CHAD B. FREEMAN presents
OSCARS 2016 WATCHLIST +++
sunday, february 28
+++
OSCARS property of A.M.P.A.S.
YOU R
HOS
CHRT FOR THE EVE IS R NING: OCK It takes a lot of guts to take on the job of being the host of the Academy Awards. Especially to take the helm in a year where #OscarsSoWhite was not only trending, but becoming national news. That said, if there is anyone who is up for the task it is an observational comedy-legend like Chris Rock. How will he set the stage for Hollywood’s Biggest Night? Guess we will have to tune in to find out.
IMAGE FROM A.M.P.A.S.
As you flip through the Watchlist, keep an eye out for this bookmark. While I can’t say with certainty who will take home the prize, these are the ones I think are safe bets.
E
Y B
H T
S ’ #
OSCARS 2016 NOMINEES
12 The Revenant 10 Mad Max: Fury Road 7 The Martian 6 Bridge of Spies, Carol and Spotlight 5 The Big Short and Star Wars: The Force Awakens 4 The Danish Girl and Room 3 Brooklyn, The Hateful Eight and Sicario 2 Ex Machina, Inside Out and Steve Jobs
the
BIG SHORT
B EST PICTURE, SUPPORTING ACTOR, DIRECTOR, FILM EDITING & ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Who would have thought economics could be so compelling? If you had told me a year ago that one of the most entertaining, infuriating and educational movies of the year would be about mortgages, I would have laughed in your face. Yet this masterpiece, co-written & directed by Adam McKay, is a powerhouse. The all-star cast brings reality to life in such a wonderfully watchable way that it would not be much of a surprise if it brings home a few trophies including Best Picture‌ unless its main competition of Spotlight cancels out all the Short love. Available to own on iTunes or preorder through Amazon.
PHOTO: Paramount Pictures
BRIDGE of SPIES BEST PICTURE, SUPPORTING ACTOR, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, PRODUCTION DESIGN, SOUND MIXING & ORIGINAL SCORE
Pairing Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks should all but promise some Oscar gold. And in another year, it just might have. Based on true events, Hanks plays a lawyer who is brought into the international espionage fold to help broker the trade of a CIA operative for a Russian spy. The main stand-out is Mark Rylance as the convicted Soviet operative Hank’s Donovan defends. There is a slight chance he might bring home a trophy to match his BAFTA, but I’m guessing a one-two punch from Rocky narrows his chances to practically nil. Available now to rent or own on Amazon or iTunes. PHOTO: Jaap Buitendijk/Dreamworks & 20 Century Fox
PHOTOS: Allstar/Lionsgates & Fox Searchlight
BROOKLYN BEST PICTURE, ACTRESS & ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The quiet story that could. Many of the nominated films have huge odds the protagonist has to overcome. There are massive risks and obstacles that seem almost insurmountable. And then there is Brooklyn. While there are challenges, they are mostly internal and subtly portrayed by the stellar Saoirse Ronan. Beautifully shot and quite human, Brooklyn is more a mediation on personal power and choice than anything else. Available to own on iTunes or preorder through Amazon.
PHOTO: Number 9 Films/The Weinstein Company
CREED BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Upper cut... While there was some speculation that Creed could be a contender for Best Picture it didn’t quite make the cut. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a chance for a totally knock out by Sylvester Stallone. Reprising his iconic role of Rocky Balboa, Stallone is all but guaranteed to bring home the trophy. Too bad the Academy overlooked Michael B. Jordan… there is always the sequel. Available to own through Amazon or on iTunes.
CAROL
BEST ACTRESS, SUPPORTING ACTRESS, ADAPTED SCREENPLAY, CINEMATOGRAPHY, COSTUME DESIGN & ORIGINAL SCORE For the love... What do you get when you place two powerhouse actresses in a 50s romance-drama? Something beautiful. Cate Blanchett exudes the time period with every fiber of her being, but it is Rooney Mara who is even more compelling to watch. While there is a chance the actors might be invited to grace the stage, the Costume Design award is Sandy Powell’s to lose. Available to preorder through Amazon or on iTunes.
PHOTO: Barry Wetcher/MGM Pictures, Inc. & Warner Bros.
the
DANISH GIRL
BEST ACTOR, SUPPORTING ACTRESS, PRODUCTION DESIGN & COSTUME DESIGN
PHOTO: Focus Features
She’s a work of art... Eddie Redmayne is a beast. From last year’s award-winning performance as Stephen Hawking to his complete transformation into the transgender pioneer Einar/Lily Wegener, he is proving his talent with every role he chooses. With his on-screen companion just as deftly capable, it is no wonder Alicia Vikander is the front-runner to bring home the Supporting Actress prize. Her nuanced portrayal of a wife watching her husband’s gender-journey is simultaneously heart-warming and heart breaking. Available now to own through Amazon or on iTunes.
the
HATEFUL EIGHT BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, CINEMATOGRAPHY & ORIGINAL SCORE
Criminally entertaining. There are those who have a love/hate relationship with Quentin Tarantino and his films. And this latest was no different. That said, he is a master with visuals and at recruiting quality talent. Jennifer Jason Leigh could prove that fact by bringing home the Supporting Actress statue, but it’s more likely that composer Ennio Morricone will orchestrate a win for Original Score. Available to preorder through Amazon or iTunes.
PHOTO: Andrew Cooper/The Weinstein Company
INSIDE OUT BEST ANIMATED FEATURE & ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Proof that it’s all in your head...and that’s a beautiful thing. The wonder of animation is the fact that is can bring seemingly impossible concepts to life. Inside Out does just that. Creating characters out of emotions and creating a visual playground out of the brain? Only from Pixar. It is no wonder this was named among the top movies of 2015. I am holding out hope that it ends up winning not only for Animated Film but also for Original Screenplay. I’m sure all the emotions in my head agree. Available now to own through Amazon or iTunes.
PHOTOS: Disney/Pixar
JOY BEST ACTRESS One squad I’d be more than happy to join. When David O. Russell teams up with his band of merry muses, something special happens. Human stories emerge with fantastical results. While Joy is not the best of their collaborations, there is a raw magic to Jennifer Lawrence as she brings inventor Joy to life. With a fierce passion and unbridled vulnerability, you find yourself rooting for her in spite of some of the film’s other flaws. While it is doubtful she will bring home the gold, I always love a J.Law acceptance speech... at least we have the red carpet to look forward to. Available to preorder through Amazon or on iTunes. PHOTOS: 20th Century Fox
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
BEST PICTURE, DIRECTOR, FILM EDITING, CINEMATOGRAPHY, VISUAL EFFECTS, PRODUCTION DESIGN, COSTUME DESIGN, MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING, SOUND MIXING & SOUND EDITING
PHOTO: Warner Bros.
Let’s get Furiosa! Not your typical road trip movie… but maybe it should be. Tom Hardy is perfectly tough and broody as the hard-foil for Charlize Theron to overpower with her one-armed truck-driving bad-ass. The film itself is so kinetic it almost transcends the screen, even if you’re only seeing it in 2D. While those who hope George Miller will walk away as the winning Director might be disappointed, he is sure to be thrilled as members of his team receive the recognition they justly deserve. Available to purchase now through iTunes or Amazon.
PHOTOS: 20th Century Fox
the
MARTIAN
BEST PICTURE, DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHY, FILM EDITING, VISUAL EFFECTS, PRODUCTION DESIGN, COSTUME DESIGN, MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING, SOUND MIXING & SOUND EDITING
To infinity and...well, you know. If Matt Damon wasn’t so damn likeable, I don’t know if this movie would have been the hit it was. Bringing comedy to a survival tale is no small task, but since science fiction master, Ridley Scott, helmed the film it is no wonder it reached new heights. Available to rent or own through Amazon or iTunes.
the
REVENENT
BEST PICTURE, ACTOR, SUPPORTING ACTOR, DIRECTOR, FILM EDITING, CINEMATOGRAPHY, VISUAL EFFECTS, PRODUCTION DESIGN, COSTUME DESIGN, MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING, SOUND MIXING & SOUND EDITING
Whoa. Brutally beautiful and a project of pure passion, there is no doubt that Alejandro Iñárritu’s latest film will bring home some gold on Sunday. It IS nominated in 12 categories so all that hard work proved they did SOMETHING right. Whether it is for Leo’s intense performance as a man out for blood, Tom Hardy’s barely understandable bad-guy or the masterwork of cinematography, there are sure to be some happy folks. Which might almost make up for how rough it is to sit through the movie… Available to preorder through Amazon or iTunes. PHOTOS: Regency Entertainment & 20th Century Fox
ROOM BEST PICTURE, ACTRESS, DIRECTOR & ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Beyond the walls. In a performance only bolstered by the stunning talent of her young counterpart, Brie Larson is the favorite to accept the trophy for Best Actress. And she deserves it. She brings to life the determined and protective strength of a mother while also manifesting the hurt of a kidnapping victim searching for a way out. In the end, while intense, Room speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the freedom of living once again. Available now to rent or own through Amazon or iTunes.
PHOTO: TIFF
PHOTOS: Open Road Films
SPOTLIGHT
BEST PICTURE, SUPPORTING ACTOR, SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DIRECTOR, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY AND FILM EDITING
Shine the light. Taking up the reins of such great journalistic films as All the President’s Men and The Network, Spotlight takes us into the office of the Boston Globe as the newsroom takes a deep dive into charges against the Catholic Church for child molestation. The film is real and engaging to the littlest detail, with a cast so engrossing you forget how recognizable they all are. It stands a chance to bring home the big award… unless the dead horse, I mean, dark horse of The Revenant takes its place. Available now to rent or own through Amazon or iTunes.
