And the 2016 Oscar Nominations Are…

The Nominations are in!

The Academy Awards has released the official list of the nominations for this year’s Oscars.

The Academy Awards is celebrating 88 years of stunning dresses, brilliant talent, grateful speeches, and little golden men.

This year you can watch the Oscars live on February 28th. The amazing actors, actresses, directors, casts, and support crew members are gathering together to recognize the films and shorts of 2015.

Oscars Nominations! Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Oscars Nominations! Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

After one of the best years in cinematic history, viewers can watch as their favorite films go up against other great films in mortal combat. Okay…Maybe not mortal combat. But I would love to see Jennifer Lawrence and Cate Blanchett go all out.

The Oscars are one of my favorite awards show to watch. The Pizza order, celebrity selfie, and expectation of Jennifer Lawrence falling down again, how can you not expect hilarity to ensue.

Chris Rock will do a fantastic job!

The Oscars. Image Courtesy of barneysbeanery.com.
The Oscars. Image Courtesy of barneysbeanery.com.

BEST PICTURE

The Big Short 

“Four outsiders to Wall Street use what are sometimes perceived as eccentric insights into the U.S. financial markets to predict the meltdowns of the housing market and big banks in 2008. Betting together on the coming catastrophe, the quartet manages to invest shrewdly and amass a fortune, all while exposing the corruption of several large financial institutions.” -Oscars.go.com

The Big Short. Image Courtesy of shockya.com.
The Big Short. Image Courtesy of shockya.com.

 

Bridge of Spies

“In 1957, in the midst of the Cold War, New York insurance lawyer James Donovan is enlisted to provide a pro-bono defense for Rudolf Abel, who is accused of spying for the Russians. The CIA then sends Donovan to East Berlin to conduct precarious negotiations with the Soviets to exchange Abel for a recently captured U.S. Air Force pilot, Francis Gary Powers.”-Oscars.go.com

Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.
Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.

Brooklyn

“In 1952, Eilis Lacey leaves Ireland to immigrate to Brooklyn, where she has a better chance of finding work. Crushed by homesickness, Eilis finds her spirits lifted by an Italian-American suitor with whom she falls in love. When she must return to Ireland, Eilis is courted by a hometown boy and finds herself torn between two countries and the two men who love her.”-Oscars.go.com

Brooklyn. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Brooklyn. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.” -Oscars.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

The Martian

“Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind when an unexpected storm hits Mars, forcing his crewmates to abandon their mission. Watney, a botanist, must engineer ways to feed himself and survive the harsh environment, and after he reestablishes communication with NASA, scientists around the globe race against time to rescue him.”-Oscars.go.com

The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.
The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscars.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

Room

“A young woman who has been held in captivity in a small shed for seven years tries to make as normal a life as she can for her five-year-old son, Jack, who knows her only as “Ma.” When Ma and Jack escape their captor, Old Nick, they must cope with the outside world and forge relationships with Ma’s conflicted family.”-Oscars.go.com

Room. Image Courtesy of traileraddict.com.
Room. Image Courtesy of traileraddict.com.

Spotlight

“In 2001, the journalists of The Boston Globe‘s Spotlight team begin investigating Father John Geoghan, who is accused of molesting more than 80 boys. As they dig deeper and acknowledge their paper’s own failings, the team uncovers a conspiracy of lawyers and government officials who helped the Boston Archdiocese hide the pedophilia of many priests and deny justice to the victims.”-Oscars.go.com

Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.
Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.

BEST ACTOR

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

“Bryan Cranston portrays Dalton Trumbo, a successful Hollywood screenwriter who struggles to survive professionally after being blacklisted in the late 1940s.”-Oscars.go.com

Bryan Cranston Trumbo. Image Courtesy of popsugar.com.
Bryan Cranston Trumbo. Image Courtesy of popsugar.com.

Matt Damon, The Martian

“Matt Damon plays Mark Watney, an astronaut stranded on Mars who must engineer the means to survive the planet’s harsh environment long enough to be rescued.”-Oscars.go.com

Matt Damon The Martian. Image Courtesy of fastcocreate.com.
Matt Damon The Martian. Image Courtesy of fastcocreate.com.

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

“Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Hugh Glass, a 19th-century American frontiersman who is left for dead by his comrades after being mauled by a bear during a winter expedition.”-Oscars.go.com

Leonardo DiCaprio The Revenant. Image Courtesy of celebuzz.com.
Leonardo DiCaprio The Revenant. Image Courtesy of celebuzz.com.

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

“Michael Fassbender plays Steve Jobs, a technology innovator whose personal relationships are marred by discord while his career is filled with both groundbreaking achievements and shattering losses.”-Oscars.go.com

Michael Fassbender Steve Jobs. Image Courtesy of cultofmac.com.
Michael Fassbender Steve Jobs. Image Courtesy of cultofmac.com.

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

“As Lili, Eddie Redmayne portrays an artist torn by the societal norms and restrictions of the early 20th century while trying to transition from male to female.”-Oscars.go.com

Eddi Redmayne The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of collider.com.
Eddi Redmayne The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of collider.com.

BEST ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett, Carol

“Cate Blanchett plays Carol Aird, a sophisticated housewife who is threatened with losing custody of her daughter because of her relationship with another woman.”-Oscars.go.com

Cate Blanchett Carol. Image Courtesy of etonline.com.
Cate Blanchett Carol. Image Courtesy of etonline.com.

