Academy Awards Best Picture 2016

August1991 · February 5, 2016

There are 8 Movies:

The Big Short (Brad Pitt)
Bridge of Spies (Steven Spielberg)
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian (Ridley Scott)
The Revenant (Iñárritu)
Room
Spotlight

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So far, I've seen three of these movies. I may eventually see 2 or 3 more.

Since the Academy has opened the nominations to more than 5 movies, it's possible that truly weird or badly made movies (Argos?) can win "Best Picture". This year, there are thankfully only 8 nominees.

Iñárritu? Again? Possible - but haven't seen the movie.
Big Short? No.
Bridge of Spies? No.
Mad Max? No - unless academy voters have lost their mind.
The Martian? Haven't seen, very unlikely, I think.

That leaves:

-Room
-Spotlight
-Brooklyn

I haven't seen Room but understand the project. Brooklyn? It would be another Marty.

Edited February 5, 2016 by August1991

BubberMiley · February 5, 2016

Marty was awesome. A career-making role for Ernest Borgnine.

overthere · February 5, 2016

I have seen all eight, and to be fair would not vote for any of them.

My vote would likely be for Sicario or perhaps The Diary of A Teenage Girl.

Bridge of Spies is not Oscar worthy as Best Picture, though it was not bad. It did have one oustanding performancve though: Mark Rylance whoi is nominated for Supporting Actor. Just a great, subtle, quiet performance by a very fine actor.

cybercoma · February 6, 2016

My vote is for Fury Road.

kimmy · February 6, 2016

I'm biased towards Fury Road, as I completely loved it, as well as because it's the only one of these that I've actually seen. However, it's a certainty that it won't win, if for no other reason than it's the wrong genre. I do intend to see The Martian and The Big Short and maybe The Revenant sooner or later.

-k

Derek 2.0 · February 6, 2016

I'm biased towards Fury Road, as I completely loved it, as well as because it's the only one of these that I've actually seen. However, it's a certainty that it won't win, if for no other reason than it's the wrong genre. I do intend to see The Martian and The Big Short and maybe The Revenant sooner or later.

-k

I'm biased towards Fury Road too......of the others, I've only seen The Revenant and The Big Short.....The Revenant would be a close 2nd, the Big Short was entertaining, but I felt I'd already seen it before (Evil Wall Street etc etc), but I wouldn't be surprised if Bale picked up Best Supporting Actor, if they don't give it to Stallone......Wouldn't surprise me if DiCaprio gets best actor.

I do hope George Miller wins best picture/director for Fury Road though.......visual effects and cinematography should be givens for Fury Road, as its amazing in parts (and uses little CGI), like up there with Lawrence of Arabia in parts.

overthere · February 6, 2016

Sorry, but Fury Road is not remotely in the same league as Lawrence of Arabia in any way.

cybercoma · February 6, 2016

I'm biased towards Fury Road, as I completely loved it, as well as because it's the only one of these that I've actually seen. However, it's a certainty that it won't win, if for no other reason than it's the wrong genre. I do intend to see The Martian and The Big Short and maybe The Revenant sooner or later.

-k

I agree. It's highly unlikely.

drummindiver · February 7, 2016

Just watched Room. Very disturbing. Not best picture quality though. I think the Revenant has a good shot for best pic, director, and actor.

RB · February 8, 2016

I go with the Revenant or The Big Short

Hal 9000 · February 13, 2016

OK, it's a little early but I'm calling it now, "Race" will win best picture next year. I haven't seen any movies yet, but I have seen the trailer so....

WestCoastRunner · February 21, 2016

Best documentary should go to Amy. Very well done with lots of personal footage and a good exploration of her ultimate demise. At times I felt I uncomfortable watching it, thinking that some of this footage Amy would not like to be made public. Her parents come across as in strong denial of her issues. A powerful film.

overthere · February 22, 2016

Best documentary should go to Amy. Very well done with lots of personal footage and a good exploration of her ultimate demise. At times I felt I uncomfortable watching it, thinking that some of this footage Amy would not like to be made public. Her parents come across as in strong denial of her issues. A powerful film.

Amy is a very good and very sad movie.

I knew little of her music beforehand, and confess I can take it or leave it.

But it is still a tragic human tale and deserves consideration.

Another documentary nominee The Look of Silence is on TV tonight, on CBC The Passionate Eye..

August1991 · February 22, 2016

I go with the Revenant or The Big Short

On Skype, a foreign friend recently asked me which movie would win and I quoted you, RB: The Revenant or The Big Short.

RB · February 28, 2016

Have to see the results tonight August1991

The Revenant an epic masterpiece reminded me of Adele's Skyfall - and I don't mean hold your breath and count to 10, the song and presence is much bigger, it carries...

bush_cheney2004 · February 29, 2016

Mad Max: Fury Road doing quite well so far. Go Aussies !

Edited February 29, 2016 by bush_cheney2004

kimmy · February 29, 2016

Mad Max: Fury Road doing quite well so far. Go Aussies !

The technical awards aren't actually about technical excellence, they're consolation prizes for pictures that won't win any of the major awards they're nominated in.

-k

bush_cheney2004 · February 29, 2016

The technical awards aren't actually about technical excellence, they're consolation prizes for pictures that won't win any of the major awards they're nominated in.

OK...I'm sure those awards don't matter at all then. Thanks for clarifying.

August1991 · February 29, 2016

Spotlight and not Brooklyn?

Shoulda known.

bush_cheney2004 · February 29, 2016

The fix was in...send a "message to the Vatican". Liberals...gotta love 'em.

kimmy · February 29, 2016

OK...I'm sure those awards don't matter at all then. Thanks for clarifying.

All the critics I read before the event said that Mad Max would clean up the technical awards, and it's not because they're experts in things like "Production Design" and "Sound Editing", it's because every year these awards get awarded as consolation prizes to movies like Fury Road... good movies that don't have a chance at the major awards for whatever reason.

"Ten nominations? Would seem a shame to send those chaps home empty handed. Here, let's give them a Costume Design award."

By far my favorite movie of 2015, though.

-k

bush_cheney2004 · February 29, 2016

All the critics I read before the event said that Mad Max would clean up the technical awards, and it's not because they're experts in things like "Production Design" and "Sound Editing", it's because every year these awards get awarded as consolation prizes to movies like Fury Road... good movies that don't have a chance at the major awards for whatever reason.

Oh that makes sense....because so many other films also did not win "major awards" they gave most of the unimportant technical stuff to Fury Road.

kimmy · February 29, 2016

Oh that makes sense....because so many other films also did not win "major awards" they gave most of the unimportant technical stuff to Fury Road.

So many other films weren't nominated for 10 Oscars.

-k

bush_cheney2004 · February 29, 2016

So many other films weren't nominated for 10 Oscars.

Spotlight was nominated for six categories, so the theory still doesn't quite work. Congrats to all the nominees and winners.

Edited February 29, 2016 by bush_cheney2004

kimmy · February 29, 2016

Spotlight was nominated for six categories, so the theory still doesn't quite work. Congrats to all the nominees and winners.

Yeah, bot Spotlight was a contender for the "real" awards.

Most of the awards voters are withered old fossils who don't know what "sound editing" is, how it's done, or which of "The Force Awakens" or "Fury Road" had superior sound editing, even if they had watched either of those movies, which is pretty doubtful.

-k