Best Picture: Spotlight. This year had no clear, stand-out winner so this pick is very speculative. Spotlight has been doing very well in nominations during the awards season and that is usually a pretty good signifier of a winner. It may not be as intense as The Revenant or have the cast of The Big Short but it is a story that we really don’t get to see very often and presented in a style that is fresh and different. Coupled with strong performances and great writing, Spotlight has the goods to take the statue.
Best Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu for The Revenant. Another win for last years Best Director seems pretty likely to me. The Revenant has been all the rage as of late and its unique cinematography and stellar performances continue the style of Birdman and although it got very mixed reviews I believe that it has the panash to take home the golden man.
Best Actress: Brie Larson for Room. Brie, if I may, was fantastic as Ma in the based-on-a-true-story book of the same name about a mother and son captured by a man and forced to live in a small, 10×10, room and their subsequent re-adjustment to the real world after their release. Not only do I think she should win off of merit as her performance was both raw and touching, she also has taken home the most awards this season of any of the competition and that is usually a good sign for winners. So make room on your bookshelf, garden, beneath your pillow or wherever you keep little golden man statues because one is coming your way.
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant. Congrats Leo. You did it. Keep that Oscar safe because who knows how long it will be till he gets a friend.