Brie Larson, Room

“Brie Larson portrays Ma, a woman held captive in a small shed for seven years, who strives to create a normal life for her young son.”-Oscars.go.com

Brie Larson Room. Image Courtesy of thefilmstage.com.
Brie Larson Room. Image Courtesy of thefilmstage.com.

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

“Jennifer Lawrence plays Joy, a single mother with a conflicted extended family, whose determination to better her life prompts her to invent the Miracle Mop.”-Oscars.go,com

Jennifer Lawrence Joy. Image Courtesy of oscars.org.
Jennifer Lawrence Joy. Image Courtesy of oscars.org.

Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years

“As Kate Mercer, Charlotte Rampling plays a woman whose plans for a party to celebrate her 45th wedding anniversary are disrupted by unsettling news.”-Oscars.go.com

Charlotte Rampling 45 Years. Image Courtesy of lesoir.be.
Charlotte Rampling 45 Years. Image Courtesy of lesoir.be.

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

“Saoirse Ronan plays Eilis, a young woman who finds love after immigrating to America, although her relationship and feelings for her new country are tested when she returns to Ireland.”-Oscars.go.com

Saoirse Ronan Brooklyn. Image Courtesy of ew.com.
Saoirse Ronan Brooklyn. Image Courtesy of ew.com.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christian Bale, The Big Short

“As Michael Burry, Christian Bale plays an eccentric money manager who anticipates the 2008 financial crisis and bets against the housing industry.”-Oscars.go.com

Christian Bale The Big Short. Image Courtesy of fastcocreate.com.
Christian Bale The Big Short. Image Courtesy of fastcocreate.com.

Tom Hardy, The Revenant

“As John Fitzgerald, Tom Hardy plays an early 19th-century trapper who goes against orders and abandons a gravely injured comrade in the wilderness.”-Oscars.go.com

Tom Hardy The Revenant. Image Courtesy of cinemablend.com.
Tom Hardy The Revenant. Image Courtesy of cinemablend.com.

Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight

“As Mike Rezendes, Mark Ruffalo plays a reporter on The Boston Globe‘s Spotlight team investigating the conspiracy surrounding sexual abuse committed by priests.”-Oscars.go.com

Mark Ruffalo Spotlight. Image Courtesy of ultimatemovierankings.com.
Mark Ruffalo Spotlight. Image Courtesy of ultimatemovierankings.com.

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

“As Rudolf Abel, Mark Rylance plays an undercover KGB agent stationed in the U.S. who is apprehended and tried for espionage.”-Oscars.go.com

Mark Rylance Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of moviescopemag.com.
Mark Rylance Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of moviescopemag.com.

Sylvester Stallone, Creed

“Sylvester Stallone plays Rocky Balboa, a former heavyweight champion who is persuaded to come out of retirement to train the son of his late best friend.”-Oscars.go.com

Sylvester Stallone Creed. Image Courtesy of today.com.
Sylvester Stallone Creed. Image Courtesy of today.com.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

“Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Daisy Domergue, a female outlaw in the 19th century who has been apprehended by a bounty hunter and is being taken to face justice.”-Oscars.go.com

Jennifer Jason Leigh The Hateful Eight. Image Courtesy of denofgeek.us.
Jennifer Jason Leigh The Hateful Eight. Image Courtesy of denofgeek.us.

Rooney Mara, Carol

“Rooney Mara plays Therese Belivet, a department store clerk in the 1950s who longs for a more fulfilling life and falls in love with a refined older woman.”-Oscars.go.com

Rooney Mara Carol. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Rooney Mara Carol. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

Rachel McAdams, Spotlight

“As Sacha Pfeiffer, Rachel McAdams plays a reporter for The Boston Globe‘s Spotlight team during their inquiry into the Catholic Church’s clergy sex-abuse scandal.”-Oscars.go.com

Rachel McAdams Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.
Rachel McAdams Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.

Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

“Alicia Vikander plays Gerda, a painter in the 1920s who wrestles with her course of action when her husband reveals his desire to live as a woman.”-Oscars.go.com

Alicia Vikander The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.
Alicia Vikander The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.

Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

“Kate Winslet portrays Joanna Hoffman, the marketing executive who helps to steer Steve Jobs’s computer companies to success.”-Oscars.go.com

Kate Winslet Steve Jobs. Image Courtesy of time.com.
Kate Winslet Steve Jobs. Image Courtesy of time.com.

DIRECTING

Adam McKay, The Big Short

“Four outsiders to Wall Street use what are sometimes perceived as eccentric insights into the U.S. financial markets to predict the meltdowns of the housing market and big banks in 2008. Betting together on the coming catastrophe, the quartet manages to invest shrewdly and amass a fortune, all while exposing the corruption of several large financial institutions.

Including his nomination this year for Adapted Screenplay for THE BIG SHORT, this is the second Academy Award nomination for Adam McKay.”-Oscars.go.com

Adam McKay The Big Short. Image Courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com.
Adam McKay The Big Short. Image Courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com.

George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.

