It's that time of year when gripes and grumbles become common modes of expression. Of course I'm talking about movie-lovers reactions to the Oscar nominations, which always leave those who care about movies disgruntled about who did or didn't get an Oscar nod. I myself am one of those people though it's axiomatic that Oscars mean nothing and have little to do with artistic merit. But I must say, I can't remember of a year when the Academy was more spot on with the nominees. Though I have some problems with omissions and inclusions, they are fairly minor. This year's crop was quite excellent and I was pleased that some of the most deserving--Room and The Martian, weren't overlooked.
But there are other reasons to grumble; the glaring absence of minority nominees. It's hardly a shock; Hollywood's lack of equal opportunity is ever a constant. Maybe that will change next year...nah, that would mean an industry that is almost exclusively liberal would have to actually be liberal.
So here I am again to offer some thoughts and reflections on the nominees. And again, I relegate my commentary to the most attention-grabbing categories--my apologies to the other nominees--to spare what few readers I have my endless musings.
So here we go:
BEST PICTURE--
I can only grouse about two nominations here: Bridge of Spies and Mad Max: Fury Road. I think it's safe to say the former was nominated because Spielberg was at the helm while the latter...? I didn't blog on Bridge of Spies because I found it to be one of Spielberg's dull history lessons. It was well done and the film got better as it went along but I also had to fight off the drowsies. It is an interesting story but the film just seems meager next to the more deserving nominees. Mad Max: Fury Road was a huge head-scratcher. I thought it was mildly entertaining but the over-the-top, operatic busy-ness onscreen didn't add up to much (I thought) though I did like the character of Furiosa. Why this film and not Love and Mercy or Ex Machina, which had more in their heads than George Miller's film? I have no quibbles with the other nominees but I have little more to add to what I've written about them already.
Could have been nominated: Steve Jobs, Straight Outta Compton, Love and Mercy, Ex Machina, Youth and Carol
In a perfect world: Stanford Prison Experiment and The Walk
BEST DIRECTOR--
Again, I have few quibbles here. Though I wasn't wowed by Mad Max: Fury Road, I still think George Miller's direction is phenomenal. I think a glaring omission was Ridley Scott for The Martian. I think he did some of his best work in that film. Inarritu is on a roll and seems to get better with every film. I'm glad the Academy didn't forget Lenny Abrahamson for Room; a film some major critics seemed to have no use for.
Could have been nominated: Ridley Scott (The Martian), Todd Haynes (Carol), Spike Lee (Chiraq), David O. Russell (Joy), Paulo Sorrentino (Youth), Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight), Danny Boyle (Steve Jobs), Bill Pohlad (Love and Mercy) and Alex Garland (Ex Machina).
In a perfect world: Tim Talbott (Stanford Prison Experiment), Sean Baker (Tangerine) and Spike Lee (Chiraq)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE--
The competition (yes, contrary what the Academy will have you believe, it is a competition) here is pretty fierce. The only character here not based on a real person is Matt Damon's in The Martian. Michael Fassbender's Steve Jobs was criticized for having little to do with the real person but still, didn't Fassbender play the hell out of that role? If that wasn't Steve Jobs, it was somebody as fascinating as the real thing. Many films about transgender people appeared on-screen in 2015 so it seems natural that Eddie Redmayne would be nominated; which he deserved. He was certainly more interesting in The Danish Girl than The Theory of Everything. I was pleased the Academy overlooked Johnny Depp for Black Mass; a performance that was mistaken for fine acting.
Could have been nominated: Michael Shannon (99 Homes), Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina), Michael Keaton (Spotlight) and Samuel L. Jackson (The Hateful Eight).
In a perfect world: Jason Segel (The End of the Tour) and Paul Dano (Love and Mercy).
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE--
Thank goodness the Academy didn't nominate Meryl Streep for her role in the unbearably smelly Ricki and the Flash and let's be grateful they didn't find the most absurd excuse in which to nominate her for something else, like breathing. The competition in this category is not only more fierce than its male counterpart, but all the performances here were superb. There isn't a weak nominee in the bunch. Whoever wins should have the other nominees in this category engraved on the statuette.
