In anticipation of the 88th Academy Awards set for February 28, Et Cetera writer Hunter Cave, life & arts editor David Silva, news editor James Hartley and intro to cinema professor Dusty Thomas sat down to discuss their love for movies and the biggest award of the night: Best Picture. We had a great turnout-over 200 voters in two weeks -and received some fascinating responses.
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This year, we have some big contenders for the night’s big prize.
George Miller, his wife and fellow Oscar nominee Margaret Sixel and 11 other Australian members of their Mad Max: Fury Road crew are in for a daunting sight. Or, lastly, the insanity and bombast of Mad Max: Fury Road?
I’ve been joking about how the film has been promoted as being a live action stunt driven film – which it is.
My Vote: This category was the hardest for me to decide. While virtually unknown for the past couple of years, Vikander hit mainstream Hollywood with several stellar performances, such as Ex-Machine and The Danish Girl. Mad Max: Fury Road was an action film revelation soaring at the intersection of progressive ideology and high-adrenaline direction.
Why has no science fiction film been named the victor of the year? But Room ended up as my runner-up.
The use of green screens and computer generated components have been used in movies for many number of years, but the intricacy and detailing that is now being used in the latest movies is pushing the technology to its limits and provides an awesome and immersive backdrop for moviegoers to enjoy.
Just as audiences can reasonably expect to see an Israeli producer take the stage, it is likely that an Israeli film school will receive the thanks it deserves for setting up a world-class script lab, along the lines of Sundance or Torino. As of this writing, “The Big Short”, surprisingly, has the most juice. George Miller created a movie that feels like going down the highway at 90 miles per hour while having your favorite song blasting through the speakers. Pictures shows Tom Hardy, left, and Charlize Theron in a scene from “Mad Max:Fury Road”.
There was not much dispute in this category. As it is, the Oscars are the most democratic awards of all since they’re decided by ballots cast by a large number of people – curiously the same system that may make Donald Trump the next President of the U.S., and Trump is not even as respectable as the grizzly bear that chews off Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant.
Possible upset: Michael Fassbender was the early frontrunner for his portrayal of Steve Jobs, but that was before anyone had a chance to see “The Revenant”. However, I have to give it up to DiCaprio. She will make you hate her character Daisy Domergue.
And how about the Oscar nominated movie about a man who desperately wants to take a nap?
Christian Bale (“The Big Short”) and Mark Ruffalo (“Spotlight”) also could pull off a major surprise. Outside of a Nobel or a Pulitzer, no award is more affixed to a person’s legacy; “Oscar winner” is a tag that lasts past death.
The Nominees: Cate Blanchett, “Carol”; Brie Larson, “Room”; Jennifer Lawrence, “Joy”; Charlotte Rampling, “45 Years”; Saoirse Ronan, “Brooklyn”.
Also in the mix: Rooney Mara, Rachel McAdams, and Kate Winslet.
Ennio Morricone for “The Hateful Eight” is the probable victor, although I don’t think it’s almost his best. When he’s finished, Key surveys his work, and Laird, who’s also a makeup student, smiles at how her youthful face has been transformed, telling the story of person who is barely hanging on.
Let’s be real; this category basically ended in a tie.
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My Vote: Spotlight’s screenplay was airtight.