Including his nomination this year for Best Picture for MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, this is the sixth Academy Award nomination for George Miller. He was previously nominated for:
HAPPY FEET (2006): Winner, Animated Feature Film, BABE (1995): Nominee, Best Picture, BABE (1995): Nominee, Writing (Adapted), LORENZO’S OIL (1992): Nominee, Writing (Original)”-Oscars.go.com

George Miller Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of craveonline.com.
George Miller Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of craveonline.com.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.

Including his nomination this year for Best Picture for THE REVENANT, this is the seventh Academy Award nomination for Alejandro G. Iñárritu. He was previously nominated for:
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) (2014):
Winner, Directing, BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) (2014):
Winner, Best Picture, BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) (2014):
Winner, Writing (Original), BABEL (2006): Nominee, Directing, BABEL (2006): Nominee, Best Picture”-Oscars.go.com

Alejandro Inarritu The Revenant. Image Courtesy of ew.com.
Alejandro Inarritu The Revenant. Image Courtesy of ew.com.

Lenny Abrahamson, Room

“A young woman who has been held in captivity in a small shed for seven years tries to make as normal a life as she can for her five-year-old son, Jack, who knows her only as “Ma.” When Ma and Jack escape their captor, Old Nick, they must cope with the outside world and forge relationships with Ma’s conflicted family.

This is the first Academy Award nomination for Lenny Abrahamson.”-Oscars.go.com

Lenny Abrahamson Room. Image Courtesy of cineuropa.org.
Lenny Abrahamson Room. Image Courtesy of cineuropa.org.

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

“In 2001, the journalists of The Boston Globe‘s Spotlight team begin investigating Father John Geoghan, who is accused of molesting more than 80 boys. As they dig deeper and acknowledge their paper’s own failings, the team uncovers a conspiracy of lawyers and government officials who helped the Boston Archdiocese hide the pedophilia of many priests and deny justice to the victims.

Including his nomination this year for Original Screenplay for SPOTLIGHT, this is the third Academy Award nomination for Tom McCarthy. He was previously nominated for:
UP (2009): Nominee, Writing (Original)”-Oscars.go.com

Tom McCarthy Spotlight. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Tom McCarthy Spotlight. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Anomalisa

“Michael Stone, a middle-aged motivational speaker who is grappling with an existential crisis, attends a customer service convention in Cincinnati to give a speech. At the hotel, he meets and falls for Lisa, a seemingly ordinary woman who sparks his imagination and energizes him to reexamine his life.”-Oscars.go.com

Anomalisa. Image Courtesy of lisarosman.com.
Anomalisa. Image Courtesy of lisarosman.com.

Boy and the World

“Despite his family’s poverty, young Cuca lives a satisfying life, full of wonder at his rural surroundings, until his father goes on a train trip and disappears. While searching for his father, Cuca meets a wide variety of people as he journeys from a farming camp to the ocean and a large factory and then back to the big city.”-Oscars.go.com

Boy and the World. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.
Boy and the World. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.

Inside Out

“When 11-year-old Riley and her parents move to a new city, it’s up to Riley’s five main emotions — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust — to help her adjust. Joy and Sadness are accidentally launched on a journey through Riley’s brain to preserve her core memories, and as the duo races back to Headquarters, Fear, Anger and Disgust must figure out how to guide Riley.”-Oscars.go.com

Inside Out. Image Courtesy of screenrant.com.
Inside Out. Image Courtesy of screenrant.com.

Shaun the Sheep Movie

“Shaun and his fellow sheep are disgruntled with the Farmer’s adherence to his rigid schedule, which leaves no room for spontaneous fun, but when he goes missing in the Big City, the flock and sheepdog Bitzer leave their rural home to hunt for their pal, all the while eluding a power-mad animal containment officer.”-Oscars.go.com

Shaun the Sheep Movie. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.
Shaun the Sheep Movie. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.

When Marnie Was There

“After lonely young Anna is sent to live in Hokkaido with her relatives, she spends her time drawing and exploring her rural home. Anna is befriended by a mysterious blonde girl named Marnie who lives in an isolated mansion, and as their bond grows, Anna becomes obsessed with uncovering the secret of Marnie’s life.”-Oscars.go.com

When Marnie Was There. Image Courtesy of usatoday.com.
When Marnie Was There. Image Courtesy of usatoday.com.

COSTUME DESIGN

Carol

“In the early 1950s, department store clerk Therese Belivet is entranced by Carol Aird, a self-assured suburban housewife. As their relationship intensifies, Therese and Carol find themselves subjected to vehement scrutiny, especially by Carol’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Harge, and Carol is pressured to abandon the affair in order to retain custody of her young daughter.”-Oscars.go.com

Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.
Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.

Cinderella

“Left an orphan by the death of her father, Ella is treated as a servant by her stepmother, Lady Tremaine, and two spoiled stepsisters. When she meets the Prince in the forest one day, Ella charms him, and although the Prince is determined to pursue his mystery woman, Lady Tremaine and the Grand Duke are equally intent on keeping the pair apart.”-Oscars.go.com

Cinderella. Image Courtesy of lamourdanimer.deviantart.com.
Cinderella. Image Courtesy of lamourdanimer.deviantart.com.

