Oscar Rights And Wrongs

Best Picture- What won- Spotlight. A great film, no argument there but the film that critics loved and people came out in droves to see was Mad Max: Fury Road. Not only a superb piece of cinema but harmonic with the zeitgeist.

Best Actress- Who won- Brie Larson. Absolutely deserved for a magnificent performance in Room. The other nominees' performances are all relatively routine although there were some very interesting lead performances this year- Lily Tomlin in Grandma, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez in Tangerine, Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road, Teyonah Parris in Chi-Raq to name a few.

Best Actor- Who won- Leo DiCaprio. Certainly deserving, not for The Revenant which did not require much actual craft but for The Aviator and The Departed. The other nominees are all pretty negligible, familiar performances in standard awards season fair. Two majorly deserving male lead performances passed over this year were Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight and Michael B. Jordan in Creed.

Supporting Actress- Who won- Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl. Who should have won- Alicia Vikander for Ex Machina. A much more complex, nuanced, difficult performance. Although not nominated Joan Allen in Room certainly should have been in contention, an under seen and under acknowledged turn.

Supporting Actor- Who won- Mark Rylance. A relative unknown who put in a "quiet" "understated" performance in the outmoded Bridge Of Spies. Who should have won- Sylvester Stallone. Not only is the actor a genre pioneer with a career that spans half a century and counting, an honest-to-goodness American legend, his performance in Creed is his best incarnation of Rocky since the original. A layered, emotional, compassionate performance. Criminally overlooked.

Adapted Screenplay- What won- The Big Short. It's a good film worthy of recognition especially given the care and precision with which Adam McKay translates and makes palatable the confusing financial ins-and-outs, well deserved validation for McKay as an artist capable far beyond broad comedy.

Original Screenplay- What won- Spotlight. Its a great film and deserving of recognition from the incredible ensemble cast to the tight, concise, compelling narrative. Devoid of flash, delivering substance. It would have been just however for Ex Machina to get some love for a script so imaginative, rich, and unique.

Documentary- What won- Amy. Amy is exploitative and thin, more a reveling in the deceased artist's addiction rather than a celebration of her creative contribution. What should have won- The Look Of Silence. Oppenheimer should have been honored in 2013 for The Act Of Killing but his follow up if not as sensational is dark, dangerous, and contemplative. An investigation of a real world issue exploring repugnant evil and stunning courage in equal measure.

Live-Action Short- What won- Stutterer. Easy to follow with predictable resolution, a pretentiously "quirky" love story. What should have won- Day One. A film by an Iraq War veteran, personal, poignant, and both bleak and hopeful. Way more stakes and relevance then the other pedestrian nominees.

Animated Short- What won- Bear Story. Interestingly animated and melancholic Bear Story is not unworthy of recognition but in a competition as competitive as this one was it did not necessarily distinguish itself. What should have won- World Of Tomorrow. Easily the most engaging, thought-provoking, and unique of all the nominees. Packed with insight, regret, humor, and a prescient look at the possible future it was head and shoulders above its fellow nominees.