TRUMBO BEST ACTOR
Power to the pen...or typewriter. W role that makes you forget (almost) his Cranston brings back to life film writer I’d like to say it was enough for him to leading the pack, there isn’t much chan spin… Available now to rent or own thr PHOTO: Bleecker Street PHOTO: Francois Duhamel/Universal Pictures
STEVE JOBS BEST ACTOR & SUPPORTING ACTRESS Mad genius. When the words of Aaron Sorkin come to life on the screen something beguiling happens. You marvel at how actors can retain the nuances he manifests and it (almost) makes you feel smarter. Michael Fassbender is effortlessly confident as the Apple founder, but it is Kate Winslet who has the best chance of bringing home an award. And wouldn’t it be sweet to see a Titanic reunion with Jack & Rose both holding Oscars… better than a life raft. Available now to rent or own through Amazon or iTunes.
O
Wow…well done, Mr. Cranston. In a s iconic meth-making teacher, Bryan Dalton Trumbo. Bathtub and all. bring home the gold, but with Leo nce. Maybe he could write a different rough Amazon or iTunes.
PHOTO: Agatha A. Nitecka/IFC Films
45 YEARS BEST ACTRESS Marriage is tough. After years, one gets into a bit of a routine. Walking the dog, making breakfast, reading the news and repeat. Charlotte Rampling portrays a wife who is comfortable with her pattern. On the eve of her 45th wedding anniversary she learns that man she loves once loved another and that little secret starts picking at the edges of a stable relationship. A masterpiece of stillness and heartbreak, Rampling proves that age knows no bounds. Available to preorder on iTunes.
BEST PICTURE
Big Short
ACTOR
Bryan Cranston TRUMBO Matt Damon THE MARTIAN Leonardo DiCaprio THE REVENANT Michael Fassbender STEVE JOBS Eddie Redmayne THE DANISH GIRL
ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett CAROL Brie Larson ROOM Jennifer Lawrence JOY Charlotte Rampling 45 YEARS Saoirse Ronan BROOKLYN
SUPPORTING ACTOR Christian Bale THE BIG SHORT Tom Hardy THE REVENANT Mark Ruffalo SPOTLIGHT Mark Rylance BRIDGE OF SPIES Sylvester Stallone CREED
SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jennifer Jason Leigh THE HATEFUL EIGHT Rooney Mara CAROL Rachel McAdams SPOTLIGHT Alicia Vikander THE DANISH GIRL Kate Winslet STEVE JOBS
DIRECTOR
The Big Short ADAM McKAY Mad Max: Fury Road GEORGE MILLER The Revenant ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU Room LENNY ABRAHAMSON Spotlight TOM McCARTHY
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Bridge of Spies
MATT CHARMAN, ETHAN COEN, JOEL COEN
Ex Machina ALEX GARLAND Inside Out
SCREENPLAY: PETE DOCTER, MEG LeFAUVE, JOSH COOLEY STORY: PETE DOCTER, RONNIE DEL CARMEN
Spotlight JOSH SINGER, TOM McCARTHY Straight Outta Compton
SCREENPLAY: JONATHAN HERMAN, ANDREA BERLOFF STORY: S. LEIGH SAVIDGE, ALAN WENKUS, ANDREA BERLOFF
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Big Short CHARLES RANDOLPH, ADAM McKAY Brooklyn NICK HORNBY Carol PHYLLIS NAGY The Martian DREW GODDARD Room EMMA DONAGHUE
FILM EDITING
The Big Short HANK CORWIN Mad Max: Fury Road MARGARET SIXEL The Revenant STEPHEN MIRRIONE Spotlight TOM McARDLE Star Wars: The Force Awakens
MARYANN BRANDON, MARY JO MARKEY
CINEMATOGRAPHY Carol ED LACHMAN The Hateful Eight ROBERT RICHARDSON Mad Max: Fury Road JOHN SEALE The Revenant EMMANUEL LUBEZKI Sicario ROGER DEAKINS
Mad Max: Fury Road
VISUAL EFFECTS
Ex Machina MARK WILLIAMS ARDINGTON, SARA BENNETT, PAUL NORRIS, ANDREW WHITEHURST
Mad Max: Fury Road ANDREW JACKSON, DAN
OLIVER, ANDY WILLIAMS, TOM WOOD
Star Wars: The Force Awakens CHRIS CORBOULD, ROGER GUYETT, PAUL KAVANAGH, NEAL SCANLAN
