The Oscars are coming! The Oscars are coming! One week from now, all of Hollywood’s finest (minus a few prominent actors, including Will Smith, participating in a boycott due to the overwhelming whiteness of the Awards this year) will walk down the Red Carpet to be asked “Who are you wearing?” by an over-eager Ryan Seacrest while attempting not to slip and fall when walking up the stage stairs to grab their golden boy (I love you, Jennifer Lawrence, but please don’t win an Oscar this year).
It’s been an incredible year in film, from the return of Star Wars to the increase in LGBTQ+ presence, to Leonardo DiCaprio’s searing role in The Revenant. Chris Rock will host the 88th Academy Awards, filmed only 45 minutes from the Claremont Colleges at the Dolby Theatre.
The #OscarsSoWhite phenomenon and outrage led me to think about various films, actors, and writers who I believe should have and would have been nominated if the Academy did not consist of voters who are, according to the LA times, 94 percent white, 77 percent male, and an average age of 63. I have included some of my suggestions in my predictions.
The Contenders
Best Picture
The nominees are: The Revenant, Spotlight, The Big Short, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, Room, Brooklyn, Bridge of Spies
The Oscar will go to: The Revenant
Could/Should win: Spotlight, The Big Short primarily because of its recent Producer’s Guild Award win. Spotlight and The Revenant are equal winners in my mind.
Dissed: Straight Outta Compton, Creed, Steve Jobs
Best Actress
The nominees are: Cate Blanchett (Carol), Brie Larson (Room), Jennifer Lawrence (Joy), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years), Saorsie Ronan (Brooklyn)
The Oscar will go to: Brie Larson
Could/Should win: Saorsie Ronan. If Jennifer Lawrence wins, I’m going to scream.
Dissed: Emily Blunt (Sicario), Maggie Smith (The Lady in the Van)
Best Actor
The nominees are: Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Matt Damon (The Martian), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)
The Oscar will go to: Leonardo DiCaprio
Could/Should win: Leonardo DiCaprio. If Oscars are won by blood, sweat, tears, and a number of previously unfulfilled nominations, Leo has it.
Dissed: Michael B. Jordan (Creed), Will Smith (Concussion)
Best Supporting Actress
The nominees are: Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Rooney Mara (Carol), Rachel McAdams (Spotlight), Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
The Oscar will go to: Alicia Vikander
Could/Should win: Rooney Mara should; Jennifer Jason Leigh could.
Dissed: Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Best Supporting Actor
The nominees are: Christian Bale (The Big Short), Tom Hardy (The Revenant), Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Sylvester Stallone (Creed)
The Oscar will go to: Sylvester Stallone
Could/Should win: Tom Hardy should; Mark Ruffalo could.
Dissed: Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation), Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton), Jacob Tremblay (Room), Paul Dano (Love & Mercy)
Best Director
The nominees are: Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), Adam McKay (The Big Short), George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road), Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant), Lenny Abrahamson (Room)
The Oscar will go to: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant), who recently won the Directors’ Guild Award
Could/Should win: George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Dissed: F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton), Ridley Scott (The Martian), Todd Haynes (Carol)
Best Adapted Screenplay
The nominees are: The Big Short, Brooklyn, Carol, The Martian, Room
The Oscar will go to: The Big Short
Could/Should win: The Martian
Dissed: Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Best Original Screenplay
The nominees are: Bridge of Spies, Ex Machina, Inside Out, Spotlight, Straight Outta Compton
The Oscar will go to: Spotlight
Could/Should win: Straight Outta Compton
Dissed: Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight
Best Animated Feature
The nominees are: Anomalisa, Boy and The World, Inside Out, Shaun the Sheep Movie, When Marnie Was There
The Oscar will go to: Inside Out
Could/Should win: Anomalisa, but Inside Out is going to win.
Dissed: The Good Dinosaur, but does Pixar really need two contenders in one year?
Best Original Score
The nominees are: Bridge of Spies, Carol, The Hateful Eight, Sicario, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Oscar will go to: The Hateful Eight
Could/Should win: Star Wars: The Force Awakens. John Williams, people!
Dissed: The Danish Girl
Best Visual Effects
The nominees are: Ex Machina, The Martian, The Revenant, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Oscar will go to: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Could/Should win: The Revenant
Dissed: Everest
Best Costume Design
The nominees are: Carol, Cinderella, The Revenant, The Danish Girl, Mad Max: Fury Road
The Oscar goes to: Mad Max: Fury Road
Could/Should win: The Danish Girl
Dissed: Brooklyn
Do not hold me to any of these predictions, but do comment if you think I missed the mark or didn’t mention something that you think should have been nominated!
Laemmle Theaters in the Village are screening the Oscar Nominated Shorts in all three categories (Animated, Live Action, Documentary) this weekend. They’re also screening 45 Years, up for Best Actress.
Join the Pomona Events Committee for a screening of the 2016 Academy Awards on Feb. 28 in Frank Blue Room.