On 2015's Movies and the 88th Annual Academy Awards

I have, for many years now, made a stupid habit each year of writing about the Oscars, so for nothing if not the sake of continuing this stupid tradition, here are some words.

It is impossible to talk about the Oscars this year without talking about #oscarssowhite. I think that it is an unambiguously good thing that the academy is finally having their feet held to the fire about their obvious diversity issues, but it has obscured what is an otherwise genuinely strong and interesting group of movies. Bill Simmons’ Oscar podcast with former Grantland writer Wesley Morris is the best conversation that I’ve heard on the matter.

Best Picture:

This is the most interesting lineup of nominees since 2010. With 8 of 10 possible spots full, it felt odd not to have two of the most critically acclaimed films of the year – Carol and Inside Out – filling out the ballot, both of which feel indicative of how retrograde and weird Oscar voting is and has long been, aside even from the #oscarssowhite campaign.

Of the nominees, Bridge of Spies is the weakest, a classic, if unspectacular Spielberg-Hanks period piece. The other seven are roundly excellent.

Room is a devastating and unflinching psychological exploration defined by its great performances. A unique and difficult film.

Brooklyn is a beautiful exploration of womanhood, femininity, family, and place that is gorgeously if subtly wrought.

The Big Short and Spotlight are excellent contemporary ensemble pieces, both sharply written and directed, with important things to say about recent American history and contemporary culture.

The Martian is both whip-smart and funny, a subtle triumph making hard sci-fi fun and accessible, and a great stage for Matt Damon to show us how great and underrated he is.

Mad Max: Fury Road is the wild card – a beautifully shot, impossibly stylized, clockwork-tight action thriller; a movie almost unanimously likable.

The Revenant is a jaw-dropping cinematic feat. In every possible sense. The cinematography deserves the most obvious praise, but every individual piece of the film is immaculately and lovingly crafted. It is a masterpiece.

This race is genuinely interesting. I think the Revenant is going to have a big night.

Actor in a Leading Role:

Of the five, I have seen only three, and all of them are excellent. Matt Damon is a lot of fun, and eminently likable. I do believe that, sparse dialogue aside, Leo will deserve the statue he has coming – for this role, and not as a lifetime achievement award.

Actress in a Leading Role:

Cate Blanchett is criminally good in everything. Jennifer Lawrence scored a nominee for great work in a mediocre movie (I really think her work in The Hunger Games movies deserves more love). Saorise Ronan showcases every shade of subtlety in Brooklyn. I haven’t yet gotten to 45 Years. Brie Larson will win. Room is devastating and she is its anchor.

Actor in a Supporting Role:

What an embarrassment of riches this category so often tends to be. Especially in a year that gave us two ensemble works as good as Spotlight and The Big Short both of which could have justifiably filled many of these acting categories. Christian Bale is a mad man and would be well deserving (but, sources suggest, is personally unlikable and the Oscars are nothing if not political). Tom Hardy is the Revenant’s secret weapon giving much needed nuance and life to a critical role. Mark Ruffalo is, year after year, a genius and is the highlight in a stellar cast and great film. Mark Rylance is, interestingly enough, the dark horse on the betting markets for the quietest performance of the bunch. He anchors Bridge of Spies, but I have trouble buying the case for his role in this sea of juggernauts. Sylvester Stallone will win – and deservedly – Creed is a good movie tied perhaps too lovingly to some of the series’ campier conventions. It runs long and misses a lot of its marks, but nails almost every one of old Rocky’s scenes. His career has been punctuated – especially recently with the Expendables – by almost overt clownishness, but this role reminds us that he’s been great in serious roles for a long time.

Actress in a Supporting Role:

Of the five nominees, Alicia Vikander, the likely winner, is the only whose performance I have not seen (but she was excellent in both Ex Machina and the Man from U.N.C.L.E.). Kate Winslet is the glue that holds Aaron Sorkin’s staging conceit together in Steve Jobs. Rachel McAdams turns in excellent work in Spotlight. Rooney Mara felt, to me, like the heart and soul of Carol. I have difficulty in divorcing Jennifer Jason Leigh’s admirable performance from the content of the Hateful Eight which I struggled with.

Below is a list of movies released in calendar year 2015 that I saw

****

Inside Out

The Revenant

Ex Machina

Spotlight

The Big Short

The Martian

Mad Max: Fury Road

Brooklyn
Room

Carol

***

Amy

Steve Jobs

The Hunger Games Three: 2

Tomorrowland
Mission Impossible 5

The End of the Tour
Mr. Holmes

Love & Mercy

Straight Outta Compton

Star Wars VII

Avengers 2

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Spectre

Crimson Peak

The Peanuts Movie

Shaun the Sheep Movie

**

Trainwreck

Bridge of Spies

Creed

Anomalisa

Ant-Man

The Good Dinosaur

The Hateful Eight

*

Jupiter Ascending

Jurassic World