It’s time to start trimming the fat. More Oscar contenders are starting to screen for analysts and audience members, meaning the annual awards race is shifting into focus. There’s still plenty of time to debate the merits of the major players, but more and more minor players are falling by the wayside. The bloodletting is about to begin.
With this reshuffling comes a drastic rearrangement near the top of each chart. Certain movies have cemented their status as contenders, though "frontrunner" is a dangerous term (as Steve Jobs proved that claiming it can lead to a backfire). There are still a number of strong movies that need to screen between now and the end of the year. Something like The Revenant or The Hateful Eight could drop and completely change the landscape of the Oscar discussion. But fall film festival favorites like Room, Brooklyn and Spotlight continue to earn prestige points while working the circuit, while The Martian continues to be a force at the box office.
With that in mind, here’s where I think the Oscar contenders sit on November 11:
| BEST PICTURE |
The FrontrunnersBrooklynThe MartianRoomSpotlightSteve Jobs
The ContendersBridge Of SpiesCarolConcussionEx MachinaThe Hateful EightInside OutJoyMad Max: Fury RoadThe Revenant
The Dark Horses45 YearsAnomalisaBeasts of No NationThe Big ShortBlack MassCreedThe Danish GirlThe End Of The TourIn The Heart of the SeaLove & MercyStraight Outta ComptonSuffragetteTrumbo
The LongshotsSicarioStar Wars: The Force AwakensYouth
For a while, I thought this was Danny Boyle’s category to lose. At the very least, I thought he had the nomination locked up. He still should get in to the race, and he remains in the discussion, but the way that Steve Jobs has underperformed at the box office has to give everyone pause.
| BEST DIRECTOR |
The FrontrunnerDanny Boyle, Steve JobsTom McCarthy, Spotlight
The ContendersLenny Abrahamson, RoomJohn Crowley, BrooklynAlejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, The RevenantGeorge Miller, Mad Max: Fury RoadDavid O. Russell, JoyRidley Scott, The MartianSteven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies
The Dark HorsesRyan Coogler, CreedScott Cooper, Black MassSarah Gavron, SuffragetteTodd Haynes, CarolTom Hooper, The Danish GirlRon Howard, In the Heart of the SeaAdam McKay, The Big ShortQuentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight
The LongshotsJ.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force AwakensAlex Garland, Ex MachinaPeter Docter, Inside OutPeter Landesman, ConcussionBill Pohlad, Love & MercyRobert Zemeckis, The Walk
Last season, Best Actor was a ridiculously competitive category, with just as many worthy candidates left on the outside of the category looking in as there was five eventual nominees. This year looks equally impressive, though there are a number of films yet to drop. Is this the year that Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins? Or could Matt Damon’s The Martian performance prove to be the spoiler?
| BEST ACTOR |
The FrontrunnersMatt Damon, The MartianJohnny Depp, Black MassMichael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
The ContendersBryan Cranston, TrumboLeonardo DiCaprio, The RevenantTom Hanks, Bridge of SpiesEddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
The Dark HorsesSteve Carell, The Big ShortJohn Cusack, Love & MercyMichael B. Jordan, CreedIan McKellen, Mr. HolmesEdgar Ramirez, JoyWill Smith, Concussion
The LongshotsMichael Caine, YouthRichard Gere, Time Out Of MindTom Hardy, LegendChris Hemsworth, In The Heart of the Sea
More people need to see Carol. It’s supposedly fantastic, with Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett owning the drama. But right now, a limited number of awards pundits have been allowed to see the film (outside of its festival screenings), which has allowed Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan to gain valuable momentum in the interim for Room and Brooklyn, respectively.
| BEST ACTRESS |
The FrontrunnerBrie Larson, RoomSaoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
The ContendersCate Blanchett, CarolJennifer Lawrence, JoyCarey Mulligan, SuffragetteCharlotte Rampling, 45 Years
The Dark HorsesEmily Blunt, SicarioMarion Cotillard, MacbethBlythe Danner, I’ll See You In My DreamsCharlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury RoadLily Tomlin, Grandma
The LongshotsCate Blanchett, TruthAngelina Jolie, By The SeaSarah Silverman, I Smile BackMaggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
More audience members will start to see Spotlight in the coming weeks, as Tom McCarthy’s gripping and airtight journalism drama opens in an increased number of theaters. Hopefully, from there, you all can help me figure out which of the male performers gives the better performance. I was blown away by the quiet fortitude Liev Schreiber brings to his role as the Boston Globe’s new publisher. But he’s equaled by Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Stanley Tucci, John Slattery… really, everyone is awesome. So, who makes the cut? We’ll see, in the next few weeks.
| BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR |
The FrontrunnersMichael Keaton, SpotlightMark Ruffalo, SpotlightMark Rylance, Bridge of SpiesJacob Tremblay, Room
The ContendersTom Courtenay, 45 YearsPaul Dano, Love & MercySeth Rogen, Steve JobsLiev Schreiber, SpotlightJason Segel, The End of the TourSylvester Stallone, Creed
The Dark HorsesChristian Bale, The Big ShortJim Broadbent, BrooklynAlbert Brooks, ConcussionBradley Cooper, JoyRobert De Niro, JoyBenicio Del Toro, SicarioBruce Dern, The Hateful EightJoel Edgerton, Black MassIdris Elba, Beasts of No NationRyan Gosling, The Big ShortTom Hardy, The RevenantOscar Isaac, Ex MachinaSamuel L. Jackson, The Hateful EightJason Mitchell, Straight Outta ComptonBrad Pitt, The Big ShortKurt Russell, The Hateful EightMichael Shannon, 99 Homes
The LongshotsJohn Goodman, TrumboHarvey Keitel, YouthSir Ben Kingsley, The Walk
Alicia Vikander long has been the frontrunner in this category, not just for her soul-baring work in The Danish Girl (which should earn her an Oscar win, not just a nomination), but in recognition of the exquisite year she had as a performer. I also finally caught Youth last week, though, and I understand why many believe Jane Fonda’s scant bit of screentime will earn her a nod. It’s a showy, vitriolic turn that drips with the resentment of an older actress – and a Hollywodo legend – leveling bitter (but accurate) criticisms at her industry. Biting the hand that has fed her for years? What better way to get Oscar’s attention? I bet it works in her favor come nomination morning.
| BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS |
The FrontrunnersRachel McAdams, SpotlightAlicia Vikander, The Danish GirlRooney Mara, Carol
The ContendersJoan Allen, RoomElizabeth Banks, Love & MercyJane Fonda, YouthJennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful EightKate Winslet, Jobs
The Dark HorsesHelena Bonham Carter, SuffragetteMelissa Leo, The Big ShortHelen Mirren, TrumboGugu Mbatha-Raw, ConcussionEllen Page, FreeheldMarisa Tomei, The Big ShortJulie Walters, BrooklynKatharine Waterston, Steve Jobs
The LongshotsJessica Chastain, The MartianDiane Ladd, Joy
