Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Oscar Nominations - Predictions for 1977...I mean 2016


'70s franchise films featuring Rocky Balboa, Mad Max and Han Solo factor into most of Thursday's nominations. It's been the most unpredictable award season in decades. The SAG, Critics and Golden Globe awards have differed dramatically, but bet on The Academy to act its own way— and bet on these picks below:

BEST PICTURE
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton

Spoiler: Star Wars: The Force Awakens




DIRECTOR
Todd Haynes, Carol
Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant
Thomas McCarthy, Spotlight
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott, The Martian

Spoiler: McKay, The Big Short


ACTOR
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Matt Damon, The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Michael B. Jordan, Creed

Spoiler: Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs



ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Spoiler: Jennifer Lawrence, Joy Alicia Vikander bumps to lead for The Danish Girl



SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Spoiler: Paul Dano, Love & Mercy or Benicio Del Toro, Sicario




SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
 Rooney Mara, Carol
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Alicia Vikander, Ex-Machina
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Spoiler: Jane Fonda, Youth



ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Big Short
Brooklyn
Carol
The Martian
Steve Jobs

Spoiler: Room



ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Bridge of Spies
Ex Machina
The Hateful Eight
Inside Out
Spotlight

Spoiler: Straight Outta Compton or Sicario or Son of Saul


CINEMATOGRAPHY
Bridge of Spies
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario

Spoiler: The Martian


VISUAL EFFECTS
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Walk
The Martian

Spoiler: The Revenant


COSTUME DESIGN
Brooklyn
Carol
The Danish Girl
Cinderella
Mad Max: Fury Road

Spoiler: The Hateful Eight


FILM EDITING
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant

Spoiler: Spotlight


MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mr. Holmes
The Revenant

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Bridge of Spies
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

SOUND EDITING
Bridge of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens


SOUND MIXING
Inside Out
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

VISUAL EFFECTS
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Walk

  
ANIMATED
Anomalisa
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
The Peanuts Movie
Shaun The Sheep Movie

Spoiler: The Prophet


DOCUMENTARY
Amy
Best of Enemies
Cartel Land
Going Clear
The Look Of Silence

Spoilers: The Hunting Ground, Listen To Me Marlon


FOREIGN LANGUAGE
The Brand New Testament, Belgium
Labyrinth of Lies, Germany
Mustang, Frande
Son Of Saul, Hungary
Viva, Ireland

Spoiler: Theeb, Jordan

ORIGINAL SCORE
Carol
Bridge of Spies
The Hateful Eight
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Spoiler: The Danish Girl


ORIGINAL SONG
See You Again, Furious 7
Til It Happens To You, The Hunting Ground  (Lady Gaga)
Simple Song #3, Youth
Flashlight, Pitch Perfect
Earned It, Fifty Shades

Spoiler: Love Me Like You Do, Fifty Shades












Friday, January 8, 2016

Golden Globe Predictions 2016


The Hollywood Foreign Press is as unpredictable as host Ricky Gervais, but I have an 82% correct prediction rate that could help you win your awards pool (or look really darn smart during the telecast). One prediction that I’ll get 100% correct: there will be no sweep this year. This group will spread the love across many movies.

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Prediction: Spotlight
Spoiler: Mad Max: Fury Road
Surprise: The Revenant

They’ll be tempted to stand out with an edgy pick, but bet on this collection of foreign journalists to choose a prestige film about truth in journalism


Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Prediction: The Big Short
Spoiler: Trainwreck
Surprise: The Martian

20th Century Fox’s decision to submit The Martian in the Comedy category should backfire and lose to a film with actual humor. Don’t be shocked if Trainwreck is this year’s Hangover, which won Best Motion Picture in this category in 2010.


Best Director – Motion Picture
Prediction: Ridley Scott, The Martian
Spoiler: Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Surprise: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

This is the year to celebrate Ridley Scott.


Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Prediction: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Spoiler: Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Surprise: Anyone else would be truly shocking

You don’t get attacked by a CGI bear and lose, unless you’re in a competition with Bryan Cranston of course.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Prediction: Brie Larson, Room
Spoiler: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Surprise: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Give Brie the edge for performing in this year’s most somber movie (Room) and funniest (Trainwreck). The Carol girls should cancel each other out.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Prediction: Christian Bale, The Big Short
Spoiler: Matt Damon, The Martian
Surprise: Steve Carell, The Big Short

Damon is in every scene of The Martian. That said, Christian Bale is more memorable.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy 
Prediction: Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
Spoiler: Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Surprise: Lily Tomlin, Grandma

Truly the comedian of the year, Amy should win and everyone knows Jennifer Lawrence wants her to win as well.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Prediction: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Spoiler: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Surprise: Paul Dano, Love & Mercy

I predict Oscar will be in Stallone’s corner, but I’m betting Mark Rylance’s captivating character edges Rocky out at the Globes.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Prediction: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Spoiler: Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Surprise: Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

A tough category, but this is their best chance to pick an edgy choice. Alicia’s performance in The Danish Girl gives her an edge of the more predictable choice of Helen Mirren.

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Prediction: Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Spoiler: Adam McKay, The Big Short
Surprise: Emma Donoghue, Room

Best Original Score
Prediction: Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
Spoiler: Carter Burwell, Carol
Surprise: Ryuichi Sakamoto Alva Noto, The Revenant

Best Original Song
Prediction: One Kind of Love, Love & Mercy
Spoiler: See You Again, Furious 7
Surprise: Love Me Like You Do, Fifty Shades of Grey

Best Animated Feature Film
Prediction: Inside Out
Spoiler: Anomalisa
Surprise: Shaun the Sheep Movie

Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language 
Prediction: Son of Saul
Spoiler: Mustang
Surprise: The Club




The Big Short


A tall order.

When I look at the best films of 2015, I realize that Brooklyn had my heart Spotlight had my head and The Big Short got about everything else.
To put it shortly: It’s one my top five favorites of the past year. (Two thrillers, Bridge of Spies and Jurassic World, round out that list.)

It’s an impressive feat. Not only is this a film focused on the details of the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s but also it’s a tragic film from Adam McKay, a director known only for comedy. You may know his films: Step Brothers, Anchorman, Anchorman 2 and Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby.

The Big Short is a timely morality tale that explores the implications of opportunity and fraud, yet somehow it’s loads of fun. Hollywood: 1 Wall Street: 0.

Simply put: It’s a big, ambitious film that delivers.

Award potential: Expect Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Screenplay, Editing and more. Christian Bale has the edge as the stand out to grab a Supporting Actor nod. Expect the full cast to battle Spotlight for SAG’s ensemble award.

Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay for author Michael Lewis’ Moneyball found more brilliant ways to explain tough subjects, but Charles Randolph and Adam McKay’s take on Michael Lewis’ The Big Short was hilarious. It will be the front runner for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks