Oscars Predictions 2016: Best Picture
Ok here we go. It’s been a fun ride leading up to the Academy Awards 2016 but all roads lead to this moment. The big one. Our Oscar predictions for the Best Picture.
Nominees
Dean – The Revenant
I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t think it would be such an easy choice for me, but I went with the “Best Director gets Best Picture” logic. It’s not always the case but it was last year and it will be this year. And there is one noticeable pattern: Alejandro G. Iñárritu. I didn’t back Birdman last year for Best Picture even though I chose Iñárritu for Best Director. I won’t be making that mistake again.
But it’s more than just simple maths. The Revenant came together in one magnificent cinematic spectacle. Leo was superb, as was Tom Hardy and the rest of the cast. (Including the bear, he was snubbed this year). The cinematography was immense.
While the plot was basic and not as dense as a Spotlight for instance, it’s that film that filmmakers will look to for inspiration and film scholars will study meticulously. And it’s because of how it looks, sounds and feels. This is cinema at it’s best.
Stephen – The Revenant
I’m not going to root for Spotlight just because it seems to be a favourite on the lists of guilds and critics. It seemingly came out of nowhere, and now we have an Oscar race. Nope. It’s an important topic, but not an amazing, brilliant, memorable, jaw-dropping film. It doesn’t DO anything that changes cinema.
I believe this one is going to The Revenant, which will be the second year in a row Iñárritu has won Best Director and Best Picture.
Contrary to popular belief, The Revenant isn’t just a gorgeous film with a thin plot. Iñárritu often talks about the feeling films give audiences, and this is something transferred from screen to soul as we see our main character bleed and sweat to achieve his goals – we even see the motivations of our antagonist, as well as peripheral characters.
The Revenant doesn’t make you feel something just because of the main plot; it makes you feel something from moment to moment as well. Most of the other films nominated in this category have a clear good side and bad side; but the dynamics in The Revenant are more complex. There’s more to this film than meets the eye, and I believe audience perception will mature over the years, and this is a film that will be studied for decades to come.
Tendai – Spotlight
For the record, I secretly want Mad Max: Fury Road to win but objectively Spotlight was the total package. Everything about this movie came together like a well cooked meal from McDonald’s with an Oreo McFlurry for dessert. It was all about the combination, how everything came together, how everything was portrayed and how it flowed. The story was the most gripping (considering it’s a true life story) out of all the nominees, the cast was well balanced, and it all came together all too well.
Probably the only award Spotlight will win on the night but it’s the top award. It was outstanding on so many fronts that it should be template as to how true life stories should be brought to film. Definitely a McDonald’s meal with an Oreo McFlurry!
What is your prediction for Best Picture?
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Stephen @thesnagel
Dean @deeno15
Tendai @1_platinum
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