SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON A NIGHT OF SHOCKS: THE 88TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

Nobody thought it was possible: win the Best Picture Oscar with only one other win? And at that, the first award of the night? Half way through, it looked like even The Revenant wasn't going to be able to pull off the big win, as its tally was being depleted by an astonishing surge by Mad Max: Fury Road - six wins for George Miller's film! The later awards favoured Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's western, however, and indeed both he and Leonardo DiCaprio won their expected trophies. But the gasps and cheers that greeted Morgan Freeman's announcement of Spotlight as the surprise Best Picture winner - and with only one other award won, Original Screenplay, to The Revenant's three and Mad Max's six - were confirmation: not only was this our Best Picture winner for 2015, it was also our most surprising winner since 2005's Crash, after our most unpredictable race in who knows how long.
     And there were even bigger shocks in other categories: Sylvester Stallone's widely predicted victory in Supporting Actor failed to materialise, as BAFTA champ Mark Rylance won instead. The Visual Effects award went to perhaps the most left-field winner in memory: Ex Machina, only the second time a Best Picture nominee has failed to win that award (when nominated) in history, and a choice utterly no-one had predicted. And Best Original Song went to 'Writing's on the Wall' from Spectre - the night's most reviled decision by a clear distance, and featuring the most mocked (and inaccurate) acceptance speech statement from singer Sam Smith, who claimed to be the first openly gay man to win an Oscar (he's not). Check out the nominations at this link, and grin gleefully over the award winners in full, below:

Best Picture

Spotlight (Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Michael Sugar)

Best Directing

Alejandro González Iñárritu (The Revenant)

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Brie Larson (Room)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)

Best Writing – Original Screenplay

Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Spotlight)

Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay

Adam McKay and Charles Randolph (The Big Short)

Best Cinematography

Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant)

Best Film Editing

Margaret Sixel (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Production Design

Colin Gibson and Lisa Thompson (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Costume Design

Jenny Beavan (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Sound Mixing

Chris Jenkins, Ben Osmo and Gregg Rudloff (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Sound Editing

Mark A. Mangini and David White (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Visual Effects

Mark Ardington, Sara Bennett, Paul Norris and Andrew Whitehurst (Ex Machina)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Damian Martin, Lesley Vanderwalt and Elka Wardega (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Music (Original Score)

Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight)

Best Music (Original Song)

Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith – ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ (Spectre)

Best Animated Feature Film

Inside Out (Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera)

Best Documentary Feature

Amy (James Gay-Rees and Asif Kapadia)

Best Foreign Language Film

Son of Saul – Hungary (Nemes László)

Best Short Film (Live Action)

Stutterer (Serena Armitage and Benjamin Cleary)

Best Short Film (Animated)

Bear Story (Pato Escala and Gabriel Osorio)

Best Documentary Short

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy)

FIVE BAFTAS FOR THE REVENANT ON THE ROAD TO OSCAR

The Revenant took one step further still to Oscar victory with yesterday's BAFTAs. Five awards for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's western, though Mad Max: Fury Road put up a show of strength in the tech categories, where it claimed four. Brits Mark Rylance and Kate Winslet won in the supporting acting categories, putting each of them in a strong position to upset Oscar frontrunners Sylvester Stallone and Alicia Vikander two weeks from now. Check out BAFTA's nominations list at this link, and their winners below:

Best Film
The Revenant (Steve Golin, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Arnon Milchan, Mary Parent and Keith Redmon)

Best Director
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant)

Best Leading Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

Best Leading Actress
Brie Larson (Room)

Best Supporting Actor
Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)

Best Supporting Actress
Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)

Best Original Screenplay
Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Spotlight)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Adam McKay and Charles Randolph (The Big Short)

Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant)

Best Editing
Margaret Sixel (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Production Design
Colin Gibson and Lisa Thompson (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Costume Design
Jenny Beavan (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Sound
Lon Bender, Chris Duesterdiek, Martin Hernandez, Frank A. Montano, Jon Taylor and Randy Thom (The Revenant)

Best Special Visual Effects
Chris Corbould, Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh and Neal Scanlan (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

Best Makeup & Hair
Damian Martin and Lesley Vanderwalt (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Original Music
Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight)

Best Animated Film
Inside Out (Pete Docter)

Best Documentary
Amy (James Gay-Rees and Asif Kapadia)

Best Film Not in the English Language
Wild Tales (Damian Szifron)

Outstanding British Film
Brooklyn (John Crowley, Finola Dwyer, Nick Hornby and Amanda Posey)

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Rupert Lloyd - producer; and Naji Abu Nowar - writer / director (Theeb)

Best British Short Film
Operator (Caroline Bartleet and Rebecca Morgan)

Best British Short Animation
Edmond (Nina GAntz and Emilie Jouffroy)

The EE Rising Star Award
John Boyega

OKLAHOMA FILM CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCES 2015 WINNERS

 

Three more awards for Spotlight, these from the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle! The OFCC announced a top ten films of the year, which Spotlight topped, and award winners in 13 other categories, including a Most Disappointing Film award, and Best Supporting Actor, which went to two performers - Spotlight's Michael Keaton and Creed's Sylvester Stallone. Check them out below:

