88th Academy Awards - Best Lead Actor and Actress + My Favorite Performances of 2015

Brandon Thompson
Feb 27, 2016
11 min read

For an actor there is no award more prestigious and career defining than an Oscar. Having an Oscar to your name means you have a higher asking price, every movie you are in will have the trailer say that you won an Oscar, even if the movie is bad. This year, of the 10 lead acting nominees two women have never been nominated for an Oscar before (Rampling and Larson) and only one of the men hasn't been nominated before (Cranston). So the Academy obviously prefered the performers who had been successful before.

Before I talk about the nominees in each category I want to talk about who my five picks would be for each category. There may be some overlap of the nominees but not very much as there are some overrated nominees

BEST ACTOR (MY CHOICES)

In alphabetical order

Michael Caine in Youth as Fred Ballinger

In a movie that was overlooked by the academy, Michael Caine leads this ensemble cast with one of his best performances since Children of Men. What I love about this performance is how human it feels. We see all the emotions a regular person will display, joy, sadness, fear and more. At points Caine mixes emotions to really show his skill. While he now may be known for working with Christopher Nolan, this is a performance late in his career that he should be remembered for.

Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs and Macbeth as Steve Jobs and Macbeth

While this may be cheating by counting two performances as one, I am willing to risk any haters. Playing the titular role in both movies Fassbender shows dedication to each role. He brings to the screen what so little actors can do. He can show great emotion but not get carried away and over act. He brings a huge presence and aura but never steals the show (this is also because he had great actors with him: Kate Winslet/Marion Cotillard). Fassbender also shows these qualities in 2015's Slow West but he had more of a supporting role so I didn't count that.

Andrew Garfield in 99 Homes as Dennis Nash

Andrew Garfield's portrayal of man who starts working for the man who evicted him out of his own home helps make this movie one of the most underrated movies of the year. When most people see him for his below average performance of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, it's great to see that Garfield works had in the indie part of the industry to help rebuild his reputation that he earned from earlier movie like The Social Network. Garfield in a sense plays three different characters here, or rather has three sides to himself. One is him being a moral guide for his son, another for supporting his mother (Laura Dern) and one who is almost an exact opposite of who he is for his son when he works for Michael Shannon's character.

Michael B Jordan in Creed as Adonis Creed

With the lack of coloured nominees at this year's Oscars this the performance that should've been in the top five. At the end of the movie Jordan's character says the line "That i'm not a mistake". This line not only works for the movie but for Jordan's career for the movie like Red Tails and Fantastic Four. While Creed does pay homage to Rocky, it doesn't copy the character and story of Rocky but build upon it to give us something new and fresh. Jordan makes Creed his movie even when Stallone has some great moments. If you haven't seen Creed, please do.

Antoine-Olivier Pilon in Mommy as Steve O'Connor Després

Of my choices no one is able to show more of a range of emotion than Pilon. Not only does Pilon have a great range of emotions on show but also personalities. His character suffers from a behavioural disability and Pilon is able to change between state of minds so well. While he didn't get an Oscar nomination out of the movie he did win the Canadian Screen Awards (Oscar equivalent) for Best Lead Actor.

BEST ACTOR (OSCAR NOMINEES)

Nominees

Bryan Cranston – Trumbo as Dalton Trumbo

Matt Damon – The Martian as Mark Watney

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant as Hugh Glass

Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs as Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl as Lili Elbe / Einar Wegener

Bryan Cranston as Donald Trumbo in Trumbo

Before I get to Cranston's performance I would like to add that I think this nomination was the academy's way of showing how much they liked Breaking Bad since they couldn't do so before. I think Cranston's performance is good and he certainly does carry the movie I don't feel like that this was an Oscar calibre performance. For the role of Trumbo, Gary Oldman was considered but if he had gotten the role and did just as good or a bit better I don't think the Academy would've recognised it.

Since the movie was about an Oscar winner who won against the odds and in secret it's the perfect example of what the academy likes to see in movies. However I think Cranston's performance is the least likely to win the award on the awards night.

Matt Damon as Mark Watney in The Martian

Of the nominations this performance is by far the most fun to watch even if Damon rarely shares screen time with other actors. In a performance that involves talking to the camera a lot Damon manages to be the centre of attention, but not in a bad way. In a movie that could've been sad and thought provoking in terms of 2001 or Moon, Damon delivers his lines that not only work for the story but make him a likable character.

