I’ve now seen all 8 films nominated for Best Picture. I’m kind of a film buff. Usually, I have one movie that I latch on to, that I root for in almost every category. This year, not so much. But I did enjoy most of the movies. Here are my “in a nutshell” thoughts on the Best Picture nominees, in order from my favorite to least favorite.
- Room – A heartbreaking film and a breathtaking adaptation of the novel. The performances of the two leads (Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson) were outstanding.
- Spotlight – I am a bit of a dialogue nerd, and I thought the screenplay was excellent. It’s a very “talky” movie, and those can be boring sometimes. But Spotlight avoided those tropes. Wonderful cast. I will not be upset if this wins Best Picture.
- The Martian – Okay, so maybe it’s not a comedy, but it’s fun. It’s exciting, not a typical space movie. And it’s got one of the best casts out there.
- Brooklyn – A very sweet, heartfelt film. Saoirse Ronan sparkles. And I loved the color and composition.
- The Revenant – These types of movies aren’t my cup of tea. That being said, I think this film was extremely well-done. Cinematography and scope was INSANE. Leo better win that Oscar finally! (I won’t be upset if this wins Best Picture either.)
- Bridge of Spies – It was fun seeing Mark Rylance with a big role in a movie. And who doesn’t like Tom Hanks? It was good–intriguing–but not my favorite.
- Mad Max: Fury Road – Visually, this movie was fantastic. The performances were fine. But I didn’t like the plot. It was weird. I’m sure this is because I never saw the 1980s movies.
- The Big Short – I hated economics when I took it in college. This was a unique approach to the market’s collapse, but I couldn’t follow it. And those wigs? How terrible were they?
Special shoutout to my favorite movie of the year: Ex Machina – How was this movie not nominated for everything? It was thought-provoking and intriguing and creepy as all get out! I can’t stop thinking about it.
What was your favorite movie of the year?
