5 unexpected wins to look forward to at the Oscars

1. George Miller for Best Director

"Oh! What a day, what a lovely day" would it be if George Miller pulled off an upset over Alejandro González Iñárritu who looks set to make history by winning back-to-back Oscars for best director, a feat last accomplished by Joseph Mankiewicz over six decades ago. But tears of joy will trickle if Miller wins for Mad Max: Fury Road, a film which he made facing as many hardships as Inarritu’s crew. Only he didn’t keep talking about it non-stop to the press.

It may have to do with the fact that Miller was glad that the film he wanted to make for over two decades actually got made. Make no mistake that this is a chase movie but Miller infuses such energy and craft into the fourth film of Mad Max franchise that one is in awe of the vision and daredevilry. Handing him the golden statuette would be recognition of making that rare blockbuster action entertainer with artistic merit and blowing the minds of audiences by presenting the most exhilarating theatrical experience of 2015.

2. Mark Ruffalo for Best Supporting Actor

Sylvester Stallone is the sentimental favourite for playing an aged version of Rocky Balboa, the character he created and played in Rocky (the one which beat Taxi Driver, Network and All the President’s Men!). But do consider Mark Ruffalo, who has been quietly and consistently doing stellar work since he first broke through 16 years ago with his poignant performance in You Can Count On Me.

In Spotlight, Ruffalo is the gritty reporter assigned to interview difficult subjects, get crucial court documents and put the story together that would ultimately make people question the Church’s decisions. His outburst in front of his superior is one of the high points of the investigative drama as it best demonstrates how journalists can’t help but get emotionally invested in their stories.

3. Ed Lachman for Carol

Carol being denied Best Picture and Best Director nominations left many including me all furious. And now one of the finest romances of the decade is likely to lose cinematography to Emmanuel Lubezki, who will create history by winning his third consecutive Oscar. Shot in stunning landscapes in natural light, The Revenant, however, feels like beauty for beauty sake. The abundance of ravishing visuals after a while can’t take away from what feels like an unending journey of suffering.

Also read: Can Bollywood take a bold leap like Carol in showing LGBT love?

And then there is Ed Lachman whose camera lyrically follows the blossoming of love between two women. Lachman is the silent, less showy observer who treats his subjects with grace, lingers to capture the gentle looks, the intimate gestures and the restrained reactions. Writer Phyllis Nagy certainly has crafted some lovely moments between Terese and Carol but it is Lachman, ably assisted by composer Carter Burwell, who makes their love story memorable.

4. Jenny Beavan for Best Costume Design

This category for too long has been obsessed with period films. As much as I love Sandy Powell’s work in Carol (I want the winter caps that Terese wears), Jenny Beavan came up with drab, grimy wear that brought alive the dystopian future of Mad Max: Fury Road, and added details to the characters. Whether it is Max’s weathered jacket or the white bandaged garb of Immortan Joe’s wives, it is hard to imagine Miller’s wasteland without Beavan’s garments. It’d be great that for a change the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reward work that may not always be pretty to the eye but has an inspiring bold aesthetic.

Also read: Oscars 2016 is about money, not race stupid

5. Inside Out for Best Screenplay

Spotlight pretty much has this category in the bag but few will disagree that Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Ronnie del Carmen and Josh Cooley combined fantastically to write one of the most ingenious screenplays of the year.

The three adults left viewers crying and laughing in equal measure as they showed the coming-of-age of an 11-year-old girl through the five emotions that control her brain.