2016 Oscar Predictions: Universal Pictures
Universal deserves a lot of credit for its smart programming strategy. This summer, it turned would-be hits into blockbusters and would-be blockbusters into holy-shit-super-mega-blockbusters. Amazingly, they aren’t done yet. Universal’s fall lineup hasn’t exactly set the world on fire, but it’s packed with intriguing titles, and while its chances to sweep the Oscars seem unlikely, it’ll end up with a lot of nominations for a lot of different movies.
Furious 7
RATING: 
Directed by: James Wan
Written by: Chris Morgan
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
John’s FYC: Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Song
MY THOUGHTS: This movie is fantastic. People are scoffing that Universal is sending out screeners to critics groups, asking them to consider Furious 7 for categories like Best Picture and Best Actor. I see it as a case of showing respect and appreciation for a cast and crew that helped earn the studio hundreds of millions of dollars — gesture of goodwill that I’d appreciate and remember if I had put hours, days, weeks, months of my life into something. Not only that, but THIS MOVIE IS FANTASTIC. I intend to happily “consider” Furious 7 for every category known to the OFCS. (Click here for my full Furious 7 review.)
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? It depends on what categories you’re talking about. Best Picture at the 2016 Oscars? F no. Best Picture in my head? Sure. Craft categories? An across-the-board contender. Original Song? It’s still on the radio.
Jurassic World
RATING: 
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Written by: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins
John’s FYC: Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score
MY THOUGHTS: I had a big smile on my face throughout most of Trevorrow’s film, even though extended sequences were utterly asinine. It’s the biggest film of the year for many reasons, the biggest of which being that it’s first and foremost a nostalgia machine, and ours is a culture driven by nostalgia. It’s the Buzzfeed-ification of the movies. Jurassic World did exactly what 95% or more of its audience wanted it to do. Hell, include me among that 95%. It was way better than I expected going in, even if it’s not close to a great movie. (Click here for my full Jurassic World review.)
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? Yes, at least in the categories I’ve listed. In fact, it could win one, two, or even three. I won’t go that far yet, but there won’t be any denying one of the biggest financial hits of all-time a sliver of Oscar respect, and this is a film that looks and sounds great. That said, I’d be quite surprised if it gained any traction outside of these categories. Not that kind of movie. Not that kind of Academy.
Minions
Directed by: Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin
Written by: Brian Lynch
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton
Universal’s FYC: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score, Best Animated Feature
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? At Best Animated Feature? Maybe. It’s a hit, but so were Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2, and only the latter earned a nomination in this category. These films are always going to be bubble candidates in this category because they just aren’t very good. But they’re popular and inoffensive. I think Minions probably gets in, but it’ll be either the last one in or the first one out.
Trainwreck
RATING:
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Written by: Amy Schumer
Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson
John’s FYC: Best Picture, Best Actress (Amy Schumer), Best Original Screenplay
MY THOUGHTS: I almost included John Cena and LeBron James as Best Supporting Actor candidates (Universal does), but realistically, I’m not sure they’re on the level of a Mark Rylance, for instance. Anyway, Trainwreck is the funniest Hollywood comedy in several years and Judd Apatow’s best directorial effort since The 40-Year-Old Virgin. And Amy Schumer is a star, in case you had any doubt. (Click here for my full Trainwreck review.)
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? Probably not, but if it gets in for anything, it’ll be Best Original Screenplay.
Straight Outta Compton
RATING:
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Written by: Jonathan Herman, Andrea Berloff
Starring: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell
John’s FYC: Best Supporting Actor (Jason Mitchell), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design
MY THOUGHTS: The best thing about the film is Jason Mitchell’s performance as Eazy-E. The film itself is a bit flat, but that performance is outstanding and would be an awesome inclusion in an Oscar lineup.
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? I’m skeptical. Only because Universal didn’t promise an awards campaign until after it became a hit. I ultimately think it gets swallowed up in the buzzy end-of-year awards scene, but who knows. Weirder things have happened.
Everest
RATING:
Directed by: Baltasar Kormákur
Written by: William Nicholson, Simon Beaufoy
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Elizabeth Debicki, Keira Knightley
John’s FYC: Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects
MY THOUGHTS: A better film than it’ll ever get credit for and also one that was tailor-made for me … I’m a sucker for a good mountain-climbing yarn. (Click here for my full Everest review.)
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? Its best chances are in the sound categories, but I’m not sure it’ll even get mentioned there. Unfortunately (and inexplicably), Universal doesn’t have Everest listed on its FYC site, which leads me to believe it just wants to forget about this one.
Steve Jobs
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Written by: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen
Universal’s FYC: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? Uh, yeah. I’m predicting nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing at least. Despite being a big box office disappointment, the Oscar buzz is strong with this one, padawans.
Crimson Peak
RATING:
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Written by: Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston
John’s FYC: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design
MY THOUGHTS: A runaway freight train of a film. Its first few bites are delicious but you get the sense as it slices, stabs, and oozes its way toward a conclusion that its creator doesn’t even know what he mixed in the pot. Just a wild ride that I enjoyed but not unreservedly.
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? I mean, just look at the film. It should be a contender to win the categories above, but like Everest, Universal doesn’t have Crimson Peak listed on its FYC site at all. That’s a shame, but I hope voters don’t forget the incredible craft on display in Crimson Peak.
Legend
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Written by: Brian Helgeland, John Pearson
Starring: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, Taron Egerton
Universal’s FYC: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score
DOES IT HAVE A SHOT? Tom Hardy is its best chance, but I think that’s pretty specious, despite Best Actor being a little thin this year.
