# Oscars: 2015 Best Picture nominees - ongoing tracking thread of which of the films you have seen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447 "2016-01-17T21:59:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/61 "2016-02-19T19:31:31Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > …didn’t see (and hardly available in theatres around here): > > Bridge of Spies > Mad Max: Fury Road Both are available on DVD. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/62 "2016-02-20T18:59:08Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Finally got around to seeing The Revenant last night. My updated rankings: > > 1. The Big Short > 2. Brooklyn > 3. The Revenant > 4. The Martian > 5. Bridge of Spies > 6. Spotlight And now I can add Mad Max to the list. I feel like I’m being generous when I say that I’m not sure I understand how/why this made the list. It was a decent action film with a couple of positive themes and a good climax scene. And this comes in a year where some highly anticipated action films (Spectre and The Avengers) were somewhat disappointing. But…yeah, I don’t get this one. It is 7th on my list, with the above order unchanged. We’ll probably watch Room this weekend since it’s streaming on Amazon, now. So very close to being done… ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/63 "2016-02-20T21:23:10Z")
Seen: The Revenant \*\*\*\* The Martian \*\*\*1/2 Mad Max: Fury Road \*\*\*1/2 Spotlight \*\*1/2 The Big Short \*\*1/2 Bridge of Spies \*\*1/2 Haven’t seen yet: Brooklyn Room Surprising in that I didn’t realize how highly I rated Mad Max and there are more mediocre movies than most years. I thought _Spotlight_, _The Big Short_ and _Bridge of Spies_, despite the great people involved, were all serviceable but readily forgotten. I wouldn’t bother re-watching any of them. If the first 3 were on right now I would start watching any one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/64 "2016-02-20T23:22:22Z")
Final tally: 1. Room 2. The Big Short 3. Brooklyn 4. The Revenant 5. The Martian 6. Bridge of Spies 7. Spotlight 8. Mad Max Amazing direction and performances in “Room.” Very emotional — I did not expect to be moved to the extent that I was. I’m a little surprised the kid didn’t get an acting nod. I don’t think I can ever sit through that one again, though. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/65 "2016-02-20T23:33:49Z")
My final rankings: Room–5 stars. I cried through at least 75% of this. Normally that’s not a selling point for me. I found this astonishingly well done. Larsen and Tremblay both deserved noms for their performances. The Big Short–5 stars. This was excellent. Stellar acting and storytelling with a difficult subject to make entertaining. The Martian–4.5 stars. Minor goofiness detracted slightly, but Matt Damon is really compelling. Bridge of Spies–4 stars. Not what I was expecting going in, but Tom Hanks is so watchable. A little heavy handed at times. Spotlight–4 stars. Maybe a little too clinical. The storytelling was austere, which was appropriate but not super cuddly. Brooklyn–4 stars. Really fine work, but I felt a longing for a little more oomph. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/66 "2016-02-21T03:03:21Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > This year will be our sixth AMCBPS, and we look forward to it every year. The only one we’ve seen so far is “Bridge of Spies”, so almost all of these will be fresh takes. Night one of AMCBPS. Bridge of Spies: 80 Room: 84 Mad Max: 66 The Big Short: 85 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/67 "2016-02-22T06:35:31Z")
I predict Mad Max will win because Academy voters will want to prove they’re open-minded ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/68 "2016-02-22T07:36:25Z")
IMO the only movies that have a chance at Best Picture are The Big Short, The Revenant and Spotlight. There are specific reasons but I’m too lazy & tired to go into them (mainly to do with the preferential ballot). Mad Max will get a few, maybe even Best Director if enough voters are in an irreverent mood. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/69 "2016-02-22T13:28:50Z")
Just watched The Martian for the first time and I have 2 major takeaways 1. I felt the length of the movie a bit because it was much slower than I’d thought. I found myself thinking “nothing big has happened for a while so a plot point is coming soon”. So I found it a bit predictable in that regard. What wasn’t predictable however was… 2…holy shit no body died! Like, not a single person. When was the last Oscar movie that had no one die in it? Ms. Cups and I kept trying to pick out the person who would die for Watney (life for a life) and it never happened. Color me pleasantly surprised. Also, no I didn’t read the book beforehand ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/70 "2016-02-23T02:58:17Z")
