NOTE: These are my picks for what I think will win, NOT what I want to win.
BEST PICTURE The Big Short Bridge of Spies Brooklyn Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Room Spotlight
Best Picture is wide open this year. I think it will come down to three films - Spotlight, The Revenant, and The Big Short. Spotlight is a film that really appeals to the Academy. It potrays an important issue and features a great cast. Although the film is realistic and doesn't feel Hollywood, I think it will take home the prize. Look out for Mad Max: Fury Road tough, it's a dark horse. BEST ACTOR Bryan Cranston, Trumbo Matt Damon, The Martian Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
It's Leo's year. It would be a stunning turn of events if he were to lose. The industry has rallied behind him, fans have rallied behind him. It's his time. BEST ACTRESS Cate Blanchett, Carol Brie Larson, Room Jennifer Lawrence, Joy Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Cate Blanchett is an Academy darling, but she's won numerous times. The Academy also likes to reward young, first-time nominees and Larson is more than deserving as a mother who is being held captive with her young son in small shed. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Christian Bale, The Big Short Tom Hardy, The Revenant Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Oscar night is about rewarding movies, so it doesn't come as a surprise that the voters also love a story when deciding a winner. What's a better story than nominating an actor for playing a role he was nominated for nearly 40 years ago (a character he also created)? The symmetry is too perfect for the Academy to ignore.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight Rooney Mara, Carol Rachel McAdams, Spotlight Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
SEE ABOVE: Larson, Brie Vikander is the new Hollywood "It" girl, she also could have been nominated for her fantastic performance in Ex Machina. DIRECTING Adam McKay - The Big Short George Miller - Mad Max: Fury Road Alejandro G. Iñárritu - The Revenant Lenny Abrahamson - Room Tom McCarthy - Spotlight
The popular pick here is going to be Inarritu to repeat after his win for directing Birdman last year, but I think the Academy will reward legendary director George Miller who burst back on the scene (he last directed Happy Feet 2 in 2011), with a bizarre, high-octane thrill ride. ANIMATED FEATURE FILM Anomalisa Boy and the World Inside Out Shaun the Sheep Movie When Marnie Was There
Inside Out and it's not even close. I could make a case that it should have been nominated for Best Picture.
COSTUME DESIGN Carol Cinderella The Danish Girl Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant
This category usually goes to a period film, but Fury Road features some seriously wild costumes.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Amy Cartel Land The Look of Silence What Happened, Miss Simone? Winter on Fire
From what I hear, this documentary about talented singer Amy Winehouse is a heart-breaking portrayal of a legendary musician's downward spiral into drug abuse.
DOCUMENTARY SHORT Body Team Chau, Beyond the Lines Claude Lanzmann A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness Last Day of Freedom
Just go with it. I did my research. MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING Mad Max: Fury Road The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared The Revenant
I'll never understand why the Makeup category only has three nominations every year. Anyway, Fury Road takes another technical category. ORIGINAL SONG "Earned It" - Fifty Shades of Grey "Manta Ray" - Racing Extinction "Simple Song #3" - Youth "Til It Happens to You" - The Hunting Ground "Writing's on the Wall" - Spectre
The song is performed by Lady Gaga and the Academy loves star power.
ANIMATED SHORT Bear Story Prologue Sanjay's Super Team We Can't Live Without Cosmos World of Tomorrow
When in doubt, go with Pixar. SOUND EDITING Mad Max: Fury Road Sicario Star Wars: The Force Awakens The Martian The Revenant
Typically, the winner of Sound Editing also wins Best Picture, but I chose Spotlight to win Best Picture, so I'm going with Mad Max: Fury Road. SOUND MIXING Bridge of Spies Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Sound Editing and Sound Mixing usually go hand-in-hand. FILM EDITING The Big Short Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant Spotlight Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Fury Road continues to pile up awards and, as I'm writing this, I'm starting to wonder if it has a legit shot to win Best Picture. FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Embrace of the Serpent Mustang Son of Saul Theeb A War
It's a Holocaust film, which equals Oscar gold. ORIGINAL SCORE Bridge of Spies Carol The Hateful Eight Sicario Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Hateful Eight was largely ignored this year, but legendary composer Ennio Morricone takes home the statue.
PRODUCTION DESIGN Bridge of Spies The Danish Girl Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant
Did you even see the film? Then don't even question it. VISUAL EFFECTS Ex Machina Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Gotta throw a bone to the biggest film of the year (ever?).
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY The Big Short Brooklyn Carol The Martian Room
I could see Room winning, but The Academy is going to want to reward The Big Short with something so it doesn't go home empty handed. The film is unique and earns points for making boring, confusing subject matter compelling filmmaking.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Bridge of Spies Ex Machina Inside Out Spotlight Straight Outta Compton
I'd love to see Ex Machina or Inside Out win here, but it's going to be hard to beat Spotlight. Don't rule out the Oscar apology that would be a Straight Outta Compton win. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Carol The Hateful Eight Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant Sicario
Make it three years in a row (Gravity, Birdman) for cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. I would love to see Roger Deakins win for Sicario. Sicario was ignored big time this year and Deakins is one of the best cinematographers of all-time and has been nominated 13 times without winning. LIVE ACTION SHORT Ave Maria Day One Everything Will Be Okay Shok Stutterer
It's categories like these that are essential to get right in order to win your pool. It's a comedy that mixes in a timely issue, it sounds like a winner to me.