Contributing Editor Jessica Perry’s Take on the 2016 Oscar Nominations 🙂
This year at FF2 Media, we reviewed many of the films up for selection for the coveted 2016 Oscar nominations. Now that the nominations are in, and the uproar has begun over the lack of diversity amongst this year’s nominees, we must question the Academy’s choices in a few of these categories.
The diversity problem amongst the academy is a huge issue not only regarding race, but also gender. A few of the films we loved by female writers and/or directors this year were nominated, but sadly just a very few. We can only hope that change is coming, and according to the Academy vote, maybe this time next year the selections will look vastly different. Here’s to hoping. 
Best documentary feature
“Amy”
“Cartel Land”
“The Look of Silence”
“What Happened, Miss Simone?”
“Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom”
This category sadly names none of my favorites in the world of documentary film this year. But having seen both Amy and What Happened, Miss Simone? I can say that both were great films.
Best original screenplay
“Spotlight,” written by Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
“Bridge of Spies,” written by Matt Charman and Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
“Ex Machina,” written by Alex Garland
“Inside Out,” screenplay by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley; original story by Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen
“Straight Outta Compton,” screenplay by Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; story by S. Leigh Savidge and Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff
My biggest congrats go out to Andrea Berloff for Straight Outta Compton and Meg LeFauve for Inside Out. And as such a creative and thought-provoking film, I’m excited to see Ex Machina recognized here. This one’s a tough one folks, a category filled with great work.
Best adapted screenplay
“The Big Short,” Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
“Brooklyn,” Nick Hornby
“Carol,” Phyllis Nagy
“The Martian,” Drew Goddard
“Room,” Emma Donoghue
Five incredible films all boasting stellar screenplays. But in my opinion, Charles Randolph and Adam McKay delivered one of the bests this year. The Big Short has my vote!
Best foreign language film
“Embrace of the Serpent”
“Mustang”
“Son of Saul”
“Theeb”
“A War”
Of course, my top pick Victoria didn’t make it into the running this year because too much of the dialog was in English. As one of my favorite films I wish it had been recognized by the Academy in some regard, but sadly no luck. However, Mustang is the only film nominated this year that was directed by a woman, and if director Deniz Gamze Ergüven were to take it, the Oscar would be well deserved for this incredible film!
Best animated feature film
“Anomalisa”
“Boy and the World”
“Inside Out”
“Shaun the Sheep Movie”
“When Marnie Was There”
Disney and Disney Pixar take this one almost every year, and I don’t think this year will be any different. *Raises hand for Inside Out.
Actress in a supporting role
Rooney Mara, “Carol”
Jennifer Jason Leigh, “The Hateful Eight”
Alicia Vikander, “The Danish Girl”
Kate Winslet, “Steve Jobs”
Rachel McAdams, “Spotlight”
I’ve seen Alicia Vikander in four films this year—Testament of Youth, Ex Machina, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and The Danish Girl—and in each one she is absolutely brilliant, standing out among great casts. Crossing all my fingers that her portrayal of Gerda Wegener in The Danish Girl wins her the Oscar this year!
Actor in a supporting role
Christian Bale, “The Big Short”
Tom Hardy, “The Revenant”
Mark Ruffalo, “Spotlight”
Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies”
Sylvester Stallone, “Creed”
So many great performances this year, I only wish we could recognize even more. With more than one standout in this category, I am interested to see who takes it on Oscar night.
Best director
Lenny Abrahamson, “Room”
Alejandro Iñárritu, “The Revenant”
George Miller, “Mad Max: Fury Road”
Tom McCarthy, “Spotlight”
Adam McKay, “The Big Short”
Notably, there are no female directors nominated this year. With that said, there is no denying that Iñárritu created a piece of art with The Revenant, going above and beyond all sane expectations to create a stunning—albeit gory—film.
Actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett, “Carol”
Brie Larson, “Room”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Joy”
Charlotte Rampling, “45 Years”
Saoirse Ronan, “Brooklyn”
Congratulations to every performer in this category. There were many truly superb female performances this year. However, I must say I am a bit disappointed that Alicia Vikander was not nominated in the lead actress category for her performance in The Danish Girl.
Actor in a leading role
Bryan Cranston, “Trumbo”
Matt Damon, “The Martian”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant”
Michael Fassbender, “Steve Jobs”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Danish Girl”
Admittedly, I am on the bandwagon of people who want to see Leo finally take home an Oscar. And there is quite a bit of buzz surrounding his performance in The Revenant this year, so maybe this is the year he takes it. Personally? I don’t think it will be this time around, when so many other standout performances exist in this category.
Best picture
“Spotlight”
“The Big Short”
“Bridge of Spies”
“Brooklyn”
“Mad Max: Fury Road”
“The Martian”
“The Revenant”
“Room”
Each of these films brings something new and wonderful to the table, and we should stand up and applaud for them all. But for me, this year The Big Short inches ahead of the rest.
Congratulations to all of the nominees!