The Danish Girl

“In the late 1920s, Danish landscape painter Einar Wegener poses as a female dancer for his wife, Gerda, while she waits for her model to arrive. Stirred by the experience and supported by Gerda, Einar begins a journey fraught with both emotional and physical peril as he transitions into his true self, a woman called Lili Elbe.”-Oscars.go.com

The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of reveal.co.uk.
The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of reveal.co.uk.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscars.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscars.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

Amy

“British singer Amy Winehouse, a six-time Grammy® winner who died at the age of 27 in 2011 from the cumulative effects of substance abuse, had a turbulent life after her powerful singing voice was discovered and she was propelled to fame. Her strong personality, complicated marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil and love-hate relationship with the press are reflected in her music.”-Oscars.go.com

Amy. Image Courtesy of mirror.co.uk.
Amy. Image Courtesy of mirror.co.uk.

Cartel Land

“On opposite sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, two vigilante groups led by men staunch in their belief that they are saving their countries, fight against Mexican drug cartels. In Arizona, military veteran Tim “Nailer” Foley leads a paramilitary group called Arizona Border Recon, while in the Mexican state of Michoacán, Dr. Jose Mireles organizes the citizens rising up against the Knights Templar cartel.”-Oscars.go.com

Cartel Land. Image Courtesy of ew.com.
Cartel Land. Image Courtesy of ew.com.

The Look of Silence

“Optometrist Adi was born after the 1966 murder of his brother during the genocide in Indonesia. Burdened by his parents’ sorrow, Adi has led a quiet life ruled by fear of the government until he learns the identities of his brother’s killers. Adi confronts the men and asks them to accept responsibility for their actions, thereby ending five decades of silence.”-Oscars.go.com

The Look of Silence. Image Courtesy of thefilmstage.com.
The Look of Silence. Image Courtesy of thefilmstage.com.

What Happened, Miss Simone?

“In addition to being a recording artist and powerful presence at her concerts, singer-songwriter Nina Simone was a civil rights activist. With Simone’s determination to live a life of honesty in which her music and politics were paramount, her relationships with her family, friends and collaborators were complicated and frequently difficult.”-Oscars.go.com

What Happened, Miss Simone Image Courtesy of hutchinscenter.fas.harvard.edu.
What Happened, Miss Simone Image Courtesy of hutchinscenter.fas.harvard.edu.

Winter on Fire

“During three months in 2013 and 2014, student demonstrations in Kiev’s Maidan Square developed into a revolution by diverse groups of people calling for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych. Hoping for stronger ties to the European Union, protesters fought against government military forces to oppose Yanukovych’s efforts to ally with Russia.”-Oscars.go.com

Winter on Fire. Image Courtesy of schoenheitsoperationen.biz.
Winter on Fire. Image Courtesy of schoenheitsoperationen.biz.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Body Team 12

“In Monrovia, Liberia, Garmai Sumo is the only female member of Body Team 12, one of the many teams collecting the bodies of those who died from Ebola during the height of the 2014 outbreak. Despite the perilous nature of her job and the distrust with which she is often met, Garmai remains dedicated to her work.”-Oscars.go.com

Body Team 12. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.
Body Team 12. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.

Chau, Beyond the Lines

“Chau, a teenager living in a Vietnamese care center for children born with birth defects due to Agent Orange, struggles with the difficulties of realizing his dream to become a professional artist and clothing designer. Despite being told that his ambitions are unrealistic, Chau is determined to live an independent, productive life.”-Oscars.go.com

Chau, beyond the lines. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.
Chau, beyond the lines. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.

Claude Lanzmann

“Thirty years after the release of the documentary SHOAH, filmmaker Claude Lanzmann discusses the personal and professional difficulties he encountered during the more than 12 years it took to create the work. Lanzmann also discusses his relationships with Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, and his teenage years spent fighting in the French Resistance during World War II.”-Oscars.go.com

Claude Lanzmann. Image Courtesy of jewishfilmfestivals.org.
Claude Lanzmann. Image Courtesy of jewishfilmfestivals.org.

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness

“Every year, more than 1,000 girls and women are the victims of religiously motivated honor killings in Pakistan, especially in rural areas. Eighteen-year-old Saba, who fell in love and eloped, was targeted by her father and uncle but survived to tell her story.”-Oscars.go.com

A Girl in the River. Image Courtesy of timesofentertainment.com.
A Girl in the River. Image Courtesy of timesofentertainment.com.

Last Day of Freedom

“When Bill Babbitt realized that his brother Manny had committed a crime, he agonized over the decision to call the police, knowing that Manny could face the death penalty but hoping he would instead receive the help he needed. Manny, an African-American veteran who served two tours in Vietnam, suffered from PTSD and had found it difficult to obtain healthcare.”-Oscars.go.com

Last Day of Freedom. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.
Last Day of Freedom. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.

MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscars.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

“After spending an eventful life amid such history-making settings as the Spanish Civil War, the development of the Manhattan Project, a Soviet gulag and the Berlin Wall, Swedish centenarian and munitions enthusiast Allan Karlsson escapes from his nursing home and goes on an adventure involving a suitcase filled with loot, gangsters and an elephant named Sonya.”-Oscars.go.com

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.
The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscars.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

ORIGINAL SONG

“Earned It”, Fifty Shades of Grey

“When literature student Anastasia Steele is tasked with interviewing a university benefactor, billionaire Christian Grey, the two share an immediate attraction. Christian sets out to seduce the virginal Ana, and as he grooms her to become the latest participant in his string of dominant-submissive relationships, Ana must decide if she can accept Christian’s insistence on a romance-free liaison.”-Oscars.go.com

Fifty Shades of Grey. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Fifty Shades of Grey. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

“Manta Ray”, Racing Extinction

“Scientists are predicting that we have entered the sixth major extinction event in Earth’s history, and that we may lose half the species on the planet by the end of the century. Hoping to stop the loss of wildlife, activists are joining forces to expose the international black-market trade in endangered animals and the deadly results of carbon emissions and acidified oceans.”-Oscars.go.com

Racing Extinction. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.
Racing Extinction. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.

“Simple Song #3”, Youth

“Retired composer and conductor Fred Ballinger is vacationing at a Swiss spa with his old friend, movie director Mick Boyle, who is writing a new screenplay that he intends to be his swan song. As Fred tries to comfort his daughter, whose marriage to Mick’s son has crumbled, he muses about his life and where his ambitions and talent have taken him.”-Oscars.go.com

Youth. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.
Youth. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.

“Til It Happens to You”, The Hunting Ground

“With studies indicating that 16-20% of women are sexually assaulted while attending college in the United States, more and more survivors are speaking about their experiences. As colleges strive to protect their brands and financial stability, assault victims often experience cover-ups by campus officials and police, but survivors continue to pursue their education and fight for changes in campus policies.”-Oscars.go.com

The Hunting Ground. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.
The Hunting Ground. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.

“Writing’s on the Wall”, Spectre

“James Bond, acting on instructions left by the deceased M, goes on a hunt to stop a sinister organization known as SPECTRE. Aided by the daughter of an old foe, as well as Q, Moneypenny and the new M, Bond uncovers a terrorist cyber plot with global reach that is being orchestrated by a surprising enemy from his past.”-Oscars.go.com

Spectre. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.
Spectre. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.

ANIMATED SHORT

Bear Story

“Every day, a melancholy old bear takes a mechanical diorama that he has created out to his street corner. For a coin, passersby can look into the peephole of his invention, which tells the story of a circus bear who longs to escape and return to the family from which he was taken.”-Oscars.go.com

Bear Story. Image Courtesy of punkrobot.cl.
Bear Story. Image Courtesy of punkrobot.cl.

Prologue

“2,400 years ago, four warriors — two Spartan and two Athenian — battle to the death in an intense struggle witnessed by a little girl, who then runs to her grandmother for comfort.”-Oscars.go.com

Prologue. Image Courtesy of shortfilmposters.com.
Prologue. Image Courtesy of shortfilmposters.com.

Sanjay’s Super Team

“Young Sanjay, a first-generation Indian-American, is obsessed with television, cartoons and his superhero action figures. He is reluctant to spend time in daily prayers with his devout Hindu father, but a flight of imagination helps him develop a new perspective that he and his father can both embrace.”-Oscars.go.com

Sanjay's Super Team. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.
Sanjay’s Super Team. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.

We Can’t Live Without Cosmos

“Two best friends have dreamed since childhood of becoming cosmonauts, and together they endure the rigors of training and public scrutiny, and make the sacrifices necessary to achieve their shared goal.”-Oscars.go.com

We Can't Live Without Cosmos. Image Courtesy of awn.com.
We Can’t Live Without Cosmos. Image Courtesy of awn.com.

World of Tomorrow

“A little girl named Emily is taken on a fantastical tour of her distant future by a surprising visitor who reveals unnerving secrets about humanity’s fate.”-Oscars.go.com

World of Tomorrow. Image Courtesy of awn.com.
World of Tomorrow. Image Courtesy of awn.com.

SOUND EDITING

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscars.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

Sicario

“FBI Agent Kate Macer is recruited by a shadowy government official to join an inter-agency task force to apprehend a Mexican cartel leader. Guided by a consultant with a suspicious agenda and a tendency to use brutal tactics, Kate embarks on a mission that forces her to question her idealism and leaves her unsure who she can trust.”-Oscars.go.com

Sicario. Image Courtesy of goodfilmguide.co.uk.
Sicario. Image Courtesy of goodfilmguide.co.uk.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“Thirty years after rebel forces triumphed over the Empire, Luke Skywalker has gone missing, and the First Order, a tyrannical regime powered by the Dark Side, goes on a rampage to find him. Disillusioned by the violence, Stormtrooper Finn allies with scavenger Rey and pilot Poe Dameron, who, along with Han Solo and Chewbacca, join the new Resistance led by General Leia.”-Oscars.go.com

Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.
Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.

