An Instant Response to the Oscar Nominations: (NB not having yet seen THE REVENANT)
BEST PICTURE:
All good nominees. FURY ROAD should win. ROOM and BROOKLYN are the great surprises. I would easily give the award to ROOM in a year FURY ROAD didn’t exist. But these are all very, very good films. Will win? FURY ROAD or THE REVENANT. Weird omission: CAROL.
BEST DIRECTOR:
Should win and will win: George Miller. Come on.
ACTOR LEAD:
It’s shocking Paul Dano isn’t here for LOVE AND MERCY. It feels like it’s gonna go to Leo.
ACTRESS LEAD:
I’d now say it’s definitely Brie Larson for ROOM – should and will.
ACTOR SUPPORT:
Again, this should be Paul Dano. I guess it will go to Mark Ruffalo. Maybe Sylvester Stallone.
ACTRESS SUPPORT:
Jennifer Jason Leigh. Done.
ANIMATED FEATURE:
INSIDE OUT or ANOMALISA? I wouldn’t lay a dollar here.
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
C’mon. CAROL.
COSTUME DESIGN:
C’mon. Jenny Beavan, FURY ROAD.
DOC FEATURE:
Not everyone loves AMY. How about THE LOOK OF SILENCE?
EDITING:
C’mon: Margaret Sixel, FURY ROAD.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURE:
SON OF SAUL, natch.
HAIR AND MAKE UP:
C’mon, Lesley Vanderwalt, FURY ROAD. But possibly THE REVENANT.
PRODUCTION DESIGN:
Obviously Colin Gibson, FURY ROAD
SOUND MIXING, VFX, SOUND FXL:
FURY ROAD
WRITING (ADAPTED):
The hardest of all – is it CAROL or THE BIG SHORT? I think it will be CAROL.
WRITING (ORIGINAL):
It’ll be SPOTLIGHT or INSIDE OUT.