The movie isn't a 'fun' movie all the time and we do see Damon go through some shit on Mars but when his character has highs we genuinely feel the highs too. Also Matt Damon helps prove Science is cool. While Damon probably won't win he did manage to add another Golden Globe to his name.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass in The Revenant

While Leo may be almost guaranteed to win an Oscar this year I think it's the wrong year to give it to him. His performance may be an extremely physical one I've seen him do better (The Departed and The Wolf of Wall Street). What I do like about Leo's performance is that he shows a lot character through his body which is essential when he has so little dialogue.

What also helps his performance and chances at winning the Oscar is the bear attack, weather you think it's one of great scenes of the year or one of the most infamous scenes of the year, it's undeniably a great technical achievement. When directing aids a performance so much in today's films I think part of this nomination is Innaritu's (https://vimeo.com/156260650).

Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs in Steve Jobs

The only performance that was nominated for an Oscar and is included on my list, is also easily the one that deserves to win. When so many actors only concentrate on how they deliver their lines and not in between (which is why Michael Keaton should've won last year) Fassbender does it like no one else this year.

Fassbender not only leads this movie also dominates over it without over acting and fighting for it. Fassbender this year has proved that not only can he do well with the big movies and blockbusters like X-Men and Prometheus but he excels in smaller movies like Steve Jobs, Inglourious Basterds, 12 Years a Slave, Hunger, Shame, Fish Tank and A Dangerous Method. If Fassbender wins it will be for his already great career.

Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe / Einar Wegene in The Danish Girl

While Redmayne won for his Oscar-bait turn as the ALS stricken Stephen Hawking last year he won't win for his Oscar-bait turn as the first person on record to undergo a transgender operation as Lili Elbe/Einar Wegnee. This movie was made to win Oscars and you only have to look at Tom Hooper's previous films to see the evidence.

Redmayne's performance doesn't go places you wouldn't it expect it. He's sad and confused when you expect and that's about the depth of character and performing you see from Redmayne. Unless you like movies that try to make you cry, stay away from this movie.

Who Could've Been Nominated

My shortlist for my Lead Actor choices were (and didn't make my top five)

(In no particular order)

Jacob Tremblay - Room

Jason Bateman - The Gift

Joel Edgerton - The Gift

Tom Hardy - Mad Max: Fury Road

Samuel L Jackson - The Hateful Eight

Joseph Gordon Levitt - The Walk

Colin Farrell - The Lobster

Tom Hanks - Bridge of Spies

Keanu Reeves - Knock Knock

Thomas Mann - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Tom Courtenay - 45 Years

Who Will Win

Leonardo DiCaprio (He was attacked by a bear, fell off a cliff, slept in a horse, sealed up a wound with gunpowder and got the revenge he was looking for)

Who Should Win

Michael Fassbender (Acting is reacting and for the people who say "if you want real acting see a stage play", watch Steve Jobs)

Who Should've Been Nominated

Michael B Jordan (Bringing such an interesting character to life with great skill)

BEST LEAD ACTRESS (MY CHOICES)

In alphabetical order

Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird in Carol

With another movie Blanchett proves she is the modern day and Australia's answer to Meryl Streep. What makes this performance unique is how Todd Haynes (the director) focuses on various parts of her physique, this includes her well manicured nails, blonde hair and lips. Blanchett delivers her lines with grace and when her position changes she doesn't go over the top, she feels like a real person.

Emily Blunt as Kate Mercer in Sicario

With so many drug movies out there, it's great to see one that has a female lead and a strong one too. Blunt's character may be strong but she has weaknesses and they're exploited. Blunt in the movie is audience in the movie. We go through her twists and turns, not the casts. This movie has received praise for the direction, score, cinematography and Benicio Del Toro's performance but Blunt is the star of the film and she carries it well.

Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet in Carol

Carol may not be my favorite movie of the year but it is certainly the best acted. While Mara may have been nominated in the Supporting Actress Category this where she belongs, with the Lead Actresses. Blanchett's character in Carol represents what we want and what we can most likely never get, while Mara is us, the regular person. As to whether or not Mara's character gets what she wants, you'll have to watch the movie to find out. Mara's character may not be the titular one, she has the most screen time (by about 1-2% more), but I think she manages to act with one of the greats and perfectly compliment her.