Best Picture
1. Spotlight
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Brooklyn
4. Ex Machina
5. The Big Short
6. Carol
7. The Revenant
8. Inside Out
9. Sicario
10. The Hateful Eight

Best Director
George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

Best Actress
Brie Larson (Room)

Best Supporting Actor
Michael Keaton (Spotlight)
Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

Best Supporting Actress
Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina)

Best Original Screenplay
Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Spotlight)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Adam McKay and Charles Randolph (The Big Short)

Best Animated Film
Inside Out

Best Documentary
Amy

Best Foreign Language Film
Son of Saul

Best First Feature
Alex Garland (Ex Machina)

Best Body of Work
Alicia Vikander (Burnt / The Danish Girl / Ex Machina / Testament of Youth)

Most Disappointing Film
Tomorrowland

SCI-FI SUCCESSES WITH UTAH FILM CRITICS AWARDS

Another critics group, another Best Picture win for Mad Max: Fury Road. The action epic beat out its sci-fi companion The Martian to the top award with the Utah Film Critics Association, also winning two others. The Martian could only bag one award, claiming the runner-up position in a further three categories. And there's a particularly inspired choice for Best Supporting Actress! Take a look at the UFCA's Spotlight-less winners, and their runners-up, below:

Best Picture

1. Mad Max Fury Road

2. The Martian

Best Directing

1. George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)

2. Ridley Scott (The Martian)

Best Actor, Male

1. Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

2. Matt Damon (The Martian)

Best Actor, Female

1. Brie Larson (Room)

2. Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)

Best Supporting Actor, Male

1. Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

2. Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina)

Best Supporting Actor, Female

1. Rose Byrne (Spy)

2. Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina)

Best Original Screenplay

1. Inside Out

2. Spotlight

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. The Martian

2. Brooklyn

Best Cinematography

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. The Revenant

Best Animated

1. Inside Out

2. Shaun the Sheep Movie

Best Documentary

1. The Hunting Ground

2. Amy

Best Non-English

1. Timbuktu

2. Son of Saul

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD TAKES BEST PICTURE AT BOSTON ONLINE FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Following strong showings at awards from major groups the NBR and the NYFCC, Mad Max: Fury Road looks to be staking an early claim on the critics section of the current awards season. It wins both Best Picture and Best Director from the Boston Online Film Critics Association, and sweeps up the association's tech awards too, winning Best Cinematography, Editing and Original Score. All the info, including a Best Picture top ten and winners in other categories, is below:

Best Picture

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. Creed

3. Brooklyn

4. Carol

5. Spotlight

6. Clouds of Sils Maria

7. Bridge of Spies

8. The Martian

9. Anomalisa

10. Tangerine

Best Director

George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Actor

Michael B. Jordan (Creed)

Best Actress

Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)

Best Supporting Actor

Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

Best Supporting Actress

Kristen Stewart (Clouds of Sils Maria)

Best Screenplay

Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Spotlight)

Best Cinematography

John Seale (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Editing

Margaret Sixel (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Original Score

Tom Holkenborg (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Ensemble

Spotlight

Best Animated Film

Inside Out

Best Documentary

Amy

Best Foreign Language Film

Son of Saul

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD WINS FIRST AWARD OF SEASON - NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW

The National Board of Review often bestows its top award of the year on a film based on a literary source; this year, they chose a film based on a legacy of action films and a genius filmmaker's imagination. Mad Max: Fury Road is the (slight) surprise winner of the NBR's Best Film award, joining other less-than-expected choices on their list such as Sicario and Straight Outta Compton on their Top 10 list, major showings for late-breakers Creed and The Hateful Eight, but not for Joy nor The Revenant, and no love for critics fave Carol. Last year, this group chose A Most Violent Year as their Best Film pick - a film that went on to secure zero Oscar nominations total. Check out their full list of winners and other citations below:

Best Film

Mad Max: Fury Road

Bridge of Spies

Creed

The Hateful Eight

Inside Out

The Martian

Room

Sicario

Spotlight

Straight Outta Compton

Best Director

Ridley Scott (The Martian)

Best Actor

Matt Damon (The Martian)

Best Actress

Brie Larson (Room)

Best Supporting Actor

Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight)

Best Original Screenplay

Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Drew Goddard (The Martian)

Best Ensemble

The Big Short

Best Animated Feature

Inside Out

Best Documentary

Amy

Best of Enemies

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

The Diplomat

Listen to Me Marlon

The Look of Silence

Best Foreign Language Film

Son of Saul

Goodnight Mommy

Mediterranea

Phoenix

The Second Mother

The Tribe

Best Independent Film

'71

45 Years

Cop Car

Ex Machina

Grandma

It Follows

James White

Mississippi Grind

Welcome to Me

While We're Young

Best Directorial Debut

Jonas Carpignano (Mediterranea)

Best Breakthrough Actor

Abraham Attah (Beasts of No Nation)

Jacob Tremblay (Room)

NBR Freedom of Expression Award

Beasts of No Nation

Mustang

Spotlight Award for Outstanding Collaborative Vision

Sicario

William K. Everson Film History Award

Cecilia de Mille Presley