The Martian

“Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind when an unexpected storm hits Mars, forcing his crewmates to abandon their mission. Watney, a botanist, must engineer ways to feed himself and survive the harsh environment, and after he reestablishes communication with NASA, scientists around the globe race against time to rescue him.”-Oscars.go.com

The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.
The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscars.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

FILM EDITING

The Big Short

“Four outsiders to Wall Street use what are sometimes perceived as eccentric insights into the U.S. financial markets to predict the meltdowns of the housing market and big banks in 2008. Betting together on the coming catastrophe, the quartet manages to invest shrewdly and amass a fortune, all while exposing the corruption of several large financial institutions.”-Oscars.go.com

The Big Short. Image Courtesy of shockya.com.
The Big Short. Image Courtesy of shockya.com.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscars.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscars.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

Spotlight

“In 2001, the journalists of The Boston Globe‘s Spotlight team begin investigating Father John Geoghan, who is accused of molesting more than 80 boys. As they dig deeper and acknowledge their paper’s own failings, the team uncovers a conspiracy of lawyers and government officials who helped the Boston Archdiocese hide the pedophilia of many priests and deny justice to the victims.”-Oscars.go.com

Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.
Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“Thirty years after rebel forces triumphed over the Empire, Luke Skywalker has gone missing, and the First Order, a tyrannical regime powered by the Dark Side, goes on a rampage to find him. Disillusioned by the violence, Stormtrooper Finn allies with scavenger Rey and pilot Poe Dameron, who, along with Han Solo and Chewbacca, join the new Resistance led by General Leia.”-Oscars.go.com

Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.
Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Embrace of the Serpent

“In 1909, Colombian shaman Karamakate guides German explorer Theo on an expedition through the Amazonian wilderness to locate a sacred plant, which may cure Theo’s puzzling illness. Forty years later, Karamakate again witnesses the changes wrought by Westerners on the region’s indigenous peoples when he embarks on a similar journey with an American scientist.”-Oscar.go.com

Embrace of the Serpent. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.
Embrace of the Serpent. Image Courtesy of oscars.go.com.

Mustang

“Five orphaned teenage sisters enjoy the summer in their village in northern Turkey, but one day, their romping with male friends is misinterpreted and reported to their family as sexual licentiousness. Determined to keep the girls pure, the family effectively imprisons them, prompting the girls to become even more closely knit as they rebel against their arranged marriages.”-Oscar.go.com

Mustang. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Mustang. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

Son of Saul

“In October 1944, Saul Ausländer is a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando, a group of Jewish prisoners forced to lead other inmates in Auschwitz-Birkenau to their deaths and dispose of their bodies in the crematoriums. One day, Saul finds a young boy and, taking him for his son, tries to arrange for a proper Jewish funeral for him.”-Oscar.go.com

Son of Saul. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Son of Saul. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

Theeb

“In Hejaz province, Arabia, recently orphaned brothers Hussein and Theeb, who live a traditional Bedouin life, are caught up in the world events of 1916 when a British officer asks them to guide him through the desert to strategically important Ottoman train tracks. Their journey, fraught with danger, leads them in an unanticipated direction.”-Oscar.go.com

Theeb. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Theeb. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

A War

“Claus Pedersen, a Danish army commander in Afghanistan, does his best to lead his men with integrity and maintain their morale after one of their young comrades is killed by a landmine. During an unexpected siege, Claus makes a split-second decision that will have a life-changing effect on him, his company and his family.”-Oscar.go.com

A War. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
A War. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

ORIGINAL SCORE

Bridge of Spies

“In 1957, in the midst of the Cold War, New York insurance lawyer James Donovan is enlisted to provide a pro-bono defense for Rudolf Abel, who is accused of spying for the Russians. The CIA then sends Donovan to East Berlin to conduct precarious negotiations with the Soviets to exchange Abel for a recently captured U.S. Air Force pilot, Francis Gary Powers.”-Oscar.go.com

Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.
Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.

Carol

“In the early 1950s, department store clerk Therese Belivet is entranced by Carol Aird, a self-assured suburban housewife. As their relationship intensifies, Therese and Carol find themselves subjected to vehement scrutiny, especially by Carol’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Harge, and Carol is pressured to abandon the affair in order to retain custody of her young daughter.”-Oscar.go.com

Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.
Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.

The Hateful Eight

“A few years after the Civil War, a bounty hunter is taking in a female outlaw in Wyoming when their stagecoach is stopped by a former Union officer and a Southerner. The quartet is then forced to seek shelter from a blizzard at a waystation, where four more travelers greet them, and as tensions rise, the eight realize that they may not all survive.”-Oscar.go.com

The Hateful Eight. Image Courtesy of junkiemonkeys.com.
The Hateful Eight. Image Courtesy of junkiemonkeys.com.

Sicario

“FBI Agent Kate Macer is recruited by a shadowy government official to join an inter-agency task force to apprehend a Mexican cartel leader. Guided by a consultant with a suspicious agenda and a tendency to use brutal tactics, Kate embarks on a mission that forces her to question her idealism and leaves her unsure who she can trust.”-Oscar.go.com

Sicario. Image Courtesy of goodfilmguide.co.uk.
Sicario. Image Courtesy of goodfilmguide.co.uk.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“Thirty years after rebel forces triumphed over the Empire, Luke Skywalker has gone missing, and the First Order, a tyrannical regime powered by the Dark Side, goes on a rampage to find him. Disillusioned by the violence, Stormtrooper Finn allies with scavenger Rey and pilot Poe Dameron, who, along with Han Solo and Chewbacca, join the new Resistance led by General Leia.”-Oscar.go.com

Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.
Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Bridge of Spies

“In 1957, in the midst of the Cold War, New York insurance lawyer James Donovan is enlisted to provide a pro-bono defense for Rudolf Abel, who is accused of spying for the Russians. The CIA then sends Donovan to East Berlin to conduct precarious negotiations with the Soviets to exchange Abel for a recently captured U.S. Air Force pilot, Francis Gary Powers.”-Oscar.go.com

Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.
Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.