Amy Poehler as Joy in Inside Out

That's right I didn't choose Joy from Room or Joy I chose the Joy from Inside Out! While it may have only been a voice performance it left a mark on me. When I thought of this movie after seeing it, I thought of the voice of Joy. Poehler's casting may be the best casting decision from Pixar since Crystal/Goodman for Monsters Inc. Even as an emotion Poehler perfectly blends different emotions into her performance. This will be voice to remember in terms of animation.

Charlize Theron as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road

Hardy's performance from Mad Max just missed out on my top five male nominees but I couldn't refuse to put Theron in this top five. In what can easily be the most badass female action star since Ripley from Alien/s. Theron stole the show from Hardy and even causing some to say she is the main character. I not only is she one of the strongest female action heroes but she's also one of the strongest characters of the year. The moment you realise how good Theron is and Furiosa as a character is when Max lets her take the last shot of a gun after two misses and she uses him as support.

BEST LEAD ACTRESS (OSCAR NOMINEES)

Nominees

Cate Blanchett – Carol as Carol Aird

Brie Larson – Room as Joy "Ma" Newsome

Jennifer Lawrence – Joy as Joy Mangano*

Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years as Kate Mercer

Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn as Eilis Lacey

*I have not seen Joy as I didn't get the chance to see it in cinemas, so I won't talk about.

This year's Lead Actress category is easily the strongest of the acting categories and great arguments can be made for each performance. Two performances almost made my top five, one is in my top five, one I haven't seen and I think highly of the other.

Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird in Carol

As you may have noticed I didn't talk about this performance in as much detail as I did for Mara's, but I wanted to put some of it here. When Blanchett already has two Oscars it may seem unlikely for the academy to give her another one, especially since she won one two years ago.

If Spotlight was the perfect example of team acting this year, Carol is the perfect example of a duo. Blanchett's half is made more in her scenes with out Mara and when she is with her, everything feeds into it. The smoking of Blanchett's character represents the confusion she is going through and it's her way of relieving it.

Brie Larson as Joy "Ma" Newsome in Room

Larson is easily the favorite to win and i'm ok with it, this performance nearly made my top 5 and the movie might be in my top 10 of the year. Points need to go to Larson for her acting with Tremblay who wasn't even 10 when the movie was shot. She plays a mother really well as well as a victim of a horrendous crime.

Her performance ranges from the happy and motherly to the depressed and shut-off. Larson proves she is a force to be reckoned with here after her turn in smaller roles and movies. Larson uses her eyes really well. At points they will be wide open, barely blinking and at other points not looking at the person she is talking to and it adds to her performance greatly.

Jennifer Lawrence as Joy Mangano in Joy

I haven't seen Joy but I will when I get the chance.

Charlotte Rampling as Kate Mercer in 45 Years

This is the first nomination for the 70 year old actress and it's a wonder she hasn't been nominated before. 45 Years is another great example of duo acting but Rampling's performance overshadows Courtenay's. Of all the nominees she is given the most room to act with most of her performance is shown in wide shots. While it might be mainly be in wide shots Rampling holds our attention and manages to show us her character in more detailed and subtle ways then the other nominees.

What I like about the performance is that it's not about achieving something but rather it's more of a study about the characters in the movie and Rampling portrays it perfectly. It's such a relief to see some some acting like this in movies and i'm glad it was nominated, especially when it was a small movie. This too also almost made my top 5.

Saoirse Ronan as Eilis Lacey in Brooklyn

Try saying Saoirse Ronan out loud. If you can't I don't blame you. Luckily I can talk about her performance, of the nominees Ronan uses her facial expressions more than any of the others. One great scene is when Emory Cohen's character tells Ronan's about he feels. We can see that so much is going through her head as her face shows it all.

Ronan's arc in the movie is strong and mislead by the trailer. In the trailer it seems like that she has to choose between a love interest in New York and Ireland but rather it's a test of her love in New York. Also the trailer reveals too much. The costumes Ronan wears throughout the movie show a change in confidence and Ronan's acting back it up.

Who Could've Been Nominated

My shortlist for my Lead Actress choices were (and didn't make my top five)

(In no particular order)

Qi Shu - The Assassin

Mia Wasikowska - Crimson Peak

Maika Monroe - It Follows

Amy Schumer - Trainwreck

Naomi Watts - While We're Young

Lola Kirke - Mistress America

Who Will Win

Brie Larson (Showing us the importance of parenthood and life)

Who Should Win