As the biggest film award ceremony rolls around, it sure to bring in more viewers than ever, especially with the controversial ongoing race issue  concerning the nominees. Among the nominees for Best Picture were “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Spotlight,” and “The Revenant,” all excellent nominees that pose tough competition for one another. To read my full predictions, visit dbbullseye.com

Best Animated Film- “Inside Out”

I am not really a fan of animated movies (in that I don’t go out of my way to watch them), but “Inside Out” was, hands-down, the best animated movie I have seen in a long while. It is cute and quirky like most animated films, but what distinguishes it from its counterparts is its fascinating way of capturing human emotion, a feature that certainly appealed to all audiences. The fantasy realm of this movie is unparalleled to any other I  have seen before. The “Good Dinosaur” would have been the first runner up, but “Inside Out” takes the cake.

Costume Design- Cinderella

“Cinderella” was breathtaking. It is one of those movies that I would watch over and over simply to admire the magical aesthetics of it all unfold, but part of what makes this movie so ethereally beautiful is its costuming. Every character sports a piece that fits together with the rest of the frame, like a puzzle piece. Cate Blanchett, the stepmother, looks malevolent and malicious in her ivy greens and her bright yellow and black florals, while the noble Prince Kit wears a royal blue scarf that brings out the same hue in his eyes, unfairly accentuating his handsomeness. My guess is that “Cinderella” will win the Costume Design Oscar.

Best Actor- Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant”’

Surely everyone can agree that it’s high time one of the most iconic actors of our generation get the Oscar he deserves. DiCaprio has had bad luck over the last decade with the Academy Awards, but his performance as Hugh Glass in “The Revenant” should seal the deal. This year, there is very little competition. Eddie Redmayne was wonderful in “The Danish Girl,” but even his performance is dwarfed in face of DiCaprio’s intense role.

Best Picture- “Mad Max: Fury Road”

I generally dislike action films, especially those with post-apocalyptic themes. But “Max Max: Fury Road” transcends both of these barriers for me, and actually made me reconsider my biases. This film is one of the few that I would label as “quality action,” in the same category as the James Bond films, as it actually has a very interesting and thrilling plot to assist all the mindless fight scenes. However, it was a tough call between this film and “Spotlight,” which was stellar in every aspect, truly a humdinger of its genre. Alas, “Mad Max: Fury Road” was better received by the audience, making it the likely winner of this category.

Best Actress- Cate Blanchett in “Carol”

Perhaps it is my old love for Cate Blanchett that propels me to hope that she will receive an Academy Award this year, but her performance in “Carol” does nothing but reinforce this bias. “Carol,” on its own is a very touching film, and very relevant in today’s current issues. Blanchett is serious and sophisticated, and brings about a very heart-warming performance that truly sheds light on the plight faced by the LGBTQ community in the1950’s. Or perhaps her performance is average, but appears to be stellar due to the nature of the role, film, and setting. In any case, Blanchett appears to be the pervading winner between the nominations.