2016 OSCARS: Nominations Announced!

The nominations for the 2016 Oscars were announced today! Chris Rock will host the 88th Annual AcademyAwards, for the second time in his career, on Sunday February 28, 2016. The Revenant led with 12 nominations, with Mad Max: Fury Road right behind with 10 nominations. The other big story is that all 20 of the nominees in the acting categories are white, and Ridley Scott, the director of The Martian (my pick for best film of the year) did not get nominated for Best Director even though he has never won an Oscar, despite previously making Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise.

Here are the top 8 categories that I usually make predictions about:

Best Picture

• The Big Short
• Bridge of Spies
• Brooklyn
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Room
• Spotlight

Best Director

• Alejandro G. Inarritu, "The Revenant"
• Lenny Abrahamson,       "Room"
• Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight"
• Adam McKay, "The Big Short"
• George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road"

Best Actor

• Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
• Matt Damon, "The Martian"
• Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
• Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
• Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"

Best Actress

• Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
• Brie Larson, "Room"
• Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"
• Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years"
• Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn"

Best Supporting Actor

• Christian Bale, "The Big Short"
• Mark Ruffalo, "Spotlight"
• Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
• Sylvester Stallone, "Creed"
• Tom Hardy, "The Revenant"

Best Supporting Actress

• Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight"
• Rooney Mara, "Carol"
• Rachel McAdams, "Spotlight"
• Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"
• Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"

Best Original Screenplay

• Bridge of Spies
• Ex Machina
• Inside Out
• Spotlight
• Straight Outta Compton

Best Adapted Screenplay

• The Big Short
• Brooklyn
• Carol
• The Martian
• Room

I am looking forward to seeing Carol, The Revenant, Room and Bridge of Spies in the near future.