The Danish Girl

“In the late 1920s, Danish landscape painter Einar Wegener poses as a female dancer for his wife, Gerda, while she waits for her model to arrive. Stirred by the experience and supported by Gerda, Einar begins a journey fraught with both emotional and physical peril as he transitions into his true self, a woman called Lili Elbe.”-Oscar.go.com

The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of reveal.co.uk.
The Danish Girl. Image Courtesy of reveal.co.uk.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscar.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

The Martian

“Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind when an unexpected storm hits Mars, forcing his crewmates to abandon their mission. Watney, a botanist, must engineer ways to feed himself and survive the harsh environment, and after he reestablishes communication with NASA, scientists around the globe race against time to rescue him.”-Oscar.go.com

The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.
The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscar.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

VISUAL EFFECTS

Ex Machina

“Twenty-something computer programmer Caleb wins a contest to spend a week at the isolated home of his boss, the CEO of the Internet’s largest provider. Caleb is thrilled to meet Nathan, whom he idolizes, but quickly learns the real reason for his presence: to administer a Turing test that judges the consciousness and abilities of Ava, a female android created by Nathan.”-Oscar.go.com

Ex Machina. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.
Ex Machina. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscar.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

The Martian

“Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind when an unexpected storm hits Mars, forcing his crewmates to abandon their mission. Watney, a botanist, must engineer ways to feed himself and survive the harsh environment, and after he reestablishes communication with NASA, scientists around the globe race against time to rescue him.”-Oscar.go.com

The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.
The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscar.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“Thirty years after rebel forces triumphed over the Empire, Luke Skywalker has gone missing, and the First Order, a tyrannical regime powered by the Dark Side, goes on a rampage to find him. Disillusioned by the violence, Stormtrooper Finn allies with scavenger Rey and pilot Poe Dameron, who, along with Han Solo and Chewbacca, join the new Resistance led by General Leia.”-Oscar.go.com

Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.
Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Big Short

“Four outsiders to Wall Street use what are sometimes perceived as eccentric insights into the U.S. financial markets to predict the meltdowns of the housing market and big banks in 2008. Betting together on the coming catastrophe, the quartet manages to invest shrewdly and amass a fortune, all while exposing the corruption of several large financial institutions.”-Oscar.go.com

The Big Short. Image Courtesy of shockya.com.
The Big Short. Image Courtesy of shockya.com.

Brooklyn

“In 1952, Eilis Lacey leaves Ireland to immigrate to Brooklyn, where she has a better chance of finding work. Crushed by homesickness, Eilis finds her spirits lifted by an Italian-American suitor with whom she falls in love. When she must return to Ireland, Eilis is courted by a hometown boy and finds herself torn between two countries and the two men who love her.”-Oscar.go.com

Brooklyn. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Brooklyn. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

Carol

“In the early 1950s, department store clerk Therese Belivet is entranced by Carol Aird, a self-assured suburban housewife. As their relationship intensifies, Therese and Carol find themselves subjected to vehement scrutiny, especially by Carol’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Harge, and Carol is pressured to abandon the affair in order to retain custody of her young daughter.”-Oscar.go.com

Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.
Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.

The Martian

“Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind when an unexpected storm hits Mars, forcing his crewmates to abandon their mission. Watney, a botanist, must engineer ways to feed himself and survive the harsh environment, and after he reestablishes communication with NASA, scientists around the globe race against time to rescue him.”-Oscar.go.com

The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.
The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.

Room

“A young woman who has been held in captivity in a small shed for seven years tries to make as normal a life as she can for her five-year-old son, Jack, who knows her only as “Ma.” When Ma and Jack escape their captor, Old Nick, they must cope with the outside world and forge relationships with Ma’s conflicted family.”-Oscar.go.com

Room. Image Courtesy of traileraddict.com.
Room. Image Courtesy of traileraddict.com.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Bridge of Spies

“In 1957, in the midst of the Cold War, New York insurance lawyer James Donovan is enlisted to provide a pro-bono defense for Rudolf Abel, who is accused of spying for the Russians. The CIA then sends Donovan to East Berlin to conduct precarious negotiations with the Soviets to exchange Abel for a recently captured U.S. Air Force pilot, Francis Gary Powers.”-Oscar.go.com

Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.
Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.

Ex Machina

“Twenty-something computer programmer Caleb wins a contest to spend a week at the isolated home of his boss, the CEO of the Internet’s largest provider. Caleb is thrilled to meet Nathan, whom he idolizes, but quickly learns the real reason for his presence: to administer a Turing test that judges the consciousness and abilities of Ava, a female android created by Nathan.”-Oscar.go.com

Ex Machina. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.
Ex Machina. Image Courtesy of imdb.com.

Inside Out

“When 11-year-old Riley and her parents move to a new city, it’s up to Riley’s five main emotions — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust — to help her adjust. Joy and Sadness are accidentally launched on a journey through Riley’s brain to preserve her core memories, and as the duo races back to Headquarters, Fear, Anger and Disgust must figure out how to guide Riley.”-Oscar.go.com

Inside Out. Image Courtesy of screenrant.com.
Inside Out. Image Courtesy of screenrant.com.