Have now also seen Bridge of Spies. Good suspense, several good lines, decent character development. Liked it better than The Big Short, not as much as Spotlight (a better suspense flick), The Martian, or Room. > [@AHunter3](#): > > I’ve now seen: > The Big Short — interesting, compelling political backstory; I have moderate face blindness and had a hell of a time keeping the characters straight, though > > Brooklyn — quite good & entertaining romance but nothing very stand-outty or groundbreaking > > The Martian— fantastic suspenseful hard scifi thriller, a bit draggy in the 2nd half > > The Revenant—riveting survival drama that sort of meanders off (I know it’s based on real life events but as a storyline it felt incomplete & unsatisfying); gratuitous gory violence, glad I saw it, low re-watchability quotient > > Room—gripping drama and far less excruciating than I’d anticipated; incredible child actor who should have gotten a nom for best actor; powerful emotional realism; this one is my favorite and IMO should get the best picture award > > Spotlight—good suspense drama, focused on the newspaper “get-the-story” research and the people involved, minimal exposure to agonizing rehash of the experience of being molested as a child. > 1st choice: Room > 2nd choice: Martian > 3rd choice: Spotlight > > didn’t see (and hardly available in theatres around here): > > Bridge of Spies > Mad Max: Fury Road ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/71 "2016-02-23T13:08:28Z")
So \*\*Brooklyn \*\*won’t be available on DVD until March 15? I had read earlier that it would be out today. It’s showing in only one theater near me. I’ll have to catch it Friday night, God willing & the creek don’t rise. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/72 "2016-02-23T13:13:52Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > So \*\*Brooklyn \*\*won’t be available on DVD until March 15? I had read earlier that it would be out today. > > It’s showing in only one theater near me. I’ll have to catch it Friday night, God willing & the creek don’t rise. It appears to be available for streaming purchase on Amazon currently, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/73 "2016-02-23T15:01:11Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I predict Mad Max will win because Academy voters will want to prove they’re open-minded I haven’t seen it, so this is me talking out of my ass, but it feels like its inclusion is fairly political. A backlash against the backlash against the feminismation (I’m pretty sure I just invented that word) of Mad Max. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/74 "2016-02-23T15:45:51Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I haven’t seen it, so this is me talking out of my ass, but it feels like its inclusion is fairly political. A backlash against the backlash against the feminismation (I’m pretty sure I just invented that word) of Mad Max. Or rather, it was included because it was very popular with both audiences and critics and was one of the best reviewed films of the year. (The Top Critics average on Rotten Tomatoes is **98%**. That’s \*higher \*than Room, The Revenant, The Big Short and The Martian.) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/75 "2016-02-23T16:26:27Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Or rather, it was included because it was very popular with both audiences and critics and was one of the best reviewed films of the year. (The Top Critics average on Rotten Tomatoes is **98%**. That’s \*higher \*than Room, The Revenant, The Big Short and The Martian.) Okay, but Star Wars is higher than Bridge of Spies, and I don’t think any of us are surprised that Star Wars wasn’t nominated. Liking a movie, even liking it a lot, isn’t always sufficient for its nomination for an Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/76 "2016-02-24T22:43:26Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > It appears to be available for streaming purchase on Amazon currently, if that helps. It doesn’t. But thanks anyway. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/77 "2016-02-24T23:08:36Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Okay, but Star Wars is higher than Bridge of Spies, and I don’t think any of us are surprised that Star Wars wasn’t nominated. Liking a movie, even liking it a lot, isn’t always sufficient for its nomination for an Oscar. You seem to think that **Mad Max** was nominated only for “political” reasons (however thin they may be) and I am simply saying that **Mad Max** is a worthy film on it’s own, many critics agreed, and it’s inclusion was not a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/78 "2016-02-25T00:27:58Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > You seem to think that **Mad Max** was nominated only for “political” reasons (however thin they may be) and I am simply saying that **Mad Max** is a worthy film on it’s own, many critics agreed, and it’s inclusion was not a surprise. That may be so, but it’s my guess is, if the Academy continued with their old standard of only five Best Picture Nominations that _ **“Mad Max: Fury Road”** _ wouldn’t have made the cut. My guess is, that the Five Best Picture noms would have been: The Big Short Brooklyn The Revenant Room Spotlight ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/79 "2016-02-25T03:33:38Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > That may be so, but it’s my guess is, if the Academy continued with their old standard of only five Best Picture Nominations that _ **“Mad Max: Fury Road”** _ wouldn’t have made the cut. > > My guess is, that the Five Best Picture noms would have been: > The Big Short > Brooklyn > The Revenant > Room > Spotlight There is talk that they are likely going back to the 5-movie limit. I hope that’s true. mmm ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447/80 "2016-02-25T03:54:42Z")
Years from now, IMO only **Fury Road** and \*\*Room \*\*will be regularly watched amongst the Best Picture nominees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2015-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/743447.md?page=5)