The 88th Academy Awards: Flickreel’s Predictions

In 2014 we got six predictions correct. At last year’s event, we totalled a measly four. So let’s see how we get on this time around, as we here at Flickreel yet again provide our predictions for the annual Academy Awards.

Documentary Feature – Amy

It came as something of a surprise when Asif Kapadia’s heartbreaking documentary Senna was not even nominated for an Academy Award, despite winning the BAFTA in the very same category. However it’s likely that the filmmaker will get his hand on an Oscar at long last, this time, on his breathtaking, moving account of the life of Amy Winehouse.

Animated Feature Film – Anomalisa

Though Pixar’s Inside Out is most people’s favourite to win this award, it is Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s Anomalisa which we’ve gone with. Starring David Thewlis, and Jennifer Jason Leigh – also nominated for her role in Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight – Anomalisa is a touching, unique piece of cinema, that uses beautiful stop-motion animation to profound consequences.

Actress in a Supporting Role – Rooney Mara (Carol)

Before we start, it’s ridiculous that Rooney Mara is even featured in this category, as her turn in Todd Haynes’ Carol is a leading role – which is what she was recognised as when winning (well, sharing) the award for Best Actress at Cannes Film Festival. Nonetheless, the Academy have deemed her to be in a supporting role, and we’re almost certain that they’ll deem her to be the best too.

Actor in a Supporting Role – Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

A year ago even suggesting that Stallone would be nominated for an Oscar would have been enough for people to call you crazy – but his remarkable turn in Creed is undoubtedly deserving of such an accolade. It’s just a shame he’s the only nominee from the movie, which could so easily have been up for a whole host of awards. Still, one win is better than none.

Actress in a Leading Role – Brie Larson (Room)

The category for Best Actress this year is one of the strongest it has been for a good long while, and therefore one of the hardest to predict. You would have put your house on Julianne Moore coming out on top last year, and the same applies for Cate Blanchett the year before. But this time around it’s a much harder call, with Brie Larson just edging it. However it’s for good reason, as she is nothing short of exceptional in the enchanting, indelible drama Room.

Actor in a Leading Role – Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

It would seem, at long last, Leo’s time has finally come. Similarly to his regular collaborator Martin Scorsese – whose only Oscar is for The Departed – it does feel though that DiCaprio is getting a deserved award, just perhaps not for the most fitting production. You could argue Leo was better in The Wolf of Wall Street, for instance, but we’re sure he won’t mind, as long as he has a nice gold, sparkly Oscar sitting on his mantlepiece in a few weeks time, it’ll be a job well done.

Directing – Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (The Revenant)

Inarritu won this very award last year for Birdman, and we believe he’s set to take it home once again, this time for The Revenant. The film is not just brilliant for its narrative, or performances, it’s the way it has been crafted and put together – what it can evoke from the viewer, to be so savage and brutal and yet beautiful and inspiring. It’s a masterclass in filmmaking, and we expect the Academy to award Inarritu, once again, for his efforts.

Best Picture – The Revenant

The Revenant is also our choice for Best Picture, and while having deliberated on Spotlight, which is also in with a shout, for sure, we’ve opted for the former. Given the lack of one clear frontrunner, you really do feel that there are at least five films nominated that could win Best Picture without so much as a gasp from the watching audience, but The Revenant is a special piece of filmmaking, and is so immersive, in a similar way to how Birdman was. And we all know how that turned out…