5 Oscars 2016 Nominations They Got Right (And 5 They Got Wrong)

What They Got Right...

5. The 'At Last' Nominations

This tends to happen every year. The Academy, realising that they've not honoured someone they really should have, will give someone something akin to a token nomination, perhaps even a win. Martin Scorsese's Best Director award for The Departed is a case in point. It's a good film, but far from his best. This year, then, sees nominations to a number of first time recipients - although it's fair to say they've all earned it. Charlotte Rampling, a British star on screens big and small since the 60s, gets a nomination for her work in 45 Years, about a married couple (can you guess how long?) who receive some news that changes everything between them. It's almost certain she won't win - the Best Actress category is strong, but Brie Larson seems like a lock - but it's still great to see Rampling receive some recognition (not to mention a good leading role for a woman in her 60s). Similarly, there's a first time nomination for Jennifer Jason Leigh, the only star of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight to receive a nomination. She is fully deserving of that for her performance as the rather foul Daisy Domergue, but it's come after a long career in the industry, with this seeming like one of Tarantino's career revivals. Moving over to non-acting nominations, Carter Burwell has received a nomination for his score on Carol. It seems a huge surprise that it's his first nomination, given his long-time work with the Coen bros., although it's still likely he'll lose out to Ennio Morricone, who has never before won but seems a safe-bet for his work on The Hateful Eight.
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Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.