88th Academy Awards Predictions

Here are my predictions for who will be bringing home the little statues this year. These are not my personal choices, but rather who I think the Academy picks. For the purposes of this blog, I will stick to the main categories. This is not a conversation about Oscar snubs or the race issue, simply who I think will win based on the nominees.

Best Visual Effects

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (please have it take home something)

Best Written Adapted Screenplay

• Drew Goddard for The Martian

Best Cinematography 

• Emmanuel Lubezki for The Revenant

Best Original Screenplay

• Quentin Tarantino for the Hateful Eight. Wait? Not an option? Well than I would say Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for Spotlight. 

Best Supporting Actress

• Alicia Vikander for Ex Machina. I don't care what it says, Ex Machina was her best performance. 

Best Supporting Actor

• Please...please give it Sylvester Stallone for Creed

Best Animated Feature Film

• Inside Out. Nothing comes close

Best Director

• Alejandro Inarritu for The Revenant 

Best Actress

• Brie Larson for Room

Best Actor 

• I think the Academy gives it to Leo for The Revenant but I won't lie, I want to see his reaction when loosing even more. 

Best Picture

• The Revenant (But I'm pulling for Mad Max)

For a complete list of all the nominations click here. 

They're just movies. Why do they matter?

Well, here I am to start a new adventure-my first blog. Interestingly enough, I have a feeling this will be the easiest blog to write.

To some, it may seem silly to have such an interest in movies. Many times people will say, "what's the point? They don't mean anything. They don't matter." If you have that opinion, that's more than fine. 

But here's my side.

Since the beginning of time (yes I know how cliche that sounds), we as a species, have been storytellers. Telling stories is what we do. It's what we've always done. In ancient cultures, civilizations would tells stories by painting images on walls of caves. Shakespeare would write stories for the stage, in which the audience would be captivated by the sheer brilliance of the story telling. 

Movies are the ultimate form of storytelling and the impact of storytelling can't be denied.

I was lucky enough to see Star Wars the Force Awakens opening night. It was a theatre going experience I will never forget. The excitement and anticipation in that theatre could be felt the moment I sat down. To my left, there was an elderly couple holding hands. To my right, a young family with 2 small children. And you know what happened when this came on screen...

...everyone young and old, erupted in cheer. 

Movies matter. They mattered to everyone in that movie theatre, and they matter to me. They are able to transport people to a world that at one point, was only there in their minds. They can make us laugh, cry and have that moment of euphoria. 

Perhaps that elderly couple hadn't been on a date for years, and yet they went to the movies that night for a shared experience. Maybe the Force Awakens was the first time those 2 small children had ever been to the cinema, and for them, it will be a lasting experience for the rest of their lives.

Movies matter, so let's talk about them.