action Short: Ave Maria
Check out the entire list of nominees to make your own predictions and tune into the 88th Academy Awards tomorrow night, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. on ABC.