Spotlight

“In 2001, the journalists of The Boston Globe‘s Spotlight team begin investigating Father John Geoghan, who is accused of molesting more than 80 boys. As they dig deeper and acknowledge their paper’s own failings, the team uncovers a conspiracy of lawyers and government officials who helped the Boston Archdiocese hide the pedophilia of many priests and deny justice to the victims.”-Oscar.go.com

Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.
Spotlight. Image Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.

Straight Outta Compton

“In the mid-1980s, five young men from Compton — Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren — form a hip-hop group called N.W.A. As their music takes off, they attract the attention of veteran rock manager Jerry Heller, but the pressures of fame cause dissension among the bandmates, prompting them to pursue separate careers.”-Oscar.go.com

Straight Outta Compton. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.
Straight Outta Compton. Image Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Carol

“In the early 1950s, department store clerk Therese Belivet is entranced by Carol Aird, a self-assured suburban housewife. As their relationship intensifies, Therese and Carol find themselves subjected to vehement scrutiny, especially by Carol’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Harge, and Carol is pressured to abandon the affair in order to retain custody of her young daughter.”-Oscar.go.com

Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.
Carol. Image Courtesy of empireonline.com.

The Hateful Eight

“In the early 1950s, department store clerk Therese Belivet is entranced by Carol Aird, a self-assured suburban housewife. As their relationship intensifies, Therese and Carol find themselves subjected to vehement scrutiny, especially by Carol’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Harge, and Carol is pressured to abandon the affair in order to retain custody of her young daughter.”-Oscar.go.com

The Hateful Eight. Image Courtesy of junkiemonkeys.com.
The Hateful Eight. Image Courtesy of junkiemonkeys.com.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscar.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscar.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

Sicario

“FBI Agent Kate Macer is recruited by a shadowy government official to join an inter-agency task force to apprehend a Mexican cartel leader. Guided by a consultant with a suspicious agenda and a tendency to use brutal tactics, Kate embarks on a mission that forces her to question her idealism and leaves her unsure who she can trust.”-Oscar.go.com

Sicario. Image Courtesy of goodfilmguide.co.uk.
Sicario. Image Courtesy of goodfilmguide.co.uk.

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

Ave Maria

“Five nuns living in the West Bank find their routine disrupted when the car of a family of Israeli settlers breaks down outside the convent. Unable to use the telephone due to Sabbath restrictions, the family needs help from the nuns, but the sisters’ vow of silence requires them to work with their visitors to find an unorthodox solution.”-Oscar.go.com

Ave Maria. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Ave Maria. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

Day One

“On the heels of a painful divorce, an Afghan-American woman joins the U.S. military as an interpreter and is sent to Afghanistan. On her first mission, she accompanies troops pursuing a bomb-maker, and must bridge the gender and culture gap to help the man’s pregnant wife when she goes into labor.”-Oscar.go.com

Day One. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Day One. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut)

“Michael, a divorced father devoted to his eight-year-old daughter, Lea, picks her up for their usual weekend together. At first it feels like a normal visit, but Lea soon realizes that something is different, and so begins a fateful journey.”-Oscar.go.com

No Image Available

Shok

“In Kosovo in 1998, two young boys are best friends living normal lives, but as war engulfs their country, their daily existence becomes filled with violence and fear. Soon, the choices they make threaten not only their friendship, but their families and their lives.”-Oscar.go.com

Shok. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Shok. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

Stutterer

“For a lonely typographer, an online relationship has provided a much-needed connection without revealing the speech impediment that has kept him isolated. Now, however, he is faced with the proposition of meeting his online paramour in the flesh, and thereby revealing the truth about himself.”-Oscar.go.com

Stutterer. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.
Stutterer. Image Courtesy of oscar.go.com.

SOUND MIXING

Bridge of Spies

“In 1957, in the midst of the Cold War, New York insurance lawyer James Donovan is enlisted to provide a pro-bono defense for Rudolf Abel, who is accused of spying for the Russians. The CIA then sends Donovan to East Berlin to conduct precarious negotiations with the Soviets to exchange Abel for a recently captured U.S. Air Force pilot, Francis Gary Powers.”-Oscar.go.com

Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.
Bridge of Spies. Image Courtesy of recentmovieposters.com.

Mad Max: Fury Road

“Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe’s stronghold.”-Oscars.go.com

Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.
Mad Max Fury Road. Image Courtesy of comingsoon.net.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“Thirty years after rebel forces triumphed over the Empire, Luke Skywalker has gone missing, and the First Order, a tyrannical regime powered by the Dark Side, goes on a rampage to find him. Disillusioned by the violence, Stormtrooper Finn allies with scavenger Rey and pilot Poe Dameron, who, along with Han Solo and Chewbacca, join the new Resistance led by General Leia.”-Oscars.go.com

Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.
Star Wars The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of starwars.com.

The Martian

“Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind when an unexpected storm hits Mars, forcing his crewmates to abandon their mission. Watney, a botanist, must engineer ways to feed himself and survive the harsh environment, and after he reestablishes communication with NASA, scientists around the globe race against time to rescue him.”-Oscars.go.com

The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.
The Martian. Image Courtesy of assignmentx.com.


The Revenant

“While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.”-Oscars.go.com

The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.
The Revenant. Image Courtesty of indiewire.com.

Hope you enjoy this year’s Academy Awards!