2015

Best Picture Nominees:

The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight *

***

The Big Short - The early front-runner for Best Picture.  This was the story of what caused the financial crisis of 2008, when anyone could buy a house, even if they couldn't afford it. For such a dull subject, the movie was pretty exciting and annoying that it went so far.

Bridge of Spies - Spielberg flick about the U.S trading spy pilot Powers for a German spy as negotiated by a non-governmental attorney.  Three-time Tony winner and outstanding actor Mark Rylance won the Supporting Actor Oscar.

Brooklyn - A tour-de-force performance by Saoirse Ronan (now 21) as a young Irish immigrant who falls in love in America, goes back home, and tries to deal with where she belongs.  Very engaging.  Loved this movie.

Mad Max: Fury Road - I didn't want to see this movie, but it was already on Pay-TV by the time the nominations came around.  I was surprised by the special effects and performances by mostly unknown Australian actors.  Pretty amazing follow-up to the original films from 30 years ago.  It won the most awards (mostly technical) awards at this year's telecast.

The Martian - Film version of the Andy Weir book with Matt Damon in the title role.  Intriguing sci-fi film that did really well at the box office but didn't garner any awards.

The Revenant - The early leader for Best Picture and I HATED this movie.  Very gory, didn't have a lot of redeeming value and Leonardo diCaprio chewing the scenery the whole time.  Leo's big chance to finally win an Oscar and listen to his political rantings in his acceptance speech.  Inarritu also won his second consecutive Director award for whatever.

Room  - I loved the book, and they did an excellent job with the movie, especially Jacob Tremblay as the kid and Brie Larson as the mother (who won the Best Actress Oscar).

Spotlight - Spotlight was the last movie I saw of the eight, and once it was over, I knew it should win Best Picture.  A great ensemble cast tackling the cover-up of molestation by priests through the Spotlight feature with the Boston Globe.

***

My ranking of the Best Picture nominees:

1.  Mad Max:  Fury Road
2.  Room
3.  Spotlight
4.  The Big Short
5.  The Martian
6.  Brooklyn
7.  Bridge of Spies
8.  The Revenant