The end of the year and the beginning of the next signify many things.
It’s the holiday season and everyone is full of cheer, the weather is about to become drastically different, school is starting back up and the hard working people of the film and television industry finally get rewarded for their artistic triumphs.
Awards season is one of the most fascinating of the year. The Golden Globes and Oscars both make their cases for films and leave everyone laughing, crying and clapping for the winners and losers throughout. This season, the nominated films are some of the most enthralling in years. Here are a few of the nominated movies worth checking out.
1) Mad Max: Fury Road: George Miller’s take on the Mel Gibson classic updates the role with Tom Hardy taking the reigns. Nominated for Best Picture: Drama and Best Director, the film is one of the most critically acclaimed and commercial successes of the year. The film follows Max Rockatansky as he attempts to survive in the post-apocalyptic wasteland that remains in this dystopian future. After he’s captured by the War Boys, he escapes and finds himself reluctantly helping a female traitor from the group. They work together to escape the War Boys’ clutches and find the promised land. A film full of extravagant sets and beautiful visuals, the movie is one of the best this year.
2) The Revenant: Nominated for six different Golden Globes, including Best Picture and Best Actor, Alejandro Inarritu’s follow up to his award winning “Birdman” might be even better than it’s predecessor. The film takes place in the 1820s as a fur trader is left for dead by his crew and a traitor that killed his son. As he fights for survival, one thing keeps him going: the vengeance he seeks for his son. Filmed with Inarritu’s unique style, the film uses only natural light throughout and features visceral scenery coupled with an uncompromising performance from its lead, Leonardo DiCaprio.
3) The Martian: Ridley Scott’s space epic was nominated for three separate awards, Best Picture, Actor, and Director. Matt Damon headed an all-star cast that worked together to beautifully portray the story of a man stranded on Mars with little hope of survival. A story about perseverance, belief, and inner strength, “The Martian” is a terrific film for moviegoers everywhere. A funny movie with genuine emotion, Scott continues his excellent track record in 2016.
4) The Big Short: An adaption of Michael Lewis’ book of the same title, Adam McKay’s film explores the housing market crash of the mid-2000s and a few men behind the scenes. A group of bankers and Wall Street aficionados recognize the housing bubble and try to take advantage of the greedy banks to make some money from their poor foresight. Nominated for four Golden Globes, Best Picture, Screenplay, Actor, and Supporting Actor, the movie was a force of emotion throughout and left audience members floored. With an especially outstanding performance from Steve Carell, the film is grounded by its actors but becomes something more by its message.
5) Steve Jobs: Danny Boyle’s film was taken out of theater’s extremely quickly but still achieved remarkable critical acclaim. Nominated for four Golden Globes, including Best Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay, and Score, the film took advantage of a remarkable story and some remarkable performances. Filmed over three separate scenes, the film follows Apple founder Steve Jobs as he navigates his own life among his friends and his products.