The Martian ANDERS LANGLANDS, CHRIS LAWRENCE, RICHARD STAMMERS, STEVEN WARNER
The Revenant RICHARD McBRIDE, MATT SHUMWAY,
JASON SMITH, CAMERON WALDBAUER
PRODUCTION DESIGN Bridge of Spies
PRODUCTION: ADAM STOCKHAUSEN SET: RENA DeANGELO, BERNHARD HENRICH
The Danish Girl
PRODUCTION: EVE STEWART & SET: MICHAEL STANDISH
Mad Max: Fury Road
PRODUCTION: COLIN GIBSON & SET: LISA THOMPSON
The Martian
PRODUCTION: ARTHUR MAX & SET: CELIA BOBAK
The Revenant
PRODUCTION: JACK FISK & SET: HAMISH PURDY
COSTUME DESIGN Carol SANDY POWELL Cinderella SANDY POWELL The Danish Girl PACO DELGADO Mad Max: Fury Road JENNY BEAVAN The Revenant JACQUELINE WEST
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING Mad Max: Fury Road
LESLEY VANDERWALT, ELKA WARDEGA, DAMIAN MARTIN
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window & Disappeared The Revenant
LOVE LARSON, EVA VON BAHR
SIÂN GRIGG, DUNCAN JARMAN, ROBERT PANDINI
OSCARS 2016 WATCHLIST BALLOT
The Martian
SOUND MIXING Bridge of Spies
ANDY NELSON, GARY RYDSTROM, DREW KUNIN
Mad Max: Fury Road
CHRIS JENKINS, GREGG RUDLOFF, BEN OSMO
The Martian PAUL MASSEY, MARK TAYLOR, MAC RUTH The Revenant JON TAYLOR, FRANK A. MONTAÑO, RANDY THOM, CHRIS DUESTERDIEK
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
ANDY NELSON, CHRISTOPHER SCARABOSIO, STUART WILSON
SOUND EDITING Mad Max: Fury Road
MARK MANGINI, DAVID WHITE
The Martian OLIVER TARNEY The Revenant MARTÍN HERNÁNDEZ, LON BENDER Sicario ALAN ROBERT MURRAY Star Wars: The Force Awakens
MATTHEW WOOD, DAVID ACORD
ORIGINAL SCORE
Bridge of Spies THOMAS NEWMAN Carol CARTER BURWELL The Hateful Eight ENNIO MORRICONE Sicario JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON Star Wars: The Force Awakens JOHN WILLIAMS
The Revenant
Room
ORIGINAL SONG
"Earned It" music and lyrics by The Weeknd, Ahamad Balshe, Stephan Moccio & Jason Daheala Quenneville
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
"Manta Ray" music by J. Ralph, lyric by Anohni RACING EXTINCTION "Simple Song #3" music and lyric by David Lang YOUTH "Writing’s on the Wall" music and lyric by Jimmy Napes & Sam Smith SPECTRE “Til it Happens to You” music & lyric by Diane Warren & Lady Gaga
THE HUNTING GROUND
ANIMATED FEATURE Anomalisa Boy & the World Inside Out Shaun the Sheep Movie When Marie was There
Spotlight
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Amy ASIF KAPADIA, JAMES GAY-REES Cartel Land MATTHEW HEINEMAN, TOM YELLIN The Look of Silence
JOSHUA OPPENHEIMER, SIGNE BYRGE SØRENSEN
What Happened, Miss Simone?
LIZ GARBUS, AMY HOBBY, JUSTIN WILKES
Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom EVGENY AFINEEVSKY, DEN TOLMOR
DOCUMENTARY SHORT Body Team 12 DAVID DARG, BRYN MOOSER Chau, Beyond the Lines
COURTNEY MARSH, JERRY FRANCK
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
ADAM BENZINE
A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness SHARMEEN OBAID-CHINOY Last Day of Freedom
DEE HIBBERT-JONES, NOMI TALISMAN
ANIMATED SHORT Bear Story GABRIEL OSORIO, PATO ESCALA Prologue IMOGEN SUTTON, RICHARD WILLIAMS Sanjay’s Super Team
NICOLE PARADIS GRINDLE, SANJAY PATEL
We Can’t Live Without Cosmos
KONSTANTIN BRONZIT
World of Tomorrow DON HERTZFELDT
LIVE ACTION SHORT Ave Maria ERIC DUPONT, BASIL KHALIL Day One HENRY HUGHES Everything Will Be Ok PATRICK VOLLRATH Shok JAMIE DONOUGHUE Stutterer BENJAMIN CLEARY, SERENA ARMITAGE
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Embrace of the Serpent COLOMBIA Mustang FRANCE Son of Saul HUNGARY Theeb JORDAN A War DENMARK
WHAT ARE YOUR PICKS?
AD: ABC Network & A.M.P.A.S.