By: Grant Vance ~Managing Editor~
Fresh out of the Golden Globes and barreling straight into Oscar nominations, award season is back with a vengeance.
Several of Sunday’s Golden Globe winners are sure to overlap with Thursday’s list of films and filmmakers nominated for an Academy Award, but there will be some variations, as is the case every year. Based off the Golden Globe winners, along with common patterns established by The Academy throughout the years, there are a handful of films likely to rack up the most Oscars for 2015.
The three films I believe will attract the most Oscar love this season are “The Revenant,” “Carol” and “Spotlight.”
“The Revenant” won several Golden Globes, including Best Director for Alejandro Inarritu, Best Lead Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio and Best Picture. This is an especially likely contender for the Academy this year. Not only because Inarritu won best director and picture at last year’s Academy Awards for “Birdman,” but also because of the sheer cinematic quality of “The Revenant”— a quality often rewarded by the hairless golden figure.
“Carol” is a top contender due to its emotionally complex story and progressive subject matter. Todd Hayne’s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s “The Price of Salt” tells the story of Therese (Rooney Mara) and Carol’s (Cate Blanchett) controversial love affair in 1950’s Manhattan. Considering the growing societal acceptance of the LGBTQ community, “Carol’s” nuance will certainly not be overlooked.
“Spotlight” started receiving Oscar buzz after its premiere at the Telluride International Film Festival. This film is being discussed for its tight, well-crafted portrayal of the Boston Globe’s coverage of the Catholic Church’s child molestation scandal. An exceptionally well-made film is rarely neglected, especially when covering controversial subject matter.
Though these films are likely to get a majority of the attention this year, there are several others I believe to be top contenders — potentially more likely than the three listed previously — for Academy Awards. These films include “Room,” “The Big Short,” “The Danish Girl,” “Trumbo,” “The Martian,” “Inside Out,” “Jobs” and “The Hateful 8.”
With awards waiting for everything from Best Original Score to Best Editing, there is plenty of room for many of 2015’s greats to be recognized for their cinematic accomplishments. Don’t forget to catch the 88th Academy Awards on Feb. 28.