Could have been nominated: Carey Mulligan (Far from the Madding Crowd), Rachel Weisz (Youth)
In a perfect world: Teyonah Parris (Chiraq)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE--
This is probably the most problematic category. Critics and movie-goers made too much out of Mark Rylance's performance in Bridge of Spies. He was good but not great and quite frankly, a dozen other actors could have nudged him out of this category. The fact that Creed was better than everyone expected meant someone was probably going to get nominated. Do I have a problem with Stallone's nomination? No, but why didn't they also nominate Michael B. Jordan, who really carried the film? It is interesting that Stallone made something out of a character he's played in half a dozen Rocky movies. Good for him. Mark Ruffalo's performance was up to his high standards but I wasn't blown away. Tom Hardy was almost unrecognizable in The Revenant. Jesus, this guy seems incapable of shoddy acting.
Could have been nominated: Paul Giamatti (Straight Outta Compton or Love and Mercy), Anyone else in The Big Short, Tom Courtenay (45 Years), Matthias Schoenaerts (Far from the Madding Crowd) and Michael Sheen (Far from the Madding Crowd).
In a perfect world: The principle cast members of Straight Outta Compton, Billy Crudup (Stanford Prison Experiment) and John Cusack (for either Chiraq or Love and Mercy)
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE--
The only weak nomination in this category is Rachel McAdams in Spotlight. It isn't that her performance was mediocre, it's more that she didn't have enough screen-time but having one's fair share of frames is tough in any ensemble cast, particularly one that is male-dominant. The lone female in an all-male cast is usually a thankless role but McAdams held her own. It's nice to see that she's left the romantic comedy refuse behind (let's hope it's permanent) to take on more challenging roles. Rooney Mara, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kate Winslet and Alicia Vikander were all exceptional. Alicia Vikander could have easily won a nod for her work in Ex Machina. In less than a year, she has gone from virtually unknown to household name. No doubt she will continue to impress years hence.
Could have been nominated: Joan Allen (Room), Jessica Chastain (The Martian), Lily Rabe (Pawn Sacrifice) and Elizabeth Banks (Love and Mercy).
In a perfect world: Angela Bassett and Jennifer Hudson in Chiraq and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor from Tangerine.
I've probably overlooked many performances and films but the best stuff really arrived in the latter part of the year. Please bear with me for my own omissions. Looking over my blog list from 2015, it wasn't difficult to single out the stand out films and performances. Drek always threatens to overrun the levee between January and October, though gems surfaced here and there.
Nothing to do now but wait for the envelopes to be unsealed. I'll compare notes with you after the telecast. See you then.
NOMINEES IN MAJOR CATEGORIES:
BEST PICTURE: THE MARTIAN, BRIDGE OF SPIES, THE REVENANT, THE BIG SHORT, BROOKLYN, ROOM, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, SPOTLIGHT
BEST DIRECTOR: ADAM MCKAY (THE BIG SHORT), GEORGE MILLER (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD), ALEJANDRO G. INARRITU (THE REVENANT), LENNY ABRAHAMSON (ROOM), TOM MCCARTHY (SPOTLIGHT)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: EDDIE REDMAYNE (THE DANISH GIRL), MATT DAMON (THE MARTIAN), BRYAN CRANSTON (TRUMBO), MICHAEL FASSBENDER (STEVE JOBS), LEONARDO DICAPRIO (THE REVENANT)
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: CATE BLANCHETT (CAROL), BRIE LARSON (ROOM), JENNIFER LAWRENCE (JOY), CHARLOTTE RAMPLING (45 YEARS), SAOIRSE RONAN (BROOKLYN)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: CHRISTIAN BALE (THE BIG SHORT), TOM HARDY (THE REVENANT), MARK RUFFALO (SPOTLIGHT), MARK RYLANCE (BRIDGE OF SPIES), SYLVESTER STALLONE (CREED)
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE; JENNIFER JASON LEIGH (THE HATEFUL EIGHT), ROONEY MARA (CAROL), RACHEL MCADAMS (SPOTLIGHT), KATE WINSLET (STEVE JOBS), ALICIA VIKANDER (THE DANISH GIRL)
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