Oscar Nominees 2016: Which Ones To Watch?

We have a tradition of watching as many of the Oscar nominees as possible before the actual gala. Then of course, we all need to pick the ones we think are going to win each category. Afterwards, we’ll count points. During, we play this Oscars drinking game.

But I understand not everyone is obsessed with it all to the same extend as us – not everyone wants to see all the nominated films. And that’s totally a-ok. You are allowed to just pick and watch one or two you’re curious about. But how do you choose? Is it the cast, is it the topic, is it the genre? Which one would you watch with a boyfriend or a girlfriend, with your parents, with a group of friends?

Oscars Nominees 2016 – Which Ones To Watch?

We’ve gathered here a handy list of short reviews and comments of each of the Oscar nominees of the main categories we’ve seen so far (Best Picture, Directing, Actor / Actress in a Leading Role, Actor / Actress in a Supporting Role). We’ll be adding the rest as soon as we’ve seen them and have something to say!

Hope you enjoy – let us know what you think in the comments below!

45 Years
Nominated for: Actress in a Leading Role (Charlotte Rampling)

(Coming soon…)

The Big Short
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actor in a Supporting Role (Christian Bale), Directing (Adam McKay)

Dat cast. Look at that cast. It’s a group of incredible performers, which means you might stay entertained, even if you don’t understand any of the Wall Street talk. (There’s a lot of it.)

Recommended for: Friends, Film Nerds

Bridge of Spies
Nominated for: Nominated for: Best Picture, Actor in a Supporting Role (Mark Rylance), Music (Original Score), Production Design, Sound Mixing, Writing (Original Screenplay)

Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance under directions from Steven Spielberg. Rylance is FUN! No earth-shattering surprises, but a great story and quality, well… everything.

Recommended for: Couples, Friends, Film Nerds, Drama Lovers.

Carol
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role (Cate Blanchett), Actress in a Supporting Role (Rooney Mara), Cinematography, Costume Design, Music (Original Score), Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

(Coming soon…)

The Danish Girl
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role (Eddie Redmayne), Actress in a Supporting Role (Alicia Vikander), Costume Design, Production Design

Ow. My heart. Not everyone agrees with this, but this film might actually change a world a little bit. Read our full review here.

Recommended for: Couples, Friends, Film Nerds, Drama Lovers.

Joy
Nominated for: Actress in a Leading Role (Jennifer Lawrence)

(Coming soon…)

Mad Max: Fury Road
Nominated for: Directing (George Miller), Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hair Styling, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects

Of all the Oscar nominees with several nominations this is by far the most (happily) surprising. Who would’ve thought a Mad Max film climbs all the way to the top of our favorite films of the year list? Well, it did. We actually went to see it several times on the big screen. You’ll need a bit of sense of humor to really enjoy this. Includes exactly 0 boring moments.

Recommended for: (Fun) Couples, Film Nerds, Action Junkies, Cinematography Appreciators

The Martian
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role (Matt Damon), Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Matt Damon (to us at least) is so annoyingly likable. No wonder we’ve fictionally spent billions to save him from distant places and trouble. Good giggles, nerve-wrecking space moments.

Recommended for: Everyone.

The Revenant
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role (Leonardo DiCaprio), Actor in a Supporting Role (Tom Hardy), Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing (Alejandro G. Iñárritu), Film Editing, Makeup and Hair Styling, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects

This is pure cinetomatography porn. Incredible long shots, incredible everything. The trio DiCaprio-Hardy-Gleeson is incredible. All the feels. All the win. A slow-paced, painful struggle in the most impossible of environments. You’ll have to truly appreciate the art of film-making to get The Revenant.

Recommended for: Film Nerds, Endurers of Blood and Guts, Fans of Hardy’s Grunts, Leo Supporters

Room
Nominated for: Actress in a Leading Role (Brie Larson), Directing (Lenny Abrahamson), Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

(Coming soon…)

Spotlight
Nominated for: Actor in a Supporting Role (Mark Ruffalo), Actress in a Supporting Role (Rachel McAdams), Directing (Tom McCarthy), Film Editing, Writing (Original Screenplay)

Oh wow. This is good. So good. Again, a super fantastic cast acting out an important story from our not-so-distant past. Shocking, touching, entertaining. (Look at Ruffalo go!)

Recommended for: Couples, Friends, Film Nerds, My Fellow Keaton Lovers

Steve Jobs
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role (Michael Fassbender), Actress in a Supporting Role (Kate Winslet)

Hey, not bad. The reviews haven’t been so great, but what do you know? To us, it’s a genuinely entertaining flick with some great acting. How is it possible for Fassbender to transform into all these different characters so well?!?

Recommended for: Friends, Drama Lovers, iPeople

Trumbo
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role (Bryan Cranston)

(Coming soon…)

Handy Oscar Nominees Links

• IMDb’s Awards Central with links to each film
• Oscar.com’s official Nominees Page with printable lists